Firefox won't start after updating
Firefox recently completed an auto-update, however now the software won't load.
If I click on the Firefox icon, I get the Windows egg timer for about 10 seconds, then the pointer reverts to normal and nothing happens. If I open Task Manager at the same time, when I click on the Firefox icon, I see the application listed for approximately 5 seconds, then it's removed from the list.
I have tried running in compatibility mode, as well as removing and re-installing, neither of which have helped.
Can you advise, please ?
All Replies (5)
See here Firefox won't start - find solutions
You can use one of these to start Firefox in Safe Mode:
On Windows, hold down the Shift key while starting Firefox with a double-click on the Firefox desktop shortcut On Mac, hold down the Options key while starting Firefox Help > Restart with Add-ons Disabled
https://support.mozilla.org/kb/Safe+Mode
Create a new profile as a test to check if your current profile is causing the problems.
Do a clean reinstall and delete the Firefox program folder before (re)installing a fresh copy of the current Firefox release.
Download a fresh Firefox copy and save the file to the desktop.
Firefox 24.0: http://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/all.html
Uninstall your current Firefox version, if possible, to cleanup the Windows registry and settings in security software.
Do NOT remove personal data when you uninstall your current Firefox version, because all profile folders will be removed and you lose personal data like bookmarks and passwords from profiles of 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\"
It is important to delete the Firefox program folder to remove all the files and make sure that there are no problems with files that were leftover after uninstalling. http://kb.mozillazine.org/Uninstalling_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 that "remove personal data" is NOT selected when you uninstall Firefox.
If you keep having problems then also create a new profile.
http://kb.mozillazine.org/Profile_folder_-_Firefox http://kb.mozillazine.org/Profile_backup
http://kb.mozillazine.org/Standard_diagnostic_-_Firefox#Clean_reinstall
Do a malware check with some malware scanning programs on the Windows computer. Please scan with all programs because each program detects different malware.
Make sure that you update each program to get the latest version of their databases before doing a scan.
Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware: http://www.malwarebytes.org/mbam.php SuperAntispyware: http://www.superantispyware.com/ Microsoft Safety Scanner: http://www.microsoft.com/security/scanner/en-us/default.aspx Windows Defender: Home Page: http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/winfamily/defender/default.mspx Spybot Search & Destroy: http://www.safer-networking.org/en/index.html AdwCleaner: http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/download/adwcleaner/ http://www.softpedia.com/get/Antivirus/Removal-Tools/AdwCleaner.shtml Kasperky Free Security Scan: http://www.kaspersky.com/security-scan
You can also do a check for a rootkit infection with TDSSKiller.
Anti-rootkit utility TDSSKiller: http://support.kaspersky.com/5350?el=88446
See also:
"Spyware on Windows": http://kb.mozillazine.org/Popups_not_blocked
Many thanks for getting back to me.
I can't open Firefox in Safe Mode ( I get the same 5-10 seconds 'egg timer' then nothing ). I had already tried a full re-install and even a new profile and removing all my settings, so there was nothing getting in the way. I have carried out a full system scan and also run the anti-rootkit utility, then done a fresh install again.
Sadly nothing has changed and I still can't start Firefox.
It is possible that your security software (firewall, anti-virus) blocks or restricts Firefox or the plugin-container process without informing you, possibly after detecting changes (update) to the Firefox program.
Remove all rules for Firefox and the plugin-container from the permissions list in the firewall and let your firewall ask again for permission to get full unrestricted access to internet for Firefox and the plugin-container process and the updater process.
See:
Boot the computer in Windows Safe Mode with network support (press F8 on the boot screen) as a test to see if that helps.
Hi
I tried removing Firefox from my firewall and I tried turning off my firewall all together. That didn't change anything and Firefox didn't attempt to make a connection through the firewall when I tried to load it ( I assume this as there was no alert to say Firefox was trying to access the internet ).
However, when I booted into Safe mode with networking Firefox started successfully. I then disabled all plug-ins ( there are no add-ons ) and booted again into normal Windows, but again Firefox won't start.
Do a malware check with some 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.
- Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware:
http://www.malwarebytes.org/mbam.php - SuperAntispyware:
http://www.superantispyware.com/ - Microsoft Safety Scanner:
http://www.microsoft.com/security/scanner/en-us/default.aspx - Windows Defender: Home Page:
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/winfamily/defender/default.mspx - Spybot Search & Destroy:
http://www.safer-networking.org/en/index.html - AdwCleaner:
http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/download/adwcleaner/
http://www.softpedia.com/get/Antivirus/Removal-Tools/AdwCleaner.shtml - Kasperky Free Security Scan:
http://www.kaspersky.com/security-scan
You can also do a check for a rootkit infection with TDSSKiller.
- Anti-rootkit utility TDSSKiller:
http://support.kaspersky.com/5350?el=88446
See also:
- "Spyware on Windows": http://kb.mozillazine.org/Popups_not_blocked