Search Support

Avoid support scams. We will never ask you to call or text a phone number or share personal information. Please report suspicious activity using the “Report Abuse” option.

Learn More

Firefox crashes

  • 8 replies
  • 1 has this problem
  • 6 views
  • Last reply by cor-el

more options

Windows performed an update and restart (Windows 8) this morning and now Firefox will not start in either normal or safe mode. Crash reporter appears immediately every time. Everything else appears to be running normally, including Chrome.

Crash ID: bp-9cab3cca-1b17-4004-9a8f-2dfdd2140711

Firefox 30.0 (x86 en-US) Windows 8.1 Norton Internet Security (fully up to date) i7-4700MQ 8 GB

Thanks.

Windows performed an update and restart (Windows 8) this morning and now Firefox will not start in either normal or safe mode. Crash reporter appears immediately every time. Everything else appears to be running normally, including Chrome. Crash ID: bp-9cab3cca-1b17-4004-9a8f-2dfdd2140711 Firefox 30.0 (x86 en-US) Windows 8.1 Norton Internet Security (fully up to date) i7-4700MQ 8 GB Thanks.

Chosen solution

Could you try replacing your Firefox program folders? Here's how:

(1) If needed, download a fresh installer for Firefox 30 from https://www.mozilla.org/firefox/all/ to a convenient location. (Scroll down to your preferred language.)

(2) Exit out of Firefox.

(3) Rename the folder

C:\Program Files (x86)\Mozilla Firefox

to

C:\Program Files (x86)\OldFirefox

(4) Run the installer you downloaded in #1. It should automatically connect to your existing settings.

Will Firefox start?

Note: Some plugins may exist only in that OldFirefox folder. If something essential is missing, look in these folders:

  • C:\Program Files (x86)\OldFirefox\Plugins
  • C:\Program Files (x86)\OldFirefox\browser\plugins
Read this answer in context 👍 0

All Replies (8)

more options

Edit: I see you already tried this. Never mind!

Could you try starting up in Firefox's Safe Mode? That's a standard diagnostic tool to deactivate extensions, some advanced features, and some custom settings. More info: Diagnose Firefox issues using Troubleshoot Mode.

Hold down the Shift key when starting Firefox (i.e., hold Shift, then double-click a desktop icon or click a pinned icon on the Task Bar).

A small dialog should appear: click "Start in Safe Mode" (not Reset)

Can you get in?

Modified by jscher2000 - Support Volunteer

more options

Chosen Solution

Could you try replacing your Firefox program folders? Here's how:

(1) If needed, download a fresh installer for Firefox 30 from https://www.mozilla.org/firefox/all/ to a convenient location. (Scroll down to your preferred language.)

(2) Exit out of Firefox.

(3) Rename the folder

C:\Program Files (x86)\Mozilla Firefox

to

C:\Program Files (x86)\OldFirefox

(4) Run the installer you downloaded in #1. It should automatically connect to your existing settings.

Will Firefox start?

Note: Some plugins may exist only in that OldFirefox folder. If something essential is missing, look in these folders:

  • C:\Program Files (x86)\OldFirefox\Plugins
  • C:\Program Files (x86)\OldFirefox\browser\plugins
more options

Will Firefox start up in the Profile Manager? Using "Run" from the Start screen that has the small application icons:

firefox.exe -P

Don't delete anything in the Profile Manager

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

If it opens, click the Create Profile button, choose a name like TEST, skip the option to change the folder location, and save the new profile. Then start Firefox in the new profile you created.

Will Firefox start up?

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.

more options

Wouldn't start in Profile Manager either-- I tried that earlier. I'll try the program folder replacement and let you know how that goes. Thanks.

Modified by rsinek

more options

Renaming folder/reinstalling fixed it. Must have been corrupted somehow by the Windows update, I'm guessing. When I first started the re-installed one, it had a problem and asked to start in Safe Mode, which it did. After opening once in Safe mode, it opened normally on subsequent tries.

Thanks!

more options

Thanks for the update. You might perform a file comparison between the new program folder and the old one to see what is different. You can use a freeware program like WinMerge for that, or whichever one you might prefer.

http://winmerge.org/

Modified by jscher2000 - Support Volunteer

more options

I downloaded and ran winmerge and didn't learn much. Binary files are all identical; no files new or changed in the old one in over a week ( I use it daily). The old one had Truesuite installed, but that hadn't changed since 6/21.

A mystery.  Perhaps a registry issue that got resolved when I installed the new one?
more options

There is usually some security software or malware involved with issues like this in the Firefox program folder.