Firefox won't open from executable or shortcut
This is probably the most bizarre computer issue I've had, and I have absolutely no idea where to go from here.
I just upgraded from Windows 7 to Windows 10. No problems with ANY other programs(that I've seen so far), except Firefox.
It appeared that Firefox wasn't registered as a program. When going to Default Programs, Firefox was not an option on the list, and in fact, it was not even in the System>Apps&features list(or appwiz.cpl) to remove. The shortcut on my desktop and in the start menu were still there, but when I click them, nothing opens. Checking task manager, it would open under Background apps for a split second, then drop off the list.
So I downloaded the Firefox installer and installed it over my current install, same version of Firefox, to repair registry entries. Now it's registered. Was able to select it as the default browser, shows up in the Apps&Features. I have uninstalled it, and then again reinstalled it from the downloaded installer, and it still will not open from the shortcuts, or even directly double-clicking firefox.exe in its install folder. Reinstalled it... the same issue still. Now I looked this up a little in Mozilla Support. Checking in %appdata%/Mozilla/Firefox/Crash Reports, there are no crash reports from these failed opening attempts (renamed the old Crash Reports folder, and a new one isn't even created). There was also the possibility that the profile was corrupt, so I tried firefox.exe -P to open the profile manager, but I got the same exact issue with it the first time. It would show up for a split second in Background apps on Task Manager, then disappear. No crash reports. Also, for the heck of it, tried to Run as Admin, no results.
This is where things actually get weird. You see, I had an HTML file on my desktop, and decided to open it. It still had the Firefox icon, because I had firefox set as the default program to open it back on Windows 7... Firefox opened to the file. Everything was there, too. All my bookmarks, my settings, saved passwords, theme, interface setup, plugins, extensions, everything. Well, the profile doesn't seem to be the problem. So I closed Firefox. tried to open it from the shortcut, still nothing. Went to test something else, pulled up Thunderbird, went to an email that had a link in it, clicked the link... Firefox opened to the link.
Once it's opened, everything works perfectly fine.
I've tried changing my homepage and "when firefox starts" settings... they have yet to result in anything useful.
So I dove into my registry a bit, and looked at the associated commands to open Firefox via HTML files and URLs... in the command line (and run prompt too) "C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe" -osint -url "http://www.google.com" Nothing. "C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe" -osint -url "file:///C:/Users/Rich/Desktop/test.html" Nothing.
I have absolutely no idea what could possibly be going on with this.
Checked Windows Event Viewer... and there's most certainly a crash message, but it provides no useful information.
Level: Error - Source: Application Error - EventID:1000 - Task Category:(100)
Faulting application name: firefox.exe, version: 46.0.1.5966, time stamp: 0x57280823 Faulting module name: unknown, version: 0.0.0.0, time stamp: 0x00000000 Exception code: 0xc0000005 Fault offset: 0x00007ffc5bff038a Faulting process id: 0x17a8 Faulting application start time: 0x01d1b7bdc0413919 Faulting application path: C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe Faulting module path: unknown Report Id: 758282a6-da84-4ff5-beb8-649e94e4bdc2 Faulting package full name: Faulting package-relative application ID:
Level:Information - Source:Windows Error Reporting - EventID:1001
Fault bucket 120474416237, type 4 Event Name: APPCRASH Response: Not available Cab Id: 0
Problem signature: P1: firefox.exe P2: 46.0.1.5966 P3: 57280823 P4: StackHash_a079 P5: 0.0.0.0 P6: 00000000 P7: c0000005 P8: PCH_4B_FROM_ntdll+0x00000000000A5BD4 P9: P10:
Attached files: C:\Users\Rich\AppData\Local\Temp\WER2D3D.tmp.WERInternalMetadata.xml
These files may be available here: C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\WER\ReportArchive\AppCrash_firefox.exe_5d5255dd6d7b9fb2a8603623448bc558d1c865f_07bf5a44_2fef2ffd
Analysis symbol: Rechecking for solution: 0 Report Id: 758282a6-da84-4ff5-beb8-649e94e4bdc2 Report Status: 0 Hashed bucket: 3f64c3a0a15bdcbe3cdd2f5afe06cdad
If dumps of the Windows Error Reporting data would help, I can also post those. I am at wits end with this. Sure, I can open Firefox still, which is good, but I do not like having to use the hackish methods to do it every time.
Tutte le risposte (8)
Let’s do a full clean re-install; Download Firefox For All languages And Systems {web link} Save the file. Then;
Using your file browser, open the Programs Folder on your computer.
Windows: C:\Program Files C:\Program Files (x86) Mac: Open the "Applications" folder. Linux: Check your user manual.
Do Not remove the profiles folder.
Look for, and rename any Mozilla or Firefox program folders by adding .old to them. Do not rename the Mozilla Thunderbird folder.
After rebooting the computer, run a registry scanner. Then run the installer. If all goes well, remove the OLD folders when you are done.
I believe I mentioned that I already did this.
In fact, I uninstalled it using Revo Uninstaller Free, Advanced Mode, removing everything except the files in my appdata folder, and the registry entries of file association for HTM/HTML files.
Try to start Firefox with the about:blank page by creating a copy of the current Firefox desktop shortcut. Add a space and -url "about:blank" to the target field in the Properties.
Try to start Firefox in Safe Mode to see if that works.
- Windows: hold down the Shift key while starting Firefox
- Mac: hold down the Options key while starting Firefox
No luck on either. Same errors show up in Event Viewer, no crash reports from Firefox itself
Also, attempted the "Refresh Firefox" that was linked on the Safe Mode page... and now it won't even open via URLs from other programs or HTML files.
I've tried starting Windows into Safe Mode, with no luck starting firefox, and I've re-downloaded the installer, in case something was corrupt, yet no change. Further installs of Firefox have not produced an entry in the Apps & features list, Appwiz, or Revo Uninstaller's program list, though it was still able to be set as default browser.
Well, I found a temporary fix, though it's not ideal. Apparently, the 32bit Firefox install does not have the issue, only the 64bit install. I'd still like to find the actual fix to it... though I'm tempted to write it off as an issue with the 46.0.1 release.
I'm going to try one more thing... to disassemble the installers, and use the setup.exe from the x86 with the x64 data files, and do a little work in the registry, and see if I cannot get a hackish install successful that way. Will update with results.
Install worked... Firefox did not. It very much seems like issues with the 64bit Firefox.
If anyone can provide more information, or a fix, I would appreciate it.
I've called the big guys to help you. Good luck.
I have some additional information now.
Using the same installer, I tested an install on my other machine, which is still Windows 7, and it successfully installed and ran, with the program properly showing in "Programs and Features".
With that in mind, I returned to my Windows 10 machine and ran the install in compatibility mode for Windows 8. The install succeeded, and Firefox showed up in "Apps & Features" as well as "Programs and Features". Firefox itself runs while in compatibility mode, using either Windows 8 or Windows 7 setting.
So the solution for Firefox x64 not running on a Windows 10 x64 is compatibility mode. With that in mind, it is definitely an issue with both the 64bit installer and program being incompatible with Windows 10.