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Updated, runs in background but browser won't open

  • 3 replies
  • 13 have this problem
  • 6 views
  • Last reply by cerulean1

cerulean1
cerulean1
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Firefox automatically updated today, and I restarted the browser. Or at least tried to. the process is running in the background, but the browser itself won't open at all. I'm running Windows 7, and it looks, on the windows bar, as if its going to open, but then it fades away. When I went to uninstall it said it was still running. Stopped process, uninstalled and reinstalled, but same issue. Can't use any of the troubleshooting tasks because I can't get into the browser at all!

Working with a secondary browser currently, which is fine, but I really want Firefox back!!

Firefox automatically updated today, and I restarted the browser. Or at least tried to. the process is running in the background, but the browser itself won't open at all. I'm running Windows 7, and it looks, on the windows bar, as if its going to open, but then it fades away. When I went to uninstall it said it was still running. Stopped process, uninstalled and reinstalled, but same issue. Can't use any of the troubleshooting tasks because I can't get into the browser at all! Working with a secondary browser currently, which is fine, but I really want Firefox back!!

Chosen solution

cerulean1 wrote: 

Can't use any of the troubleshooting tasks because I can't get into the browser at all!

Does Firefox not start in Safe Mode?

  1. Click the Windows logo orb on the taskbar to bring up the Start Menu.
  2. In the search box, type firefox.exe -safe-mode and press Enter.
  3. If the little Firefox Safe Mode window pops up, click the Start in Safe Mode button.
  4. For more details, see Diagnose Firefox issues using Troubleshoot Mode

If Firefox doesn't start in Safe Mode, does the profile manager start? If yes, create a new profile and try starting Firefox in that profile.

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All Replies (3)

Gingerbread Man
Gingerbread Man
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Chosen Solution

cerulean1 wrote: 

Can't use any of the troubleshooting tasks because I can't get into the browser at all!

Does Firefox not start in Safe Mode?

  1. Click the Windows logo orb on the taskbar to bring up the Start Menu.
  2. In the search box, type firefox.exe -safe-mode and press Enter.
  3. If the little Firefox Safe Mode window pops up, click the Start in Safe Mode button.
  4. For more details, see Diagnose Firefox issues using Troubleshoot Mode

If Firefox doesn't start in Safe Mode, does the profile manager start? If yes, create a new profile and try starting Firefox in that profile.

cor-el
cor-el
  • Moderator
  • Top 10 Contributor
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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:

cerulean1
cerulean1 Question owner
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~ It would not start in safe mode, nor could I open the profile manager. However, I ended up restarting the computer in safe mode with all background processes stopped. Firefox still wouldn't open normally, but it would open in safe mode then. Disabled the faulty extension, restarted the computer, and everything seems to be okay now.

Thanks!