Firefox crashing on every launch!

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Mark Phelps

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Yesterday, my Firefox in Win8.1 64-bit automatically updated from version 34.0.5 to v35, and ever since, it has been crashing every time I launch it. Offers to send info to Mozilla, which I accept, and then click restart. And, it crashes again a couple of times and then offers to be restarted in safe mode -- which then works.

I have disabled ALL of the Add-ons and Extensions, and regardless of the page being opened, it still crashes.

I've read that lots of folks are experiencing this, but I've not seen any posts here about it.

To confirm the problem, I uninstalled FireFox, downloaded an older version (34.0.5), reinstalled it, and using the same Add-ons and Extensions, it launches without problems! But, I wasn't fast enough to prevent it from auto-updating to v35, and as soon as that happened and it restarted, it crashed again!

I reinstalled it again, but disconnected the network cable so it could not auto-update, and once installed, set it to NOT update. Since then, running version 34.0.5, it works fine.

Just wondering if anyone else has encountered it, and if they found any way to fix it (apart from installing an older version).

Also, installed v36 Beta 1 just to see if that was better, and it crashed the same way.
 

My Computer

System One

I am currently running 35 without any problem. Are you running any anti virus software ? if yes, temporarily disable it to see if it helps.
In addition, when uninstalling Firefox. Did you delete ?:
  1. C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Local\Mozilla\Firefox
  2. C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Local\Mozilla\updates
  3. C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Local\VirtualStore\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox (if found)
  4. also delete from registry: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Mozilla

NOTE: If you delete the above, your bookmarks will be deleted also so before doing the above. Setup Sync from the tool menu first
then you can sync back everything including the add-ons.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    8.1x64PWMC Ubuntu14.04x64 MintMate17x64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Home Brewed
    CPU
    I7 4970K OC'ed @4.7 GHz
    Motherboard
    MSI-Z97
    Memory
    16 GB G-Skill Trident X @2400MHZ
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA GeForce GTS 450
    Sound Card
    X-Fi Titanium Fatal1ty Professional Series
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dual HP-W2408
    Screen Resolution
    1920X1200
    Hard Drives
    256 GB M2 sm951, (2) 500GB 850EVO, 5TB, 2 TB Seagate
    PSU
    Antec 850W
    Case
    Antec 1200
    Cooling
    Danger Den H20
    Keyboard
    Logitech
    Mouse
    Logitech Performance Mouse MX
    Internet Speed
    35/12mbps
    Browser
    Firefox
Are you running any anti virus software ? if yes, temporarily disable it to see if it helps.
Click to expand...

All I'm running is Windows Defender -- and the problem is not with installation, it's with the newer versions.

I don't want to have WD disabled just to run FireFox, especially since version 34 (and prior) work without problems.

Also, thanks for the locations to check. I'll save off everything first (using Mozbackup, since I'm NOT going to save my accounts and passwords online), clean out those locations and then, reinstall the new version. But, I suspect it's not going to make any difference.
 

My Computer

System One

Mark Phelps said:
Are you running any anti virus software ? if yes, temporarily disable it to see if it helps.
Click to expand...

All I'm running is Windows Defender -- and the problem is not with installation, it's with the newer versions.

I don't want to have WD disabled just to run FireFox, especially since version 34 (and prior) work without problems.

Also, thanks for the locations to check. I'll save off everything first (using Mozbackup, since I'm NOT going to save my accounts and passwords online), clean out those locations and then, reinstall the new version. But, I suspect it's not going to make any difference.
Click to expand...
WD is fine, I am also running WD. I meant any third party anti virus.
Another place to check is some startup software/Services might be in conflict.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    8.1x64PWMC Ubuntu14.04x64 MintMate17x64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Home Brewed
    CPU
    I7 4970K OC'ed @4.7 GHz
    Motherboard
    MSI-Z97
    Memory
    16 GB G-Skill Trident X @2400MHZ
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA GeForce GTS 450
    Sound Card
    X-Fi Titanium Fatal1ty Professional Series
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dual HP-W2408
    Screen Resolution
    1920X1200
    Hard Drives
    256 GB M2 sm951, (2) 500GB 850EVO, 5TB, 2 TB Seagate
    PSU
    Antec 850W
    Case
    Antec 1200
    Cooling
    Danger Den H20
    Keyboard
    Logitech
    Mouse
    Logitech Performance Mouse MX
    Internet Speed
    35/12mbps
    Browser
    Firefox
OK -- uninstalled FireFox, removed all the folders you mentioned, and deleted entries from the registry.

Reinstalled using v35 -- crashed immediately upon starting -- just like before, even though I have all add-ons and extensions disabled.

Uninstalled that, reinstalled v34.05 -- works fine -- just like before.

Guess I should try safe mode -- but that will have to wait until I have time to experiment on this.
 

My Computer

System One

UPDATE: I completely removed Firefox -- all files, folders, and settings, rebooted, and reinstalled v35 from scratch.

Restarted it and -- boom -- crashed right away.

Restarted it in Safe mode -- boom -- crashed right away.

Restarted it using the option to disable all add-ons -- started, but took a really long time.

I went to the trouble to disable, manually, all the add-ons, and I had no extensions or themes installed. But still, when I restarted using Safe mode, it crashed right away -- again!

So, I did an image restore back to when I was running 34.0.5 -- using loads of add-ons, extensions, and themes -- and just like before, it worked fine every time!

Found a 64-bit version is know as WaterFox. Downloaded and installed it -- and it automatically imported stuff from FireFox. It seems to be working a lot faster and, unlike the latest FireFox, does NOT crash!

UPDATE: Checking other forums, discovered that the "hardware acceleration" feature conflicts with WindowBlinds -- which I am using. So, disabled WB, reinstalled FF 35, used Options to turn off hardware acceleration, re-enabled WB -- and FF 35 works fine now.

Posting this so others will know about this conflict -- and how to resolve it if they are using WindowBlinds.
 
Last edited:

My Computer

System One

@Mark: Thanks for all your posts. I'm not using WindowBlinds and have a crashing FF 35.

I have disabled hardware acceleration but no joy.

Finally had to use the "Never Activate" option on Shockwave Flash 16.0.0.257 add-on. It's been hours and FF 35 seems to be working.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Window 8, 64-Bit
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Gateway, DX4860-UR28
    CPU
    i5-3330
    Motherboard
    Intel H67 Express Chipset
    Memory
    16GB, 1600MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    Integrated Intel HD 2500
    Browser
    Firefox, Ver 27.0
    Antivirus
    Microsoft Security Essentials
I was having trouble with FF 35 and Flash 16.0.0.257 also. FF would hang and not respond. Disabled Flash an works great. I went to FF website and used the Refresh Firefox tool and it now works great and seems faster. Had to re-enable most add-ons and re-install a couple.
Went through options and changed a few that I wanted and all is working fine now.
Click on Refresh Firefox button at this site:

https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/new/

Jim :cool:
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7 HP 64bit, Windows 8.1 Pro w/Media Center 64BIT
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    ASUS - Home Built
    CPU
    AMD Phenom II X6 1100T
    Motherboard
    ASUS M5A99X EVO
    Memory
    Crucial Balistic DDR-3 1866 CL 9 (8 GB)
    Graphics Card(s)
    MSI R6850 Cyclone IGD5 PE
    Sound Card
    On Chip
    Monitor(s) Displays
    ASUS VE258Q 25" LED with DVI-HDMI-DisplayPort
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    Two WD Cavier Black 2TB Sata 6gbs
    WD My Book Essential 2TB USB 3.0
    PSU
    Seasonic X650 80 Plus GOLD Modular
    Case
    Corsair 400R
    Cooling
    Antec Kuhler H2O 620, Two 120mm and four 140mm
    Keyboard
    AVS Gear Blue LED Backlight
    Mouse
    Logitech Marble Mouse USB, Logitech Precision Game Pad
    Internet Speed
    15MB
    Antivirus
    NIS, Malwarebytes Premium 2
    Other Info
    APC UPS ES 750, Netgear WNR3500L Gigabit & Wireless N Router with SamKnows Test Program,
    Motorola SB6120 Gigabit Cable Modem.
    Brother HL-2170W Laser Printer,
    Epson V300 Scanner
My FF problems came back so I downloaded Flash Beta 16.0.0.280 and seems to be OK for now, but time will tell.

Jim :cool:
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7 HP 64bit, Windows 8.1 Pro w/Media Center 64BIT
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    ASUS - Home Built
    CPU
    AMD Phenom II X6 1100T
    Motherboard
    ASUS M5A99X EVO
    Memory
    Crucial Balistic DDR-3 1866 CL 9 (8 GB)
    Graphics Card(s)
    MSI R6850 Cyclone IGD5 PE
    Sound Card
    On Chip
    Monitor(s) Displays
    ASUS VE258Q 25" LED with DVI-HDMI-DisplayPort
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    Two WD Cavier Black 2TB Sata 6gbs
    WD My Book Essential 2TB USB 3.0
    PSU
    Seasonic X650 80 Plus GOLD Modular
    Case
    Corsair 400R
    Cooling
    Antec Kuhler H2O 620, Two 120mm and four 140mm
    Keyboard
    AVS Gear Blue LED Backlight
    Mouse
    Logitech Marble Mouse USB, Logitech Precision Game Pad
    Internet Speed
    15MB
    Antivirus
    NIS, Malwarebytes Premium 2
    Other Info
    APC UPS ES 750, Netgear WNR3500L Gigabit & Wireless N Router with SamKnows Test Program,
    Motorola SB6120 Gigabit Cable Modem.
    Brother HL-2170W Laser Printer,
    Epson V300 Scanner
As of this writing, it's been 4 days and no problems since I deactivated Flash in FF 35. Really haven't missed it.

There were a couple of news articles that required Flash, but I just copied the URL and ran it on Chrome.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Window 8, 64-Bit
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Gateway, DX4860-UR28
    CPU
    i5-3330
    Motherboard
    Intel H67 Express Chipset
    Memory
    16GB, 1600MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    Integrated Intel HD 2500
    Browser
    Firefox, Ver 27.0
    Antivirus
    Microsoft Security Essentials
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