Firefox does not start (not even safemode) but uses CPU
I have the latest Firefox 25.0 (and latest Flash 11.9.900.117) on Windows 7 and the following behavior is reproducible. This started not too long ago.
At first when I start Firefox nothing appears no matter how often I restart. However, in the process list I see firefox.exe at 25% CPU, 2x FlashPlayerPlugin_11_9_900_117.exe (0% CPU) and plugincontainer.exe. No matter how often I kill all of them, Firefox wouldn't restart.
The following does also not help in this situation:
- Starting in normal Safemode: Firefox opens up a Window but freezes immediately and does not respond. The process list shows the the same processes even though I find FlashPlayer unexpected.
- Disable plugincontainer: Same results (just without plugincontainer.exe)
- Deinstall Flash: Same results (just without FlashPlayerPlugin)
The following can start Firefox once only:
- Starting in Safemode but select "Reset Firefox": Firefox won't start right away, though. Nothing happens and you have to kill the processes. However the very next time you start Firefox the normal way, it works fine (but it shows FlashPlayerPlugin.exe in the Windows process list despite not Tab being open). Unfortunately, after closing Firefox the processes (Firefox, FlashPlayerPlugin) are not removed. I kill them and the trouble with Firefox not starting reappears again.
Asịsa ahọpụtara
In case you are using "Clear history when Firefox closes":
- do not clear the Cookies
Note that clearing "Site Preferences" clears all exceptions for cookies, images, pop-up windows, software installation, and passwords.
Use "Firefox > Exit" (Windows: Firefox/File > Exit; Mac: Firefox > Quit Firefox; Linux: Firefox/File > Quit) to close Firefox if you are currently doing that by clicking the close X on the Firefox title bar.
Create a new profile manually (i.e. not via reset) as a test to check if your current profile is causing the problems.
See "Creating a profile":
- https://support.mozilla.org/kb/profile-manager-create-and-remove-firefox-profiles
- http://kb.mozillazine.org/Standard_diagnostic_-_Firefox#Profile_issues
If the new profile works then you can transfer some files from an existing profile to the new profile, but be cautious not to copy corrupted files to avoid carrying over the problem.
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Try to start windows in safe-mode with networking. See Windows safe-mode
This does not change any of the above ☹
The Reset Firefox feature can fix many issues by restoring Firefox to its factory default state while saving your essential information.
Note: This will cause you to lose any Extensions and some Preferences.
- Open websites will not be saved in Firefox versions lower than 25.
To Reset Firefox do the following:
- Go to Firefox > Help > Troubleshooting Information.
- Click the "Reset Firefox" button.
- Firefox will close and reset. After Firefox is done, it will show a window with the information that is imported. Click Finish.
- Firefox will open with all factory defaults applied.
Further information can be found in the Refresh Firefox - reset add-ons and settings article.
Did this fix your problems? Please report back to us!
Thank you.
I'm afraid not. As soon as I reset, Firefox disappears however two new FlashPlayerPlugin.exe processes start. Those together with firefox.exe remain as background processes and above cycle is the same.
There is one difference between resetting in safemode-startup (Shift clicking while startup and chosing "Reset") and resetting from the Troubleshooting menu: Only the former allows for a subsequent single normal start (after killing the first attempt as described above).
PS: My extensions did not get lost. Does that mean the "Reset" actually crashed? Also I'm using Sync.
PPS: I've tried disabling all Plugins (Flash etc.). Now when I close Firefox, FlashPlayerPlugin does not remain as a process, however firefox.exe does at 25% CPU. And when I try to restart Firefox, I again get two FlashPlayerPlugin processes with all the above symptoms (Plugins remain disabled in the configuration). This plugin is probably not the cause as I also tried deinstalling it, but it may give an indication where Firefox gets stuck.
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Asịsa Ahọpụtara
In case you are using "Clear history when Firefox closes":
- do not clear the Cookies
Note that clearing "Site Preferences" clears all exceptions for cookies, images, pop-up windows, software installation, and passwords.
Use "Firefox > Exit" (Windows: Firefox/File > Exit; Mac: Firefox > Quit Firefox; Linux: Firefox/File > Quit) to close Firefox if you are currently doing that by clicking the close X on the Firefox title bar.
Create a new profile manually (i.e. not via reset) as a test to check if your current profile is causing the problems.
See "Creating a profile":
- https://support.mozilla.org/kb/profile-manager-create-and-remove-firefox-profiles
- http://kb.mozillazine.org/Standard_diagnostic_-_Firefox#Profile_issues
If the new profile works then you can transfer some files from an existing profile to the new profile, but be cautious not to copy corrupted files to avoid carrying over the problem.
"Clear history when firefox closes" was causing this weird behavior. Thanks for pointing that out. I forgot that I changed this setting recently.
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Firefox tries to clear cookies created by plugins (e.g. Flash LSO) in this case and launches extra plugin-container processes. In case Firefox hadn't managed to do this on the previous close down that Firefox tries again on startup if it detects that clearing data had failed (prefs.js: privacy.sanitize.didShutdownSanitize = false)
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