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Clean install on Windows 7 SP1 x64. Tools / Options -> AppHangB1

  • 22 replies
  • 6 have this problem
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  • Last reply by kenkon

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I've been using Firefox for years but I can't find a way around this issue. The problem started after I upgraded to v38.0.5 but I've tried going back to v35.0 and it's not fixed the problem. I tried safe mode and eventually uninstalled, deleted the Mozilla registry entries and performed a clean install. I'm still unable to view the options.

As soon as I click the Tools / Options menu item I get an AppHangB1. The issue originally manifested itself when trying to add attachments in Gmail. Much of the browser works, I'm posting this issue from Firefox but certain actions cause the browser to hang. The easiest to reproduce is Tools / Options, the showshopper is not being able to upload / download files.

Hopefully someone will know how I can get firefox to work again. Currently I'm running without any extensions, just a clean install.

I've been using Firefox for years but I can't find a way around this issue. The problem started after I upgraded to v38.0.5 but I've tried going back to v35.0 and it's not fixed the problem. I tried safe mode and eventually uninstalled, deleted the Mozilla registry entries and performed a clean install. I'm still unable to view the options. As soon as I click the Tools / Options menu item I get an AppHangB1. The issue originally manifested itself when trying to add attachments in Gmail. Much of the browser works, I'm posting this issue from Firefox but certain actions cause the browser to hang. The easiest to reproduce is Tools / Options, the showshopper is not being able to upload / download files. Hopefully someone will know how I can get firefox to work again. Currently I'm running without any extensions, just a clean install.

Chosen solution

Congratulations for the wedding!

A) Export / Import your bookmarks. Re-enter passwords manually. This way you will not transfer the problem to your new account. Of course, history, saved passwords, cache and cookies will not be transferred using this method.

Export Firefox bookmarks to an HTML file to back up or transfer bookmarks

B) If you'd like to transfer more than just bookmarks, read this article:

Recovering important data from an old profile

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All Replies (20)

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Description:

 A problem caused this program to stop interacting with Windows.

Problem signature:

 Problem Event Name:	AppHangB1
 Application Name:	firefox.exe
 Application Version:	38.0.5.5623
 Application Timestamp:	5563b224
 Hang Signature:	abfe
 Hang Type:	4
 OS Version:	6.1.7601.2.1.0.256.48
 Locale ID:	2057
 Additional Hang Signature 1:	abfecd8c2f9d1031610c0fa3dce9a053
 Additional Hang Signature 2:	cc80
 Additional Hang Signature 3:	cc802668f4055569a5a557364708c696
 Additional Hang Signature 4:	34fb
 Additional Hang Signature 5:	34fbd3aaf0f5a4b0e41a45ca060223bb
 Additional Hang Signature 6:	9f27
 Additional Hang Signature 7:	9f27ed3bb8bb87e17c123287bf4178ff
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A "clean install" (uninstalling Firefox, deleting registry entries and re-installing Firefox) does not remove your Firefox user profile which contains your extensions, themes and settings. It just re-installed the Firefox program itself.

Can you view options while in safe mode? If yes then you need to find which extension is causing the problem by disabling them one-by-one in the Add-ons Manager (Ctrl+Shift+A).

Note that themes (other than default) can cause problems too.

Instructions to disable extensions and themes: Disable or remove Add-ons

Also, go to about:config page and make sure that browser.preferences.inContent is true.

If all else fails, you will have to Refresh Firefox - reset add-ons and settings. This last resort solution will most likely fix the issue but read the whole article before doing Refresh!

One last thing you could try is to do a full virus-scan.

If my solutions didn't work, we will need more info about the crashes:

  1. Enter about:crashes in the Firefox address bar and press Enter. A Submitted Crash Reports list will appear, similar to the one shown below.
  2. Copy the 5 most recent Report IDs that start with bp- and then go back to your forum question and paste those IDs into the "Post a Reply" box.

Note: If a recent Report ID does not start with bp- click on it to submit the report.

(Please don't take a screenshot of your crashes, just copy and paste the IDs. The below image is just an example of what your Firefox screen should look like.)

aboutcrashesFx29
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During my problem solving, the support pages had me click a button that removed all my extensions. I have an "Old Firefox Data" folder on my desktop, I'm assuming that was created as part of the trouble shooting process. Firefox is running without any extensions.

The about:config setting is true.

about:crashes is empty. Firefox locks up and Windows reports the application as crashed.

In safe mode I still can't access options, nor can I upload / download files.

I'll try a full virus scan and report back tomorrow morning.

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The "Old Firefox Data" folder is a backup of your user profile created by the Refresh Firefox feature before it resets your settings, removes your extensions, etc.

So keep it until this problem is solved, just in case we need to restore it.

You might be able to access options by typing about:preferences in the location bar and pressing ENTER.

One thing that is not removed by Refresh Firefox is your plug-ins. You could try disabling them one-by-one (at least temporarily). Update your Flash plugin as it is outdated (download ). If you have a "real-time" anti-virus on your PC, or a security software like Microsoft EMET, try temporarily disabling it.

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about:preferences via the location bar does not work. Firefox locks up just as if I'd picked Tools / Options.

I've disabled all the plugins and it's not made a difference.

You mentioned something about my profile not being reset. Could this issue be related to my profile?

Virus scan still in progress, currently 28% complete

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Hi. I hope your virus scan is over. If it found nothing, here's my next advice...

You can try a clean new profile without deleting your current profile. Doing this should tell us if there is indeed a problem with your current profile.

IMO, the easiest way is to create a new standard Windows user account in Control Panel, if you know how to do that. Just name it TestFirefox (or something) with an easy password and you can delete it later. Then log-in as TestFirefox and try Firefox. Each Windows user has his own Firefox profile. If you can access options then it means something is wrong with your regular profile.

The other way to create a new profile is explained in this article: Profile Manager - Create, remove or switch Firefox profiles

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Do a clean reinstall and delete the Firefox program folder before (re)installing a fresh copy of the current Firefox release.

If possible uninstall your current Firefox version to cleanup the Windows registry and settings in security software.

  • Do NOT remove "personal data" when you uninstall your current Firefox version, because this will remove all profile folders and you lose personal data like bookmarks and passwords including data in profiles created by other Firefox versions.

Remove the Firefox program folder before installing that newly downloaded copy of the Firefox installer.

  • (32 bit Windows) "C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\"
  • (64 bit Windows) "C:\Program Files (x86)\Mozilla Firefox\"

Your bookmarks and other personal data are stored in the Firefox profile folder and won't be affected by an uninstall and (re)install, but make sure NOT to remove personal data when you uninstall Firefox as that will remove all Firefox profile folders and you lose your personal data.

If you keep having problems then also create a new profile.


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I created a new account as you suggested. Tools / Options works perfectly, so I guess there's something off in my profile.

Any ideas how I can find out, or do I just need to start again with a new profile?

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Does any of the following from about:support help?

Application Basics


Name: Firefox Version: 38.0.5 Build ID: 20150525141253 Update Channel: release User Agent: Mozilla/5.0 (Windows NT 6.1; WOW64; rv:38.0) Gecko/20100101 Firefox/38.0 Multiprocess Windows: 0/1 (default: false)

Crash Reports for the Last 3 Days


All Crash Reports

Extensions


Name: FiddlerHook Version: 2.4.9.7 Enabled: false ID: fiddlerhook@fiddler2.com

Graphics


Adapter Description: Intel(R) HD Graphics 4600 Adapter Drivers: igdumdim64 igd10iumd64 igd10iumd64 igdumdim32 igd10iumd32 igd10iumd32 Adapter RAM: Unknown Device ID: 0x0412 Direct2D Enabled: true DirectWrite Enabled: true (6.2.9200.17292) Driver Date: 3-16-2015 Driver Version: 10.18.14.4170 GPU #2 Active: false GPU Accelerated Windows: 1/1 Direct3D 11 (OMTC) Subsys ID: 00000000 Vendor ID: 0x8086 WebGL Renderer: Google Inc. -- ANGLE (Intel(R) HD Graphics 4600 Direct3D11 vs_5_0 ps_5_0) windowLayerManagerRemote: true AzureCanvasBackend: direct2d 1.1 AzureContentBackend: direct2d 1.1 AzureFallbackCanvasBackend: cairo AzureSkiaAccelerated: 0

Important Modified Preferences


browser.cache.disk.capacity: 358400 browser.cache.disk.smart_size.first_run: false browser.cache.frecency_experiment: 4 browser.download.importedFromSqlite: true browser.places.smartBookmarksVersion: 7 browser.sessionstore.upgradeBackup.latestBuildID: 20150525141253 browser.startup.homepage_override.buildID: 20150525141253 browser.startup.homepage_override.mstone: 38.0.5 dom.mozApps.used: true extensions.lastAppVersion: 38.0.5 gfx.direct3d.last_used_feature_level_idx: 0 media.gmp-eme-adobe.enabled: false media.gmp-eme-adobe.lastUpdate: 1434537193 media.gmp-eme-adobe.version: 11 media.gmp-gmpopenh264.enabled: false media.gmp-gmpopenh264.lastUpdate: 1434537194 media.gmp-gmpopenh264.version: 1.4 media.gmp-manager.buildID: 20150525141253 media.gmp-manager.lastCheck: 1434701897 network.cookie.prefsMigrated: true network.predictor.cleaned-up: true places.database.lastMaintenance: 1434701897 places.history.expiration.transient_current_max_pages: 104858 plugin.disable_full_page_plugin_for_types: application/pdf plugin.importedState: true plugin.state.flash: 0 plugin.state.java: 0 plugin.state.npctrl: 0 plugin.state.npdeployjava: 0 plugin.state.npgoogleupdate: 0 plugin.state.npintelwebapiipt: 0 plugin.state.npintelwebapiupdater: 0 plugin.state.npitunes: 0 plugin.state.npqtplugin: 0 privacy.sanitize.migrateFx3Prefs: true storage.vacuum.last.index: 0

Important Locked Preferences


JavaScript


Incremental GC: true

Accessibility


Activated: false Prevent Accessibility: 0

Library Versions


NSPR Expected minimum version: 4.10.8 Version in use: 4.10.8

NSS Expected minimum version: 3.18.1 Basic ECC Version in use: 3.18.1 Basic ECC

NSSSMIME Expected minimum version: 3.18.1 Basic ECC Version in use: 3.18.1 Basic ECC

NSSSSL Expected minimum version: 3.18.1 Basic ECC Version in use: 3.18.1 Basic ECC

NSSUTIL Expected minimum version: 3.18.1 Version in use: 3.18.1

Experimental Features


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Everything looks fine at a glance, except for the presence of FiddlerHook extension. It is disabled but Refresh Firefox apparently didn't remove it. Maybe you can temporarily uninstall Fiddler, try Firefox again, then optionally reinstall Fiddler.

But if you haven't done so, do what cor-el said now. Follow his instructions to the letter please. I assumed that you already did a "clean reinstall" but maybe you didn't do it exactly right.

Also, if there is a file named downloads.rdf or downloads.sqlite in your profile folder then delete it or alternatively rename it to something like downloads.rdf.old.

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Interestingly a profile created for the new windows account TestFirefox worked, but a new profile created in my current windows account suffered with the same issue of not being able to view the options.

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Comparing both profiles, is FiddlerHook installed in both, either or none? (Of course, Fiddler isn't necessarily the culprit, there can be other differences)

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Both of the new profiles have FiddlerHook disabled. The TestFirefox profile has all the plugins enabled as well.

Is there a way to difference profiles? I tried using a file diff program but it wasn't very illuminating.

Why would a new profile in my Windows account be broken? Whereas a new profile in a new Windows account works?

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Here's the profile information from the TestFirefox Windows user:

Application Basics


Name: Firefox Version: 38.0.5 Build ID: 20150525141253 Update Channel: release User Agent: Mozilla/5.0 (Windows NT 6.1; WOW64; rv:38.0) Gecko/20100101 Firefox/38.0 Multiprocess Windows: 0/1 (default: false)

Crash Reports for the Last 3 Days


All Crash Reports

Extensions


Name: FiddlerHook Version: 2.4.9.7 Enabled: false ID: fiddlerhook@fiddler2.com

Graphics


Adapter Description: Intel(R) HD Graphics 4600 Adapter Drivers: igdumdim64 igd10iumd64 igd10iumd64 igdumdim32 igd10iumd32 igd10iumd32 Adapter RAM: Unknown Device ID: 0x0412 Direct2D Enabled: true DirectWrite Enabled: true (6.2.9200.17292) Driver Date: 3-16-2015 Driver Version: 10.18.14.4170 GPU #2 Active: false GPU Accelerated Windows: 1/1 Direct3D 11 (OMTC) Subsys ID: 00000000 Vendor ID: 0x8086 WebGL Renderer: Google Inc. -- ANGLE (Intel(R) HD Graphics 4600 Direct3D11 vs_5_0 ps_5_0) windowLayerManagerRemote: true AzureCanvasBackend: direct2d 1.1 AzureContentBackend: direct2d 1.1 AzureFallbackCanvasBackend: cairo AzureSkiaAccelerated: 0

Important Modified Preferences


browser.cache.disk.capacity: 358400 browser.cache.disk.smart_size.first_run: false browser.cache.frecency_experiment: 2 browser.download.importedFromSqlite: true browser.places.smartBookmarksVersion: 7 browser.sessionstore.upgradeBackup.latestBuildID: 20150525141253 browser.startup.homepage_override.buildID: 20150525141253 browser.startup.homepage_override.mstone: 38.0.5 extensions.lastAppVersion: 38.0.5 gfx.direct3d.last_used_feature_level_idx: 0 network.cookie.prefsMigrated: true places.history.expiration.transient_current_max_pages: 104858 plugin.disable_full_page_plugin_for_types: application/pdf plugin.importedState: true privacy.sanitize.migrateFx3Prefs: true

Important Locked Preferences


JavaScript


Incremental GC: true

Accessibility


Activated: false Prevent Accessibility: 0

Library Versions


NSPR Expected minimum version: 4.10.8 Version in use: 4.10.8

NSS Expected minimum version: 3.18.1 Basic ECC Version in use: 3.18.1 Basic ECC

NSSSMIME Expected minimum version: 3.18.1 Basic ECC Version in use: 3.18.1 Basic ECC

NSSSSL Expected minimum version: 3.18.1 Basic ECC Version in use: 3.18.1 Basic ECC

NSSUTIL Expected minimum version: 3.18.1 Version in use: 3.18.1

Experimental Features


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At this point, assuming you've tried everything cor-el and I said, it's starting to look like the problem isn't with Firefox itself or with profiles but with a setting or program in your regular Windows user account.

I would double-check that no programs (esp. security software) or settings is interfering with Firefox. Compare the list of running processes in Task Manager between the two Windows accounts.

I would also check the C: drive for errors.

Personally, I would uninstall Fiddler completely. But I don't know if you would lose your Fiddler settings. Do this at your own discretion.

As a last resort, I would do a manual backup of my bookmarks. Make 100% sure that I've memorized all my passwords or write them down on paper. Then I could uninstall Firefox completely and delete these folders:

"C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\" "C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Local\Mozilla\Firefox\" "C:\Program Files (x86)\Mozilla Firefox\"

Then reinstall Firefox and restore my bookmarks.

Others like cor-el might have better ideas.

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I've just uninstalled Firefox. The mozilla directory was removed. I rebooted and installed the latest Firefox from the link provided by cor-el. I've made the new profile my default profile but I'm still unable to run Tools / Options without Firefox locking up. I've backed up my original profile using MozBackup, so is there something I can do to get Firefox working with my current Windows account, or do I need to create a new Windows account to get Firefox working?

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Reboot in Windows Safe Mode (not to be confused with Firefox Safe Mode) and try to access Firefox options again.

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Tools / Options locks up in Windows safe mode (with no networking)

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You did remove the Firefox program folder to do a clean reinstall?

Did you create a new profile as well?

Create a new profile as a test to check if your current profile is causing the problem.

See "Creating a profile":

If the new profile works then you can transfer files from a previously used profile to the new profile, but be cautious not to copy corrupted files to avoid carrying over problems.


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.

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

See also:

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Thanks for the info. I got married yesterday and won't be near my PC for a couple of weeks. I'll try your suggestions then.

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