Jscher2000,

I did step by step - and where you said to create new account, I did. When I opened the run command again later (where I was supposed to), I expected it to reopen with the June2016 choice.

O No - I did it wrong. I thought about it in a flash, but had no guidance.

You only wanted me to restore the two default files (when you go up one level) - in which passwords were also saved, didn't you? I restored everything - as you know, and there were obviously files in the clean version that were not in the corrupted (I assume) version.

I'll run it again, I think tomorrow. Maybe shortly. IIIIIIIIII

I had a third BSOD - a new record.

Sorry I screwed up. Am I right regarding what I did as overkill? Need clearer instructions, I think. (Shoot.)

I left something out of the steps. To stay in the new profile after creating it and starting it up the first time, you can just start Firefox normally. You only need to go back to the profile manager when you want to use a different profile.

JScher2000,

What is this: install the extension to the new profile? At the bottom, when you tell me to save the two files, you wrote that. I opened the Mozilla instructions for which files to save, etc. and then I think that was too much information for me.

Starting from creating new profile: I renamed the program folder as Old.

Then I ran installer (from DT). It may have connected to all existing settings, but my focus was on restoring what I needed - so I skipped the step to test Firefox. I missed this because:

the only way that I could test was to have passwords working in order to access email and/or websites that continually crash. 

login ad key3 were saved in addition to the two default folders. (up one level per Mozilla instructions). Didn't delete anything. Backed up to thumb drive. Everything is still current.

Rather than look for Old Firefox folder - of which I have too many - I just opened my Cruzer thumb drive because that was an easy backup to access.

So. you want me to SKIP the default folders and just restore logins.json and key3.db, right?

Thank you.

That explains why I got the new profile option.

Got it - I'll leave FF open this time.

Thank you for clarifying.

Are the first set of instructions --1. new profile and 2. clean install, along with your just added note about keeping the new profile open, exactly what you want me to do?

Please reread it once and remember that you are talking to someone who doesn't know as much as you do.

TY

Hi CiaoBella1, the original two steps -- new profile and clean reinstall -- were meant to create a clean slate. It didn't occur to me at that point that you needed saved passwords to test.

At this point, you do not need to do another clean reinstall.

Yes, please create a new profile and start up Firefox in the new profile.

Then, to replace the empty new password files with your real ones, open your new profile folder using either

• "3-bar" menu button > "?" button > Troubleshooting Information
• (menu bar) Help > Troubleshooting Information
• type or paste about:support in the address bar and press Enter

In the first table on the page, click the "Show Folder" button. This should launch a new window listing various files and folders in Windows Explorer.

Leaving that window open, switch back to Firefox and Exit, either:

• "3-bar" menu button > "power" button
• (menu bar) File > Exit

Pause while Firefox finishes its cleanup, then rename logins.json to something like logins.old, and rename key3.db to something like key3.old.

Then copy the real logins.json and key3.db into the folder.

Start Firefox back up again normally, and your passwords should be there.

Good morning, jscher2000,

You are the best. Thank you very much.

JScher2000,

Damn it all. Your instructions were a little lacking, as you can't EXIT Firefox and keep it open at the same time, but since I knew you only wanted me to restore logins and passwords, that's what I did and that's what I've got.

Bookmarks is completely wiped out. I backed up everything with FEBE and I have those files in my hard drive (and this computer, I'm sure). I'm not sure how to get them back, but it's not a priority. What I could really use, though, is remembering the often-used websites (multiple times daily), which is also wiped out.

Logins.json was not a new file - only key3 was. I don't know if that's unusual or not, but I took a screenshot, in case. Since this method of creating a new profile should retain passwords and bookmarks, for instance, I don't know what might have gone wrong. Speaking of bookmarks, why do I have to keep the "edit" star on my toolbar? That's new. Took a minute to restore extensions and plugins are fine.

Clear cache worked perfectly - I cleared once and it went down to zero.

However, the first email that I opened immediately caused a BSOD with the same old KERNEL_SECURITY_CHECK_FAILURE. The video cam light flickers, which is how I know a shutdown is imminent.

I'm tired of this. Really tired. Having no FF crash reports since December, the only data I can provide are all the MEMORY and minidump files. How do I know what's causing this?

As the OLD profile was worse than any other previous profile with three consecutive crashes, it doesn't have most system things (is that the right description) that I want to restore. What is safe to transfer and what isn't?

Should I install Chrome/should I reset/refresh Windows?

Thank you.

jscher2000,

FYI: No crashes in IE.

Thank you.

Okay, the new profile has the exact same problem as your other one, so this does not look like a profile/settings problem. You can exit Firefox, start up the Profile Manager, select the previous profile, and Start Firefox using that profile to return to your full settings.

You also already did the clean reinstall, so corrupted or inconsistent program files can be ruled out.

You mentioned that dual Intel-Nvidia graphics is not a feature of your system, which was the only other lead I found in my searching.

You mentioned that a Windows update caused this to start, and I think Firefox might be incompatible with something in that batch of updates, but I have no idea what.

I think you won't be able to use Firefox for the sites that cause these BSODs, unless we can isolate the specific content on those sites which triggers the BSODs and find a way for Firefox to block it (e.g., by source site, by content type, etc.).

CiaoBella1 said

However, the first email that I opened immediately caused a BSOD with the same old KERNEL_SECURITY_CHECK_FAILURE. The video cam light flickers, which is how I know a shutdown is imminent.

Something may be trying to turn on your webcam?? That's very suspicious to me. Usually that would be done through Flash. Can you temporarily block Flash from running and see whether that makes any difference?

Open the Add-ons page using either:

• Ctrl+Shift+a (Mac: Command+Shfit+a)
• "3-bar" menu button (or Tools menu) > Add-ons

In the left column, click Plugins. Look for "Shockwave Flash" and change "Always Activate" to "Never Activate".

When you open the Add-ons page again later, Shockwave Flash will most likely be at the bottom of the list on a grayed background.

Not sure if that's relevant, but it's what comes to mind first.

Regarding memory/minidump files, please try the other forum site where Windows experts can read them: http://www.tenforums.com/bsod-crashes.../2198-bsod-posting-instructions.html. It's unlikely anyone here knows how to interpret them.

JScher2000,

See? You have a good gut instinct.

Okay, so I'll revert to the other profile. The only difference between the old profile and the new is that I told you I had three consecutive BSODs yesterday - when they are usually spaced out.

The flicker??? I put tape over it, but not enough to completely hide the lens, but yeah, strange!

I didn't mention that (the webcam flicker) to anybody else, but when the cumulative update forum was first created, somebody mentioned something about Flash updates, so I remember the first thing - or only quick fix that I tried was to uninstall Flash. When I got a MUST install message, I updated it.

If I block flash, I may not be able to participate inside of these websites, but clicking on them sometimes instigates the shutdown - what I mean by clicking through to a new tab.  Either crashes then or after I start entering info.  Sure, I'll give it a shot. 

No FF until the next version, you mean? You know - the Cumulative Update, to my knowledge did NOT install. The update crashed my system, and every attempt to install after rolled it back. How could just the attempted installation do this much damage????

I did a wushowhide (hide update) so it doesn't install by itself - Win10 DOES, you know. Do you use it? About a week ago, the update tried again to install, without me unHIDING it. I asked MS about that, also. Don't know, yet.

     A consistent error in Event Viewer is "Update Windows license and product key tokens failed with 0x80070005."   Nobody's given me an answer to that message, but I assume it's the CU.  But why is it trying to install if I hid it to prevent further damage? 

I would be happy to help you with specific content, but I know collecting info isn't that easy for an advanced novice like me. Let me know what and how.

Keep you posted.

  I sent a ton of data to TenForums today.  

Thank you.

To block Flash on some sites and not others, you can use the "Ask to Activate" permission instead of the "Always Activate" and "Never Activate" permissions (on the Add-ons page).

With this setting, when you visit a site that wants to use Flash, you should see a notification icon in the address bar and usually (but not always) one of the following: a link in a dark gray rectangle in the page or an infobar sliding down between the toolbar area and the page.

The plugin notification icon in the address bar typically looks like a small, dark gray Lego block. (If it's red, Flash needs updating.) You can click it to adjust the page's permission to use Flash (for the time being or permanently), or ignore it to leave Flash off on the page.

However, if Flash is the source of the problem, perhaps a full uninstall/reinstall of Flash might help? I can't recall whether you've tried that in another thread.

Adobe has a link to their uninstaller in this article: https://helpx.adobe.com/flash-player/kb/uninstall-flash-player-windows.html

New installers can be downloaded from this page (first table): https://www.adobe.com/products/flashplayer/distribution3.html

JScher2000,

The drama continues. I just switched back to my old profile. Clear cache works better in the newer profile. I gave up after three clicks and little movement. Should I install FF again? I may like the old profile better, as I continue to type today.

I just got the report from TenForums. Makes the "iddjots" at Microsoft look terribly lame for taking nineteen days without ONE answer, doesn't it? I'm just a little frustrated to say the least. I'm waiting to find out if I have to undo all of the damage, which includes many registry and shortcut fixes, and a gazillion deleted files, do I roll back to the date before it was installed or before the BSODs started? Which leads me to just prior to upgrading to Win 10. (Start over?)

          What a mess, ey???

I hired a tech in January. He was sure my drivers are outdated. He installed Iobit products - many of them. They seem to run efficiently, but how efficient is a program which tells you it's fixed EVERYTHING, but if you really want to fix everything, upgrade to the paid version? Axe told me to uninstall the five Iobit programs and do a system restore. He (I assume Axe is a man) thinks my laptop may not coexist peacefully with Win 10, especially since they stopped support at Asus.

I just wrote to tech to warn him about Advanced Total Care products and to ask him (since he asked me) if Asus is compatible.

I haven't gotten around to playing with emails yet, as I'm trying to take everything in stride and do each project as instructed.

I will change the setting on Flash, as you suggested. My problem is I usually ignore warnings or forget to pay attention. No, we haven't tried it HERE, although we've used uninstall/reinstall for other troubleshooting issues. Could you recommend a deep level uninstaller program? I had perfect uninstaller, which I liked, but there might be something that works better.

 To back up to the one answer you missed - if making Flash ASK doesn't work, you only mean until the next version, right?  Or if you want help w/troubleshooting my issues, I am happy to gather info.  I know, one step at a time.

Thank you.

To address the answer I missed, I don't know what's going to change in Firefox 47 (next week?) so I don't know one way or the other whether Firefox 47 will resolve this issue for you.

Sorry about the cache issue; I have nothing new on that since the other thread.

You can move your passwords, bookmarks/history to the new profile without carrying over the cache or custom settings. Perhaps that would be a good intermediate step??

If you haven't already, you may want to back up all your profile folders to some external storage in case you get a recommendation that clears your Firefox data. You can copy this entire folder and all subfolders somewhere:

C:\Users\username\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox

or as a shortcut, paste this into the system search box and press Enter to load it:

%APPDATA%\Mozilla\Firefox

O right, they only make fixes when they are aware of an issue. If I knew what kind of bug report (and how to write), I would contribute. That sucks, I don't want another browser.  : D

Still fixing stuff - and haven't had time to play.

Are you familiar with FEBE? If not, you should check it out - it's a Firefox add-on. My opinion - it's quick, light, and excellent. Get it! I think it backs up everything that you suggest be backed up, so it's already been done.

I think your intermediate step is a good idea. As always, thank you for providing the necessary next steps. I had more thoughts, mostly pertaining to questions I asked of MS that they didn't answer, so if I get time to gather all info, questions, answers, and pendings (sic), I'll post again.

I heard back from my personal tech (my remote hire) who was very defensive. I told him that dump reports aren't arbitrary - he thinks the tech at TenForums offered an opinion. I am mostly annoyed that the engineer at MS (and his assistant) didn't look at the data sooner = being that from upload to inbox it was really a couple of hours.

Keep you posted. Great appreciation of what you do and how you do it. Thank you.

Jscher2000,

TenForums told me to uninstall (and clean deeply) my Iobit programs, in particular Advanced Systems Care and Driver Booster, but I had five programs, recommended by a tech that I hired in January.

After I cleaned out my computer, which took a very long time (I used Revo), I changed my Flash setting to "Ask to Activate."

I used FF and email and opened any and all tabs that I wanted, without incident. No crash, no smash, no interruption. Not even a flicker.

I owe you a drink.

   No use denying, I am in awe.
      
  If you have questions, I understand.  Since I had two sets of instructions from two different people, it's particularly hard to assign credit.  I think it's both of you -   Thank you, JScher2000.