You seem to be trying most of the troubleshooting metods.

Let' s make a guess that if you have tried clean installs the problem is with your Profile or Profiles. You will be able to create a new additional profile using Firefox's profile manager if Firefox is runnable.

• Profile Manager - Create, remove or switch Firefox profiles

Otherwise an alternative method needs to be used.

• Temporarily renaming profiles.ini is probably the easiest method.
  • see http://kb.mozillazine.org/Creating_a_new_default_profile
• It is possible to manaully edit profiles.ini and the directory structure to create profiles.
• And there is a downloadable standalone profile manager available.

I hardly ever use Thunderbird. It is probably best to ask a separate question about that, but mention this question as the two problems may well have a lot in common.

• Use this quick special link

It is apparently possible to submit crashes from one Firefox system, by using another system that is working. That's a tip I have just learnt from a user with crash problems. I have not actually tried it out myself yet.

You should also try using Windows own Safe Mode

• Use the F8 key whilst booting
• See http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/start-computer-safe-mode#start-computer-safe-mode=windows-7

I'm still looking for something called profiles.ini, no sign of it in any of the expected places, including hidden files.

I did find some crash reports though:

crash.main.1 1422732335 fe8d6fac-afdb-4ffc-987e-c18bc3f53aed

crash.main.1 1422732415 19803bae-ef31-46a1-b738-632251459ef0

and more of the same

The last Mozilla application to have a splash screen was the Mozilla Suite. Firefox does not have a splash screen.

The splash screen anomaly is probably because I am using the PortableApps version. This message was posted using the Desktop installation which is now (fingers crossed) working and stable.

Although, FF did close a few minutes ago with a brief message to say that the plugin container had stopped working, shortly after I finished watching a short YouTube video.

Firefox Portable has a splash screen. I don't think FirefoxPortable will launch into SafeMode, or it just doesn't work for me.

If you are using FirefoxPortable [which isn't made by Mozilla, it's a 3rd party application], you might want to ask for help from the appropriate forum. Maybe they have a trick for launching in the SafeMode that I am unaware of. http://portableapps.com/forums/support/firefox_portable

Sorry I should have given more information.

I am not sure without looking on the portable site what Firefox portable does, it will for instance install on a memory stick or other media but it is some years since I used it.

profiles ini will be in the Firefox folder immediately above the default location of your profile folder. This is the same folder as the one holding your Crash Reports folder.

• http://kb.mozillazine.org/Profiles.ini_file

  Note that in Windows 7/Vista/XP/2000 you can use "Start -> Run" (you can press "Windows key+R" to open the Run box), then type in one of the following and click "OK" to quickly open the appropriate folder:
  * Firefox: %APPDATA%\Mozilla\Firefox
  * Thunderbird: %APPDATA%\Thunderbird
  * SeaMonkey 2.0+: %APPDATA%\Mozilla\SeaMonkey

• Files may be hidden
  See http://kb.mozillazine.org/Show_hidden_files_and_folders
• In addition to http://kb.mozillazine.org/Creating_a_new_default_profile
• See also http://kb.mozillazine.org/Bypassing_the_Profile_Manager

If we can get Firefox running we should be able to get more details from the crash reporter. The Crash IDs needed are the ones prefixed with 'bp- they will have been submitted and processed.

• Mozilla Crash Reporter
• Mozilla Crash Reporter TB
• http://kb.mozillazine.org/Breakpad#Location_of_crash_reports

I see you now have Firefox Desktop running and stable. If that is the case then we do not need its crash reports.

The standard method of obtaining the Crash IDs is to key in to the locationbar about:crashes then look for the Crash IDs prefixed with bp- Paste those into the forum including the bp- and forum software converts them to links after you post them.

• See Firefox crashes - asking for support
• Troubleshoot Firefox crashes (closing or quitting unexpectedly)

The method to attempt to submit an unsubmitted crash report is to click on it,

• http://kb.mozillazine.org/Breakpad#Viewing_crash_reports

  In the about:crashes display (shown below in Firefox) , click on a crash link to view the data at crash-stats. If the link isn't prefixed with bp-, then the crash didn't successfully submit to crash-stats. Clicking the link will attempt to submit your crash. Report IDs are of the form bp-<guid> where the last 6 characters of <guid> are a date.

Problem is that may not always work. Almost no user will try the alternative

• https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/How_to_get_a_stacktrace_for_a_bug_report#Alternative_ways_to_get_a_stacktrace
  • https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/How_to_get_a_stacktrace_with_WinDbg

For those with another working Firefox there is now a potentially much more user friendly method to suggest if the Crash Reports are still needed LaserGuy445 /questions/1043577#answer-682934 Although I have not yet tried it out.

Do a malware check with several malware scanning programs on the Windows computer. Please scan with all programs because each program detects different malware. All these programs have free versions.

Make sure that you update each program to get the latest version of their databases before doing a scan.

• Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware:
  http://www.malwarebytes.org/mbam.php
• AdwCleaner:
  http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/download/adwcleaner/
  http://www.softpedia.com/get/Antivirus/Removal-Tools/AdwCleaner.shtml
• SuperAntispyware:
  http://www.superantispyware.com/
• Microsoft Safety Scanner:
  http://www.microsoft.com/security/scanner/en-us/default.aspx
• Windows Defender:
  http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/using-defender
• Spybot Search & Destroy:
  http://www.safer-networking.org/en/index.html
• Kasperky Free Security Scan:
  http://www.kaspersky.com/security-scan

You can also do a check for a rootkit infection with TDSSKiller.

• Anti-rootkit utility TDSSKiller:
  http://support.kaspersky.com/5350?el=88446

See also:

• "Spyware on Windows": http://kb.mozillazine.org/Popups_not_blocked
• https://support.mozilla.org/kb/troubleshoot-firefox-issues-caused-malware

More info about FirefoxPortable for the one that isn't working and has that SplashScreen - if that is still a problem.

Portable doesn't use a profiles.ini file. Without installing an app to provide for additional Profiles, the default Portable version only allows for one Profile, so there is no need for a profiles.ini file to be the "gatekeeper".

cor-el said

Do a malware check with several malware scanning programs on the Windows computer. Please scan with all programs because each program detects different malware. All these programs have free versions. Make sure that you update each program to get the latest version of their databases before doing a scan.

• Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware:
  http://www.malwarebytes.org/mbam.php
• AdwCleaner:
  http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/download/adwcleaner/
  http://www.softpedia.com/get/Antivirus/Removal-Tools/AdwCleaner.shtml
• SuperAntispyware:
  http://www.superantispyware.com/
• Microsoft Safety Scanner:
  http://www.microsoft.com/security/scanner/en-us/default.aspx
• Windows Defender:
  http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/using-defender
• Spybot Search & Destroy:
  http://www.safer-networking.org/en/index.html
• Kasperky Free Security Scan:
  http://www.kaspersky.com/security-scan

You can also do a check for a rootkit infection with TDSSKiller.

• Anti-rootkit utility TDSSKiller:
  http://support.kaspersky.com/5350?el=88446

See also:

• "Spyware on Windows": http://kb.mozillazine.org/Popups_not_blocked
• https://support.mozilla.org/kb/troubleshoot-firefox-issues-caused-malware

I appreciate the suggestion. Virus checking was one of the first things I tried, and I blush to admit I found a few that had been lurking ever since I first acquired the computer second-hand.

the-edmeister said

More info about FirefoxPortable for the one that isn't working and has that SplashScreen - if that is still a problem. Portable doesn't use a profiles.ini file. Without installing an app to provide for additional Profiles, the default Portable version only allows for one Profile, so there is no need for a profiles.ini file to be the "gatekeeper".

Thanks. At least that explains why I couldn't find the profiles.ini file.

OK, FF portable reinstalled (again), telemetry and crash reporting enabled. I am writing this in the portable app. Will let you know how it goes.

4WIW, I had Thunderbird up and running until I had to switch to another account at which point, when I switched back, it crashed.

Getting tired: should have clarified. Another computer user account, not another TB or FF account.

My thanks to everyone who has helped me with this so far. I am going to try keeping everything on the desktop until (unless?) a reliable portable version becomes available since I rely heavily on the Lightning extension for Thunderbird (three calendars and a wonky memory).

So far, the desktop FF seems to be working reliably and the portable version hasn't crashed when I have to use it. If I find any more information I will add it to this thread.

In the address bar, type about:crashes<enter>. Note: If any reports do not have BP in front of the numbers, click it and select Submit.

Using your mouse, mark the most resent 7 - 10 crash reports, and copy them. Now go to the reply box below and paste them in.

If you can't get Firefox to open, you will have to do this the hard way. https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/mozillacrashreporter Open the file browser / explorer on your computer. Note: You may have to enable Show Hidden Folders / Files. Enter this in the address bar;

Windows: %APPDATA%\Mozilla\Firefox\Crash Reports\submitted Win 7/Vista: C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Crash Reports\submitted Win XP/2000: C:\Documents and Settings\<username>\Application Data\Mozilla\Firefox\Crash Reports\submitted

Mac OS: /Users/<username>/Library/Application Support/Firefox/Crash Reports/submitted Linux: /home/<username>/.mozilla/firefox/Crash Reports/submitted

Copy the last 5-7 Recent File Names in the folder. Post the information in the reply box below.

Thanks for trying Fred. I can't type anything in the address bar of the Firefox that is crashing because it crashes as soon as I try to open anything other than my homepages.

And I've tried until I'm blue in the face, sending error reports. I get a message that tells me the crash reporter was unable to send the report, but no indication of why the report could not be sent.

(

My desktop Firefox (which is working fine) doesn't know where to find the crash reports for the Portable version.

From the PortableApps Firefox folder (J:PortableApps/FirefoxPortable/Data/Profile/crashes/events/)

There are two files: b404beaf-2e4f-406a-86cb-623080e7bef2 b404beaf-2e4f-406a-86cb-623080e7bef2-submission

If it looks like either of these might help, I can put them up here, or email them to Mozilla Support if someone can give me an address to send them to manually.

Firefox Desktop prefixes submitted crashes with bp- Is portable showing any with a bp- prefix ?

Does it give a submission date ? Crash reports submitted within the last 7 days are easiest to find. ( I am not finding a report for bp-b404beaf-2e4f-406a-86cb-623080e7bef2 )

In fact, I am not certain portable submits the crash reports to Mozilla. That may explain why the format looks invalid. Mozilla Crash IDs have all numbers for the last part of the ID (They terminate with a numeric date yymmdd eg. 150202 )

I did find this comment from the portable developer from 2013 http://portableapps.com/node/35889#comment-206425

The crash reporter is now disabled by default in Firefox Portable 20.0 and up. Upgrades are automatically set to disabled regardless of previous settings. You can enable it if you want, but it is not portable. A note to this effect is on the Firefox Portable homepage. This bug has been closed.

It does look rather as if portable is intended to be able to handle crash reporting but it is disabled by default.

I think all of your questions about portable are better handled on their own support forum, but if you do post there, please let us have a link to the thread, so we may follow your progress.