My entire firefox has gotten completely messed up
My entire browser has gotten inexplicably messed up.
- Trying to customise (about:customizing) doesn't work, clicking on the button from the horizontal lines icon
- yields a blank about:customizing page or
- nothing happens.
- A few of my add-ons appear enabled on the addons-page but don't work in reality.
- The homepage that appears when I start firefox is now about:blank, though it shows my real homepage (about:superstart) in settings.
- The "Sign in to sync" button from my 3-horizontal lines menu has suddenly disappeared.
- It also seems like enabling/disabling add-ons doesn't actually work, since it doesn't tell me to restart firefox after trying to do so.
And lots of other things. How can I get it back to normal? I really hope I don't need to reinstall firefox (I don't want to install all the addons again and redo all the customisation and everything)! I didn't do anything that could have caused the bug. I was just changing my Windows theme, and testing how firefox blended with these themes. The appearance got distorted, firefox hanged repeatedly, for some unknown reason, so I restarted it. And then suddenly all this happens.
I really need help. Thanks in advance!
Modified by Dimension10
Chosen solution
Making a copy of the profile folder may be best if the third party utility is not completing the job.
In case one of your extensions is involved, could you test the page in Firefox's Safe Mode? That's a standard diagnostic tool to deactivate extensions and some advanced features of Firefox. More info: Diagnose Firefox issues using Troubleshoot Mode.
You can restart Firefox in Safe Mode using either:
- "3-bar" menu button > "?" button > Restart with Add-ons Disabled
- Help menu > Restart with Add-ons Disabled
(Not all add-ons are disabled: Flash and other plugins still run)
If those methods doesn't work, exit Firefox and hold the Shift key down when starting it up again.
A small dialog should appear. Click "Start in Safe Mode" (not Reset).
Any difference?
Read this answer in context 👍 1All Replies (5)
These add-ons can be a great help by backing up and restoring Firefox
FEBE (Firefox Environment Backup Extension) {web link} FEBE allows you to quickly and easily backup your Firefox extensions, history, passwords, and more. In fact, it goes beyond just backing up -- It will actually rebuild your saved files individually into installable .xpi files. It will also make backup of files that you choose.
OPIE {web link} Import/Export extension preferences
After you have saved everything, I would suggest you Reset Firefox {web link} After, you can use FEBE to restore your profile.
Thanks... How long does a full profile backup in FEBE generally take? Because according to the results file, absolutely nothing (no add-ons, no themes, just a profileFx29.0.1{default}.fbu) nohas been backed up yet since 40 minutes.
Also, how is this different from copying the entire profile folder?
Chosen Solution
Making a copy of the profile folder may be best if the third party utility is not completing the job.
In case one of your extensions is involved, could you test the page in Firefox's Safe Mode? That's a standard diagnostic tool to deactivate extensions and some advanced features of Firefox. More info: Diagnose Firefox issues using Troubleshoot Mode.
You can restart Firefox in Safe Mode using either:
- "3-bar" menu button > "?" button > Restart with Add-ons Disabled
- Help menu > Restart with Add-ons Disabled
(Not all add-ons are disabled: Flash and other plugins still run)
If those methods doesn't work, exit Firefox and hold the Shift key down when starting it up again.
A small dialog should appear. Click "Start in Safe Mode" (not Reset).
Any difference?
@jscher2000 Thank you! I had tried to try that before, but I was afraid of the dialog which said "Are you sure you want to disable all add-ons and restart?" as I thought the disabling was permanent.
But it worked! The funny thing is that after starting it in safe mode once, it works fine in normal mode too. Thanks again!