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Firefox 44.0 crashes in Windows XP SP3 and may cause Windows to crash

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I just updated to Firefox 44.0, and I'm now getting a "Mozilla Crash Reporter" when I try to close the Firefox browser. The Crash Reporter will not submit any reports. This is happening over and over again on my older computer, which has Windows XP SP3 Media Center Edition.

The issue may have something to do with the browser not closing fully when asked to. I'm not sure about this.

Firefox Version 43._ always worked perfectly on this computer. Should I just wait until Mozilla fixes this issue?

EDIT: Oh no! The same thing just happened in Firefox 44.0 on my Windows 7 computer, except that in this case the crash report was submitted. That's Windows 7 Professional x64.

I just updated to Firefox 44.0, and I'm now getting a "Mozilla Crash Reporter" when I try to close the Firefox browser. The Crash Reporter will not submit any reports. This is happening over and over again on my older computer, which has Windows XP SP3 Media Center Edition. The issue may have something to do with the browser not closing fully when asked to. I'm not sure about this. Firefox Version 43._ always worked perfectly on this computer. Should I just wait until Mozilla fixes this issue? EDIT: Oh no! The same thing just happened in Firefox 44.0 on my Windows 7 computer, except that in this case the crash report was submitted. That's Windows 7 Professional x64.

Modified by user1312655

Chosen solution

For what it's worth, I have used the Firefox ESR for years (extended support release). Currently running 38.6.0.

Firefox Extended Support Release for Your Organization, Business, Enterprise - Overview — Mozilla

It has always been extremely stable for me under XP Professional. The benefit of the ESR is that you are less likely to have new problems introduced into the browser, since the ESR is focused on security updates and NOT new features.

Read this answer in context 👍 0

All Replies (20)

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See this: https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/mozillacrashreporter#w_viewing-crash-reports

See if you can submit those Crash Reports by clicking on them in the about:crashes window.

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Try to start Firefox in Safe Mode by holding down the Shift (Mac: Options) key to see if that helps.

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Thank you very much for the replies. When I check "about:crashes," there are two crashes listed as "submitted." Would it help if you had a look at them? What is the best way to show them to you? The title is "Firefox 44.0 Crash Report [@ shutdownhang | WaitForSingleObjectEx | WaitForSingleObject | PR_WaitCondVar | PR_JoinThread | mozilla::net::CacheIOThread::Shutdown ]", but there is much more information.

The problem isn't happening on my Windows XP computer at this exact moment (although it just happened on my Windows 7 computer!) I'll try Safe Mode as soon as I notice the issue again, and I'll let you know the result.

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On both computers;

In the address bar, type about:crashes<enter>. Note: If any reports do not have BP in front of the numbers/letters, click it to submit them.

The crash report is several pages of data. We need the report numbers to see the whole report.

Using your mouse, mark the most resent 7 - 10 crash reports, and copy them. Now go to the reply box below and paste them in.

aboutcrashesFx29
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The problem is once again happening on my Windows XP computer this morning. When I restart my computer and open Firefox, all is well. No crash report. When I close Firefox, it crashes. The computer's busy light stays on after I close the browser, making me think that Firefox has not really shut down. The light stays on for over one minute after I shut the browser down. Then I get a crash report, even without having opened Firefox again.

When I do get Firefox to work, my home page (Google.com) and Facebook load extremely slowly. Facebook will only load in stages. First, I see a lot of text, but no pictures. Then pictures appear, but links still cannot be clicked. Finally, the links become active. However, trying to go from Facebook's News Feed page to my Timeline is enough to cause Firefox to stop responding.

I am still getting messages from the Crash Reporter that "There was a problem submitting your report." Firefox 44.0 crashes when I reopen the browser in Safe Mode too. I wasn't sure at first, but closing - not opening - the browser seems to be the main problem. Should I try restarting my computer, opening Firefox in Safe Mode, and then closing it?

I'll try copying the reports which were made on my XP computer. There are only three that made it onto the list. I hope I managed to copy them the right way. Thank you! (I'll check for the Windows 7 crash reports in a few minutes.)

https://crash-stats.mozilla.com/report/index/bp-ce6fae42-d120-4ad0-b871-fc7fa2160201

https://crash-stats.mozilla.com/report/index/bp-7620f58b-599c-490b-87ee-5a17b2160201

https://crash-stats.mozilla.com/report/index/bp-2417ea90-1509-4cb9-8ee0-88aed2160201

or (same reports):

bp-ce6fae42-d120-4ad0-b871-fc7fa2160201 01/02/2016 9:54 AM bp-7620f58b-599c-490b-87ee-5a17b2160201 31/01/2016 9:01 PM bp-2417ea90-1509-4cb9-8ee0-88aed2160201 31/01/2016 8:57 PM

Modified by user1312655

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Here is the crash report from my Windows 7 computer. It seems to be less badly affected than my Windows XP computer, at least today. The problem happened in the same situation as it did on my Windows XP computer - after shutting down Firefox, waiting a bit, and then trying to restart Firefox.

bp-86a97c0e-d66d-4814-b1a3-8fec02160201 31-Jan-16 8:26 PM

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44.0 currently has an issue that results in connection trouble and crash-on-exit on some computers. Haven't heard an explanation of the root cause yet, so I can't offer a solution, but the workaround is to use the 64-bit build or downgrade to 43.0.4.

If the 64-bit build works, then it's most likely this 44.0 issue of no-connection-crash-on-exit.

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Well said. Install an older version of Firefox {web link}

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This has now turned into an emergency. Windows XP has crashed. I have a "Blue Screen of Death." I assume that the Firefox issue was the cause, since Windows crashed while the Firefox Crash Reporter was still open. I've never had a Windows problem before, and this computer was running perfectly until Firefox 44.0 was installed.

Right now, I don't dare use Firefox again, in any version or on any computer! It's sad. I relied on this browser very much. Do you have any further advice for me? I'm not sure what to do now, even on my Windows 7 computer - risk using Firefox 44.0 on it? Wait till version 44.0 is fixed? Uninstall, and install an older version? Regarding the last option, is there an easy way to revert to version 43 without uninstalling Firefox completely? Oh, I just noticed from the link above that we can't go back to version 43 at all, just 42. I'm not fond of using an outdated browser, especially in Windows XP. I don't think the 64-bit build will work in Windows XP, which is a 32-bit operating system.

I think you need to warn everyone about the possibility of Windows crashing. If you think I'm right about Firefox Version 44.0 causing Windows to crash, it may be a good idea to withdraw version 44 immediately.

I appreciate your very kind assistance with this problem. If you have any more advice for me, I'm right here (on Windows 7 and Internet Explorer).

Modified by user1312655

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I read in another post that it may help you to diagnose the problem if you can see the BSOD. Here it is, on my Windows XP laptop.

I'm doing some reading on how to fix the blue screen problem. It appears to be a problem with the Microsoft TCP/IP Driver (networking related). Hmmm... This is all completely new to me. Do you happen to know what I should do? Do you see any connection with the Firefox issue?

Modified by user1312655

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Here's my thread about crashing here (mostly on 7 and Vista): https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/1107092#answer-839273

Safe Mode Firefox doesn't make a difference, nor does completely removing and reinstalling FF (including deleting all folders and registry entries). I'd say there's a serious problem with FF44. Any word on a fix coming out?

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brundleflyguy,

edited

Please stick with your thread here: https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/1107092

"Barging" into someone else's thread with your own issues can be confusing for the Owner of this thread and is just plain rude.

Modified by the-edmeister

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@the-edmeister - Sorry about that. Rosa2 posted in my thread to mention her problem, so I thought I'd update this thread so people would know she isn't the only one having a problem with FF 44.

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Hi Rosa2, regarding the tcpip.sys blue screen, could you try the System File Checker, TCP/IP reset, and also scan for malware on that system.

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Hello brundleflyguy! I'm glad you shared your thread. Thank you for saving me some time by letting me know what has not worked for you (so far). I don't find this confusing or rude at all. I had some things in my thread that I thought would help you, and vice versa. Readers will now be able to check both threads, and I think that's excellent.

I'm new here, though, so I may not be familiar with all of the rules.

jscher2000, my Windows XP seems to have recovered, although I haven't tried out everything yet. I did a full virus/malware scan today and found "patterns of PUA/OpenCandy.Gen." This adware was connected with Winzip155.exe. Previous scans (i.e. last year) hadn't found OpenCandy. Is it possible that this adware may have been hiding in the restore area (where it does no harm, as far as I know)? Maybe it was brought back by the Windows recovery process? In any case, I've read that OpenCandy isn't a big problem. I have quarantined it. It doesn't seem likely that it caused my Windows crash. If I'm mistaken about that, please correct me. I'll have a look at your other suggestions too. Thank you very much for them! You're very helpful.

I agree with brundleflyguy that there seems to be a serious problem with Firefox 44.0. I'd like to know whether there are attempts underway to fix it. In Windows XP, we don't have much choice in supported browsers. Firefox was absolutely wonderful. If I could be sure of its safety, I'd go back to it. As things stand, that isn't possible - certainly not in Windows XP.

Modified by user1312655

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Hi Rosa2, I'm not familiar with OpenCandy, but it sounds as though that has been cleaned up and won't be an issue.

If you decide to try XP again, could you do this three-minute experiment:

Create a new Firefox profile

A new profile will have your system-installed plugins (e.g., Flash) and extensions (e.g., security suite toolbars), but no themes, other extensions, or other customizations. It also should have completely fresh settings databases and a fresh cache folder.

Exit Firefox (if applicable) and start up in the Profile Manager using Start menu > Run, by pasting the following and pressing Enter:

firefox.exe -P

Don't delete anything here!

Any time you want to switch profiles, exit Firefox and return to this dialog.

Click the Create Profile button, assign a name like TEST2016, and skip the option to relocate the profile folder. After creating the profile, select it and start Firefox in that profile.

Any difference in speed or ability to exit cleanly?

When returning to the Profile Manager, you might be tempted to use the Delete Profile button. But... it's a bit too easy to accidentally delete your "real" profile, so I recommend resisting the temptation. If you do want to clean up later, I suggest making a backup of all your profiles first in case something were to go wrong.

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I'm cautiously using Firefox 44 on my Windows 7 computer for a few minutes a day and haven't noticed any more problems with it, so far. The Windows XP computer is another matter. I don't dare open Firefox on it. I can't risk losing Windows and all the files on my computer! I am desperately hoping the crashing problem in Windows XP will be fixed. How will I know when I can safely try Firefox again?

Modified by user1312655

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Rosa2 said

The Windows XP computer is another matter. I don't dare open Firefox on it. I can't risk losing Windows and all the files on my computer! I am desperately hoping the crashing problem in Windows XP will be fixed. How will I know when I can safely try Firefox again?

Is this the problem with Firefox hanging during shutdown and then "crashing" itself? I don't think that poses a serious risk to your computer. But I also don't think the root cause of the increased shutdown hangs for some users in Firefox 44 has been identified. Maybe someone else has seen an explanation.

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Yes, Firefox hangs during shutdown and then crashes. It happens virtually every time. I'm going to look up the crash signatures and see if I can learn anything from them. cor-el has suggested looking here https://crash-stats.mozilla.com/ . The particular bugs involved are described. If you or anyone else can help further, it would be greatly appreciated.

Isn't a Windows blue screen a serious risk to a computer? Windows was certainly sending me stern (and scary) messages. The BSOD that I got said that if it occurred a second time I should "disable or remove any newly installed hardware or software." The only thing I had recently installed, other than regular Avira Antivirus updates, was Firefox 44. Windows XP crashed seconds after Firefox crashed. The Firefox Crash Reporter was still open. It leads me to think that the two were related, although of course I'm not positive.

Modified by user1312655

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Yes, blue screen crashes are bad. But also very rare.

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