After a few minutes firefox cannot open new links (in new and current tabs)
What happens is no matter how many tabs I open, after a few minutes I will not be able to open a link in any new tab. A short while later I cannot re-use the tabs where I did manage to open a link before - when I type or paste in a new link and press enter, or rcl+paste and go nothing happens - nothing gets loaded. In the "console" I see zero movement, same in the "network" tab of devtools.
I then close firefox and try to open a new instance. Often nothing will happen - when I go then to task manager I will see 4 instances of Firefox processes running and I have to kill 3 of them (the 4th disappears automatically after I "end task" the 3rd one).
Reinstalling does not help, disabling hardware acceleration does not help. Admittedly I do not experience this on my other machine (both Windows 10 and 11 - on yhis machine changing over to Win11 did not influence this).
What's interesting is it started some 6 months ago (I think), and the issue disappears shortly before the next update. Then I foolishly install the FF update, and the issue resurfaces.
I have no idea what's causing this but I hate it. I need help with this please.
Chosen solution
Some problems occur when your Internet security program was set to trust the previous version of Firefox, but no longer recognizes your updated version as trusted. Now how to fix the problem: To allow Firefox to connect to the Internet again;
- Make sure your Internet security software is up-to-date (i.e. you are running the latest version).
- Remove Firefox from your program's list of trusted or recognized programs. For detailed instructions, see
Configure firewalls so that Firefox can access the Internet. {web link}
You can check for issues caused by a corrupted or incomplete Visual C++ installation that is missing runtime components (Redistributable Packages) required by Firefox, especially VCRUNTIME140_1.dll.
Install both 32-bit and 64-bit "Visual Studio 2015, 2017 and 2019" downloads, (x86: vc_redist.x86.exe and x64: vc_redist.x64.exe) from https://support.microsoft.com/help/2977003/the-latest-supported-visual-c-downloads
You may not need the latter (32-bit version) if you use 64-bit Firefox. You may have to reboot the computer. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ In another thread, a user reported that a recent update of Malwarebytes Anti-Exploit (version 415) may be causing symptoms similar to the VC Runtime problem. If you have MBAE, it should have a setting to exempt Firefox. You could test whether that makes any difference.
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Start Firefox using Troubleshoot(Safe) Mode {web link}
A small dialog should appear. Click Start In Troubleshoot(Safe) Mode (not Refresh). Is the problem still there?
Start your Computer in safe mode with network support. Then start Firefox. Try Secure websites. Is the problem still there?
Starting Any Computer In Safe Mode (web link) Free Online Encyclopedia
https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/tutorials/how-to-start-windows-in-safe-mode/
https://www.digitalcitizen.life/4-ways-boot-safe-mode-windows-10/ +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ If the problem goes away with the computer in Safe Mode, the problem is with one of the other programs on the system.
As a test, disable your protection programs.
I tried:
- starting Firefox in safe mode; - refreshing Firefox; - re-installing Firefox completely;
Behaviour is the same out of the box. Chrome (yuck) does not have these issues.
I can't even switch on devTools console (can't right-click) on a page where the tab is stuck on a spinning wheel.
And the Computer in Safe Mode?
Oh, right that, sorry tried it now, and it gets weirder even - launched safe mode, and tried running firefox from the .exe file, from the shortcut with and without admin rights -> nothing happens. It loads for a split second. Task manager shows no activity either... It does not launch at all.
Modified by Jeff86
Chosen Solution
Some problems occur when your Internet security program was set to trust the previous version of Firefox, but no longer recognizes your updated version as trusted. Now how to fix the problem: To allow Firefox to connect to the Internet again;
- Make sure your Internet security software is up-to-date (i.e. you are running the latest version).
- Remove Firefox from your program's list of trusted or recognized programs. For detailed instructions, see
Configure firewalls so that Firefox can access the Internet. {web link}
You can check for issues caused by a corrupted or incomplete Visual C++ installation that is missing runtime components (Redistributable Packages) required by Firefox, especially VCRUNTIME140_1.dll.
Install both 32-bit and 64-bit "Visual Studio 2015, 2017 and 2019" downloads, (x86: vc_redist.x86.exe and x64: vc_redist.x64.exe) from https://support.microsoft.com/help/2977003/the-latest-supported-visual-c-downloads
You may not need the latter (32-bit version) if you use 64-bit Firefox. You may have to reboot the computer. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ In another thread, a user reported that a recent update of Malwarebytes Anti-Exploit (version 415) may be causing symptoms similar to the VC Runtime problem. If you have MBAE, it should have a setting to exempt Firefox. You could test whether that makes any difference.
Bingo, switched off in firewall settings then opened firefox, allowed it in the firewall again, et voilà. The problem is no more. Explains why it always resurfaced after an update. Using AVG software (https://www.avg.com/en-nz/homepage#pc) FYI. Thank you!
G'day mate! :-)
Modified by Jeff86
Glad to help. Safe Surfing.