Firefox refuses to launch and causes computer to freeze up.
For the last week, Firefox has refused to launch and, when such an attemp is made, my computer locks up.
Specifically, when I click on the icon to launch the program, my mouse pointer turns into a little blue circle, indicating that the program is trying to load, and my hard-disk indicator light comes on. After a few second, my mouse pointer returns to normal, the hard-disk light goes dark, and I can't access any programs, launch any new ones, access Task Manager, or access the Start button. My only alternative is to turn the power off and restart the computer.
This happens whether I use the shortcut in the Taskbar or navigate to the exe file and try to launch from there.
This happens when attempting to lanch Firefox in Safe Mode.
This happens when Vista is loaded regularly and when it starts in Safe Mode with Networking.
A Malware Antibytes scan comes up clean, as does an online scan from TrendMicro, and one from OfficeDepot (I'm thinking about paying $149 there to have this fixed).
Can anyone help? I much prefer FF to IE, which I'm usin now, but I may have to switch to Chrome.
Chosen solution
Try creating a brand new profile, and seeing if Firefox will start up with that. Profile Manager - Create, remove or switch Firefox profiles
Read this answer in context 👍 0All Replies (11)
See if some security program block firefox to start.
Configure Windows Firewall to allow Firefox access to the Internet
Configure firewalls so that Firefox can access the Internet
thank you
Windows Firewall is configurd to allow access to Firefox.
Try disable it and check it again.
Holding down the shift key while starting Firefox, can you restart firefox in safe mode ?
thanks again
I disabled it. Trying to launch the program prodces the same results as before, in both regular mode and Safe Mode.
Did you try to remove Firefox from the settings in the firewall?
A possible cause is security software (firewall,anti-virus) that blocks or restricts Firefox or the plugin-container process without informing you, possibly after detecting changes (update) to the Firefox program.
Remove all rules for Firefox and the plugin-container from the permissions list in the firewall and let your firewall ask again for permission to get full unrestricted access to internet for Firefox and the plugin-container process and the updater process.
See:
See also:
I removed Firefox settings from the firewall and rebooted. The machine behaves the same: When I click on the shortcut in the Taskbar (or the exe file in the program folder), the hard disk is accessed and my mouse pointer goes to a blue circle, then the hard disk stops spinning, Firefox hasn't loaded, and my computer is locked up and must be powered off using the power button.
That isn't a Firewall issue, as this is Firefox not opening at all.
I would try doing this.
- Uninstall Firefox using the Control Panel. DO NOT Check to remove your personal data or you will loose all your bookmarks, history, passwords, etc.
- Go into My Computer, C Drive, and navigate to the Program Files. Delete the Mozilla Firefox Folder and remove everything inside it.
- Open up Internet Explorer, go to www.getfirefox.com. Download and install Firefox.
- Restart your computer and try again.
I did all that. The program apparently was installed successfully, but the computer locked up shortly after Firefox began checking add-ins for compatibility, with no other indication as to what the problem might be.
Chosen Solution
Try creating a brand new profile, and seeing if Firefox will start up with that. Profile Manager - Create, remove or switch Firefox profiles
I have succesfully created a new profile called "Default User," leaving the old profile, "default," untouched.
Firefox has launched successfully.
Now, how do I get all my bookmarks back? Can I or should I delete the old profile? And, if an add-in was involve, how can I determine which one? Anything I forgot to ask?
Thanks very much for your help.
If you read the article called Recover important data from an old profile, it will walk you through how to move data from one profile to another. Move over the minimum of information that you need to minimize the chance of moving over corruption. I wouldn't delete your old profile you forget to move something over. It won't cause any harm :)