And it's just gotten worse, don't know why.

SP sp2, Firefox latest version.

When on the internet and opening a link that's
embedded in a page, I can't get back to the
original page.

For instance, when an email refers to a forum
post and gives a link to it, I can't get back to
the email when I close the forum link. It closes
everything even including the browser, and the
"back" button is not available.

Same thing happens from just regular internet
sites that provide links to other things. When
I go to the linked page, I can't get back to
the original page. The "Back" button isn't
available, and when I close the linked page it
closes everything. Then I have to go back
and reopen the browser and find the page I
was on.

I was downloading some software yesterday
and when I went to the download link from
the vendor's site, I couldn't get back.

Sure appreciate some help with this!

Have you tried reinstalling Firefox?

I don't know about Firefox but there should be, similar to IE, a setting to open links in a new window.

I've not long ago put in the new version, so didn't want to go
thru that hassle.

I'm sure it's likely some little quirk with a (at least to me) not-obvious fix
or another one of those little buried adjustments that I just haven't discovered yet.

It's not that I want to open a new link, I just want to get back to the
original page - seems like stuff just keeps getting more complicated with
more and more controls to manipulate that really don't improve the quality
of the PC or internet experience, just make it more difficult for the non-expert.

Instead of putting in another thing to have to do, why can't they just leave the
"back" button functional like it used to be?

the back button works fine here..

Do as kitty has suggested, uninstall firefox, clean your registry with CCleaner then install it again. Chances are its some residual bug from not installing properly. You'd be surprised.

By the way, if you're using tabbed browsing, use the small x underneath your address bar, where the "tab" to the page you're viewing is on or want to close, not the big x in the top right hand corner of your screen