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When I try to launch firefox it won't open a window. It shows that it is running in the task manager but I can't see it open on the desk top. I am trying to run 10 on windows xp. Any ideas?

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  • Last reply by JayGarcia

This started when I tried to update firefox. Have unistalled and reinstalled and cleared the registry but nothing is working.

This started when I tried to update firefox. Have unistalled and reinstalled and cleared the registry but nothing is working.

All Replies (20)

Hi,

Please see Firefox will not start.

Read "Firefox will not start" but those solutions don't apply. I don't have a security system like the one described. I even tried deleting skype and that hasn't helped either.

You can try to start Firefox in Safe Mode after doing an End Process for the currently running Firefox process in the Task manager.

Could it be, that you are using on and off two monitors and the Firefox window is stuck in a position off the screen? What happens, when you maximize it (rightclick the task in the task bar)?

Tried to open in safe mode holding the shift key but it didn't work. I only know that firefox is open by looking in the task manager. There is nothing on the task bar. I'm not clear about your question regarding two monitors. I only have one hooked up to this computer. Explorer is working normally.

This problem only occurs after the computer (running Windows 7 x64 ultimate SE) have been on for at least 24 hours. The only way to get it to work again is to reboot, or manually kill firefox.exe every time you might want to exit Firefox. To do this I actually created a bat-file. That’s how persistent this problem is. It never had this problem until last version (9?) and have stayed “broken” since, even thru system reinstall.

Rebooting hasn't worked. I can't even get firefox to open in a window where I can see it. The only reason I know firefox opened is because I can see it in task manager:

If you see it in the processes list, remove it and then try again to start FF. Also check to see if there is more than one firefox.exe in the list and remove those as well.

Modified by JayGarcia

I have tried that multiple times but to no avail. There are multipe iexplorer and I have ended the process for all open firefox and tried several times to try and restart it.

Are you by chance running RoboForm? This has been a known problem and updating to the latest version of RF has solved it.

Not running RoboForm.

Right-click on the desktop shortcut for Firefox, choose "Properties" and check the Run box, should be "Normal Mode".

says, "normal window"

Ok, if firefox.exe is in the processes list then do ALT + TAB to see if the FF icon is there, if it is then it's actually "running". Choose the icon to see what happens. I have seen at times that there is a tiny window on the desktop somewhere with a running application and that maximizing it solves that problem.

Modified by JayGarcia

not showing in ALT + TAB but it is showing in the task manager

You mentioned that it is in "Task Manager" in the processes list. Is it also shown as running in the "Applications" tab?

I am leaning somewhat in the direction that you have an application, on startup, that calls Firefox.exe for whatever reason. Anything listed in the system tray that may be the culprit?

No but I had the application tab open and when I clicked on firefox it displayed "SysFader" just for a split second. Sorry for my ignorance but what do you mean by a system tray?

The "System Tray" is located at the very bottom right of your screen and is a list of most/all running applications that will show in this list.

For your SysFader issue, this "may" be the problem:

1 Find the "My Computer" desktop icon and right-click it. A pull-down menu will appear. Select "Properties."

2 Click on the "Advanced" tab. This will load a new page of options.

3 Select the "Visual Effects" tab at the top of the window and deselect "Animate Windows when minimizing and maximizing," "Fade or slide menus into view," "Fade or slide Tool Tips into view" and "Fade out Menu items after checking."

4 Click "OK." This will remove most if not all of the Sysfader effects, at the same time correcting related errors that used to come up during opening a new file or program.

Firefox does not show up in the System Tray. I have taken the steps regarding SysFader and I'm still having the same problem with FF. I'm going to try and uninstall and reinstall again

Reinstalling the program rarely helps. Did you reboot the computer after adjusting the SysFader controls? and no, FF will not show in the system tray.

Modified by JayGarcia

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