No window opens when Firefox is clicked on, but runs in the background for each time it is clicked. Cursor repeatedly flickers or spins after opening.
I work in IT and multiple users are having this same issue. It seems to have started at the same time about a week ago. When clicking on Firefox, no window opens and the cursor begins to rapidly flicker or spin. There is no error message given. When checking Task Manager, there are multiple instances of Firefox running. Trying to "End Task" on each instance proves futile because it seems that they are constantly refreshing (which is probably why the cursor flickers). Trying to run the command "taskkill /f /im /firefox.exe" sometimes works and sometimes doesn't, even in Administrative mode. The only sure fire ways to get the cursor to stop flickering and/or close the program is to restart the machine or uninstall Firefox. However, if Firefox is clicked on again after restarting, it goes back to flickering and no window ever opens.
Things I've tried:
1. Using "End Task" in Task Manager
2. Running CMD and using taskkill /f /im /firefox.exe multiple times.
3. Restarting the machine.
4. Clearing ALL temp files from the machine.
5. Uninstalling and Reinstalling Firefox
6. Uninstalling, deleting Mozilla folders from Program Files, Program Files (x86), and Reinstalling
7. Checking to make sure Firefox is not blocked by the firewall or anti-virus.
8. Uninstalling, deleting Mozilla folders from Program Files and Program Files (x86), Deleting Profile data from AppData\Local\Mozilla\Firefox, then Reinstalling
Nothing seems to be working. Any ideas?
Modified by CoNiGMa
Chosen solution
I found the root of the problem and fixed it.
I ran the command
taskkill /IM firefox.exe /f /t (to kill the firefox process and all child processes as well)
It did not kill Firefox, but when it ran, I noticed that all of the child processes had the exact same Process ID. However, the Firefox PID changed each time. This told me that the program was closing and reopening constantly.
I ran the command
wmic process where name="firefox.exe" get processid,parentprocessid,name
This gave me the parent PID of the Firefox process. Once I had that,
I ran the command
taskkill /f /PID (PID of the parent process)
It ended up killing the process which turned out to be Windows Explorer. When Explorer closed, the Firefox window opened right up. However, when I restarted Windows Explorer, closed Firefox, and tried to reopen it, it went back to flickering.
So, this told me that Explorer was causing the issues with Firefox.
I did some digging and found that we had implemented a GPO that ran a batch file at startup that had some taskkill commands in it for Windows Explorer. I disabled the GPO and restarted my machine. After restart, Firefox opened just fine.
So, the root of the problem ended up being Windows Explorer getting glitched out during the boot sequence which caused problems with Firefox.
Read this answer in context 👍 0All Replies (10)
Do you have the Firefox icon on your quick launch? Right-click on it, and select Open New Window. Sometimes this works. If it opens, close the first window. Wait a few moments, then close the browser by Menu > File > Exit. Wait a few moments, then restart the browser.
FredMcD said
Do you have the Firefox icon on your quick launch? Right-click on it, and select Open New Window. Sometimes this works. If it opens, close the first window. Wait a few moments, then close the browser by Menu > File > Exit. Wait a few moments, then restart the browser.
I tried that on more than one occasion. It did not work.
https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/changes-toolbars-and-window-sizes-are-not-saved You may have corrupt xulstore.json file.
Close Firefox. Open your file browser to this hidden location:
- Mac: *~/Library/Application Support/Firefox/Profiles
- Linux: *~/.mozilla/firefox/Profiles
- Windows: %AppData%\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles
- *C:\Users\<user>\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles
- Windows XP: C:\Documents and Settings\<user>\Application Data
\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\
Search for the above file. Then rename or delete it. Restart Firefox.
FredMcD said
https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/changes-toolbars-and-window-sizes-are-not-saved You may have corrupt xulstore.json file. Close Firefox. Open your file browser to this hidden location:Search for the above file. Then rename or delete it. Restart Firefox.
- Mac: *~/Library/Application Support/Firefox/Profiles
- Linux: *~/.mozilla/firefox/Profiles
- Windows: %AppData%\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles
- *C:\Users\<user>\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles
- Windows XP: C:\Documents and Settings\<user>\Application Data
\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\
I already deleted the whole profile folder in the AppData\Local loacation as I stated in #8. I just tried uninstalling, removing remnant files from both Program Files folders, and deleting the entire Mozilla folders from both AppData\Local and AppData\Roaming. Still has the issue after re-installing. I also did the same for the Mozilla Maintenance service.
Modified by CoNiGMa
Start Firefox in Safe Mode {web link}
A small dialog should appear. Click Start In Safe Mode (not Refresh). Is the problem still there?
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Start your Computer in safe mode with network support. Then start Firefox. Try Secure websites. Is the problem still there?
http://encyclopedia2.thefreedictionary.com/Linux+Safe+Mode Starting Any Computer In Safe Mode; Free Online Encyclopedia
FredMcD said
Start Firefox in Safe Mode {web link} A small dialog should appear. Click Start In Safe Mode (not Refresh). Is the problem still there? ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Start your Computer in safe mode with network support. Then start Firefox. Try Secure websites. Is the problem still there? http://encyclopedia2.thefreedictionary.com/Linux+Safe+Mode Starting Any Computer In Safe Mode; Free Online Encyclopedia
Ok. So, I tried starting in Safe Mode. It doesn't even ask to do so when I try. It just goes to flickering. Also, I tried running Firefox on another Windows login account on one of the affected machines and that account has the same issue on that machine. However, if I load that account on an unaffected machine, it works fine. Also, I systematically uninstalled Firefox, deleted the folder remnants from Program Files, deleted the folder remnants from Program Files (x86), deleted the folder remnants from AppData\Local\, deleted the folder remnants from AppData\LocalNow\, deleted the folder remnants from AppData\Roaming\, cleared ALL temp files, deleted ALL registry files with the word "Mozilla" or "Firefox" in them, reinstalled, and still have the same problem. It HAS to be something affecting Firefox externally like maybe .NET or something but it is ONLY Firefox having problems. I'm currently running Windows Updates to see if it does anything. These computers are using Windows 7 Pro. I am completely baffled at this point as to what it could be.
Also, to be clear, NO FIREFOX WINDOW OPENS AT ALL when trying to run it, but there are running firefox applications in the background processes.
Modified by CoNiGMa
https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/changes-toolbars-and-window-sizes-are-not-saved You may have corrupt xulstore.json file.
Close Firefox. Open your file browser to this hidden location:
- Mac: *~/Library/Application Support/Firefox/Profiles
- Linux: *~/.mozilla/firefox/Profiles
- Windows: %AppData%\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles
- *C:\Users\<user>\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles
- Windows XP: C:\Documents and Settings\<user>\Application Data
\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\
Search for the above file. Then rename or delete it. Restart Firefox.
FredMcD said
https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/changes-toolbars-and-window-sizes-are-not-saved You may have corrupt xulstore.json file. Close Firefox. Open your file browser to this hidden location:Search for the above file. Then rename or delete it. Restart Firefox.
- Mac: *~/Library/Application Support/Firefox/Profiles
- Linux: *~/.mozilla/firefox/Profiles
- Windows: %AppData%\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles
- *C:\Users\<user>\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles
- Windows XP: C:\Documents and Settings\<user>\Application Data
\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\
At this point, I know you aren't even reading my replies. You are just copy-pasting from a script. THIS IS NOT HELPFUL! You already suggested this to which I already replied.
Chosen Solution
I found the root of the problem and fixed it.
I ran the command
taskkill /IM firefox.exe /f /t (to kill the firefox process and all child processes as well)
It did not kill Firefox, but when it ran, I noticed that all of the child processes had the exact same Process ID. However, the Firefox PID changed each time. This told me that the program was closing and reopening constantly.
I ran the command
wmic process where name="firefox.exe" get processid,parentprocessid,name
This gave me the parent PID of the Firefox process. Once I had that,
I ran the command
taskkill /f /PID (PID of the parent process)
It ended up killing the process which turned out to be Windows Explorer. When Explorer closed, the Firefox window opened right up. However, when I restarted Windows Explorer, closed Firefox, and tried to reopen it, it went back to flickering.
So, this told me that Explorer was causing the issues with Firefox.
I did some digging and found that we had implemented a GPO that ran a batch file at startup that had some taskkill commands in it for Windows Explorer. I disabled the GPO and restarted my machine. After restart, Firefox opened just fine.
So, the root of the problem ended up being Windows Explorer getting glitched out during the boot sequence which caused problems with Firefox.
Modified by CoNiGMa
That was very good work. Well Done.