Firefox needs to close, won't even start

I'm using Windows XP. One day last year, my Firefox had a problem and needed to close. Been using IE ever since, and it drives me crazy.

Installing the newest FF still doesn't help. I've followed all the Firefox, Microsoft, and HP advice. Have always had updated Zonealarm, Winpatrol, Spybot SD, and Ad-aware. I've tried sophos anti-rootkit, housecall, and heaven knows what else. Cleaned up machine as best I could.

Any ideas? I miss FF! Oh, I just updated my Java this morning, too. Been doing that after removing the old one. Thanks for any help you can give me.

 

Could you be more specific and tell us the problem your having with Firefox.

Regard Jason

 

My guess is he/she is getting an error of

Firefox has encountered a problem and needs to close


I would try it in Safe Mode, where all firefox extensions are disabled. Have you done this yet?

 

I tried that when it first started. I still get that exact error. So I totally removed everything. Downloaded again. First time I tried to open, I got that error. The firefox screen never showed, just the error.

Thanks for answering me!

 

Jason, it never actually opens fully. I immediately get the error. Thanks.

 

It looks to me your going have to remove files manually:

You might want to copy and paste these instructions into a notepad file. Then you can have the file open in safe mode, so you can follow the instructions easier.

Boot into safe mode, under your normal user name(NOT THE ADMINISTRATOR ACCOUNT). See how HERE.

In Windows Explorer, turn on "Show all files and folders, including hidden and system". See how HERE.

Open your task manager, by holding down the ctrl and alt keys and pressing the delete key.

Click on the processes tab and end process for(if there).

Firefox.exe

Close task manager.

Locate and delete the following bold files and/or folders(if there).

C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\ <<< Delete entire folder.

Reboot into normal mode and rehide your protected OS files.

Next re-install it and see how it goes.

Regards Jason

 

Thanks, Jason. I'll try it and get back to you.

But why in safe mode?

Sandy

 

JASON, you were right on the money! Thank you!!! After deleting the mozilla folder using your precise instructions, I reinstalled, and it works PERFECTLY!!!! I don't know why add/remove didn't do it, or why the safe mode F8 manual removal was required, but it did the trick! WHY wasn't this addressed in any of the many microsoft and firefox documents I read? It appeared absolutely nowhere when I searched the error message on both sites.

Thanks so much, Jason.

Sandy

 

That's great news, thanks for letting us know.

I don't know why it wasn't addressed in any documents you read, that would be something to take up with them.

Regards Jason

 

Steve, thanks so much for your tips. I will go back and read them. Thankfully, it's repaired! I do need to understand more, though.

I am indebted to you folks here on this board. I'm over forty, and did not grow up with pcs, although I sold some early ones in the 1980s. Remember PS2? I recall when our college physics department bought an early Tandy that didn't do as much as some graphing calculators do now (1978?). I'm telling my age, I know.

I got my first Windows pc about five or six years ago. I've been steadily learning. I rely on those with more experience a lot, but I'm not afraid to try things with the pc.

However, I have a ton of protection here: ZA internet security suite, winpatrol, Adaware, Spybot SD, and Spysweeper, and a bunch of auxiliary programs, like Sergiwa's RRT and sophos anti-rootkit on demand. Am I over-cautious? Stuff still got through my laptop when my husband used it at the hotel. It got hosed before he even got the web browser up and running. Turned out to be something that didn't come out on the ZA update until AFTER the thing got hosed.

 

That's fine, you can run as many anti-spyware programs as you want, as they all do some good.

However, only run one antivirus scanner, as having two installed can cause serious conflicts.

If you have any questions, then all you've got to do is ask.

Regards Jason

 

I recommend SUPERAntispyware as that as a huge database, and is infact very good.

Ad-Aware is good, however I do not like the 2007 version, due to the service that runs even when the program isn't running, however there is a simple fix to fixing this, just do the following:

To stop Ad-Aware running as a Service.

• Go Start > Run. type in:
  • services.msc
  • Find the Ad-Aware 2007 Service and set it to Manual
• Go to Start > Run type in:
  • Notepad.exe and press Enter
• Copy and paste the below quoted text into Notepad:

• In Notepad go to File > Save As...
• Name it start_adaware.bat <<Be sure it is saved as a Text file
• Choose the save location as
  • C:\Program Files\Lavasoft\Ad-Aware 2007
• Double click the start_adaware.bat file to run it.
  • 
    [*] It should look like this
  • http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s258/evilfantasy69/bat_icon.gif
• Ad-Aware will open, close it.
• Ad-Aware will no longer run as a Service.

Although this has never caused a problem on hundreds of computers the unexpected can happen.
Take care in working this procedure carefully.
We are not responsible for mistakes.
.
.

Thanks to evilfantasy.

Regards Jason

 

There are a few additional things you can also do to speed it up and remove the bloat. See my posts here http://forums.majorgeeks.com/showpost.php?p=1049115&postcount=7