By the way, I don't know if this helps, but I looked up the last Crash ID I had submitted: bp-97859b84-7858-4081-8024-8eab32121228

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, Open websites, and some Preferences.

To Reset Firefox do the following:

1. Go to Firefox > Help > Troubleshooting Information.
2. Click the "Reset Firefox" button.
3. Firefox will close and reset. After Firefox is done, it will show a window with the information that is imported. Click Finish.
4. 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 for replying so quickly, Tyler. I've looked into resetting Firefox. Unfortunately, it would still require me to launch Firefox first. That's when it freezes up and crashes on me.

Actually, you can create open Firefox's safe mode, and press the Reset Firefox there. Diagnose Firefox issues using Troubleshoot Mode

Any guidelines as to how to do this on a Mac? Troubleshoot page doesn't really tell me how to do this without having to start up Firefox first (or did I miss something?).

Create a new profile 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 careful not to copy corrupted files.

• http://kb.mozillazine.org/Transferring_data_to_a_new_profile_-_Firefox

When trying to open Firefox, hold down the option Key.

The OP wrote in the first post:

I tried launching Firefox in safe mode by holding my Mac's option key, but I'm not getting the impression that it really does anything (is it done differently?).

Thank you cor-el, I'll look into it today.

I'm getting an error message, saying that firefox-bin quit unexpectedly, I've tried multiple commands, but it keeps quitting. I fear I cannot be saved. I'll start saving up for a new laptop now...

Try to do a clean reinstall and download a new Firefox copy.

Download a new copy of the Firefox program and save the disk image (dmg) file to the desktop

• Firefox 17.0.1: http://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/all.html

• Trash the current Firefox application (e.g. open the Applications folder in the Finder and drag the Firefox application to the Trash) to do a clean (re-)install
• Install the new version that you have downloaded
• https://support.mozilla.org/kb/Installing+Firefox+on+Mac

Your profile data is stored elsewhere in the Firefox Profile Folder, so you won't lose your bookmarks and other personal data if you uninstall and (re)install Firefox.

• http://kb.mozillazine.org/Profile_folder_-_Firefox

Try to repair the disk permissions:

• http://thexlab.com/faqs/repairprocess.html

Try to remove the Firefox plist file (org.mozilla.firefox.plist).

• http://www.macfixit.com/article.php?story=20060606082246983 How .plist files become corrupt and troubleshooting the results

Go to "~/Library/Preferences" and remove the plist file for Firefox (org.mozilla.firefox.plist)

I'm leaving for a trip so I'll try this asap and let you know how it went. I'll need to get my hands on Ff 16 though, because my laptop doesn't meet the requirements for 17.

https://ftp.mozilla.org/pub/mozilla.org/firefox/releases/16.0.2/mac/

Just to close the topic... I've formatted my hard drive and re-installed OSX. I immediately installed FF 16 (thanks for the link!) and all the add-ons I had before (ABP, DNTMe, Privacy Fix and Collusion) and all is well now, works like a charm. I guess I just had too much clutter on my Macbook for my RAM to handle Firefox. Thanks for the help!