After an automatic update, Firefox will start but immediately terminate. How can I fix this problem? I am sick and tired of manually un-installing Firefox!!
Since Firefox version 12, after Firefox automatically applies an update, Firefox will launch and immediately terminate.
The only solution is to manually un-install Firefox, completely clean the registry of Firefox entries, and manually re-install a previous version of Fiirefox that will work -- I use version 4.0. And then manually update that version to the current version.
I DO NOT install the new automatic update option -- that is, the automatic maintenance option.
BUT never the less, EVERY TIME I check for the latest version of Firefox using HELP --> About Firefox, the UPDATE is AUTOMATICALLY RUN and FIREFOX WILL NOT WORK AGAIN.
I have put with this none sense for 18 versions of Firefox - MAKE IT STOP!!!!!!!
Thanks, David Breed
All Replies (4)
I found that after Firefox v29, a LOT of my settings and
add-ons were changed / reset. Try this;
Start Firefox in Safe Mode
While you are in safe mode;
Firefox Options > Advanced > General.
Look for and turn off Use Hardware Acceleration.
Then check ALL of your settings. Browser and add-ons. Then restart.
It is possible that your security software (firewall, anti-virus) blocks or restricts Firefox or the plugin-container process without informing you, possibly after detecting changes (update) to the Firefox program.
Remove all rules for Firefox and the plugin-container from the permissions list in the firewall and let your firewall ask again for permission to get full, unrestricted, access to internet for Firefox and the plugin-container process and the updater process.
See:
I said in the description that Firefox WILL NOT run. So how can I look for hardware acceleration in a program window that does not appear? Attempting to start in Safe Mode does not change the behavior of the program. The program does not run -- that is, it starts and terminates within 500 ms.
The problem is unrelated to security software, because the program exhibits the same behavior with the Trend Micro software turned off.
I believe there is a "hidden" switch which signals the software to terminate. This how it looks in Process Explorer. Firefox.exe appears as a process for approximately 500 ms and terminates.
Modified by David
You can use one of these to start Firefox in Safe Mode:
- On Windows, hold down the Shift key while starting Firefox with a double-click on the Firefox desktop shortcut
- On Mac, hold down the Options key while starting Firefox
- Help > Restart with Add-ons Disabled
Can you bring up the Profile Manager to create a new profile (possibly when starting in Safe Mode by holding down Shift)?
Create a new profile as a test to check if your current profile is causing the problem.
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 files from a previously used profile to the new profile, but be cautious not to copy corrupted files to avoid carrying over the problem