Firefox opens, then doesn't respond. Can't reset. Fresh install doesn't fix it. Mac OSX
I was browsing the internet with Firefox when it froze, so I force quit. I open it but it immediately freezes/does the spinning wheel mouse cursor thing indefinitely, so I have to force quit it again.
I tried restarting and shutting down my Mac. Then I tried resetting Firefox, but it doesn't respond. I tried in Safe Mode, but it still immediately does the spinning wheel cursor. So then I tried doing a fresh reinstall, several times. But it still keeps having the same problem.
Help!
Edit. I don't think it could be a problem with my add ons, seeing as I've used the same ones for years and never had this problem.
One thing I did change a few days ago, is usually I let my Firefox History store things for ages, but I thought I'd free up RAM by changing these settings. I forget which settings I changed though, possibly changed something so it deletes history and and something else after shutting down each session.
Modified by foxinsocks
Chosen solution
It seems I found a solution for my problem!
I went into 'Username/Library/Application Support/...' and deleted the Firefox folder with the Profile settings because it seemed to be the settings I changed that triggered the problem beforehand.
I then proceeded with trashing the application and the .dmg downloads, and doing a fresh install again. Firefox is now opening and working normally for me. (However, I do not know why changing my History settings in the first place, caused this problem.)
PLEASE NOTE: if anyone else tries this, if you delete the whole folder you will lose all your saved bookmarks. There is probably a folder within Profiles that you can copy and save to keep your bookmarks, but I'm not sure which one it is.
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Try to do a clean install and download the full version and trash the currently installed version
Download a new copy of the Firefox application and save the disk image file to the desktop
- Firefox 34.0: https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/all/
- Trash the current Firefox application (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 personal data is stored elsewhere in the Firefox profile folder, so you won't lose your bookmarks and other personal data when you uninstall and (re)install Firefox.
Sorry, but that solution is one which I've tried numerous times already, which I found on these forums, before I asked for further help.
Unfortunately, I still cannot find out what the problem is, or use Firefox.
I'm wondering if it is a problem with changing my history settings. Can anyone tell me whether these settings and browser preferences are stored/saved somewhere on my computer, even after I delete the application? Maybe that's why a fresh install is not solving the problem.
Chosen Solution
It seems I found a solution for my problem!
I went into 'Username/Library/Application Support/...' and deleted the Firefox folder with the Profile settings because it seemed to be the settings I changed that triggered the problem beforehand.
I then proceeded with trashing the application and the .dmg downloads, and doing a fresh install again. Firefox is now opening and working normally for me. (However, I do not know why changing my History settings in the first place, caused this problem.)
PLEASE NOTE: if anyone else tries this, if you delete the whole folder you will lose all your saved bookmarks. There is probably a folder within Profiles that you can copy and save to keep your bookmarks, but I'm not sure which one it is.
Modified by foxinsocks