Some of my add-ons don't launch while enabled when I start Firefox
Some of my installed add-ons fail to launch when I start FF although they appear enabled in the add-ons manager. They are all up-to-date and they work as intended when I disable them and re-enable them. But that only works for restartless ones. If I try to disable and re-enable an add-on that requires restart of FF then all the others fail to launch again. This also affects my session. I use the option to launch tabs and windows from last session when I close FF but it wont work.
I am running on Linux Mint 13 Maya xfce4 environment.
Intel Core i5-3230M processor 4GB RAM
All other software I use is up-to-date as well.
Chosen solution
You can check for problems with preferences.
Delete a possible user.js file and numbered prefs-##.js files and rename (or delete) the prefs.js file to reset all prefs to the default value including prefs set via user.js and prefs that are no longer supported in the current Firefox release.
It is possible that there is a problem with the file(s) that store the extensions registry.
Delete the extensions.* files (e.g. extensions.json, extensions.sqlite, extensions.ini) and compatibility.ini in the Firefox profile folder to reset the extensions registry.
New files will be created when required.
See "Corrupt extension files":
- http://kb.mozillazine.org/Unable_to_install_themes_or_extensions
- https://support.mozilla.org/kb/Unable+to+install+add-ons
If you see disabled or not compatible extensions in "Firefox/Tools > Add-ons > Extensions" then click the Tools button at the left end of the Search bar to check if there is a compatibility update available.
If this hasn't helped then also delete possible addons.json and addons.sqlite files.
Read this answer in context 👍 1All Replies (15)
Can you start by giving us the troubleshooting information from the Firefox installation that's having problems. This is an essential step in troubleshooting.
- Click the Firefox button at the top left, then click the Help menu and select Troubleshooting Information from the sub-menu. If you don't have a Firefox button, click the Help menu at the top and select Troubleshooting Information from the menu.
Now, a new tab containing your troubleshooting information should open.
- At the top of the page, you should see a button that says "Copy text to clipboard". Click it.
- Now, go back to your forum post and click inside the reply box. Press Ctrl+V to paste all the information you copied into the forum post.
Application Basics ------------------ Name: Firefox Version: 29.0 User Agent: Mozilla/5.0 (X11; Ubuntu; Linux i686; rv:29.0) Gecko/20100101 Firefox/29.0 Crash Reports for the Last 3 Days --------------------------------- All Crash Reports Extensions ---------- Name: ColorZilla Version: 2.8 Enabled: true ID: {6AC85730-7D0F-4de0-B3FA-21142DD85326} Name: Download YouTube Videos as MP4 Version: 1.7.18 Enabled: true ID: {b9bfaf1c-a63f-47cd-8b9a-29526ced9060} Name: Firebug Version: 1.12.8 Enabled: true ID: firebug@software.joehewitt.com Name: Gmail Notifier (restartless) Version: 0.4.1 Enabled: true ID: jid0-GjwrPchS3Ugt7xydvqVK4DQk8Ls@jetpack Name: MeasureIt Version: 0.4.13 Enabled: true ID: {75CEEE46-9B64-46f8-94BF-54012DE155F0} Name: Mint Search Enhancer Version: 1.0 Enabled: true ID: mint-search-enhancer@linuxmint.com Name: Search image Version: 0.1.2 Enabled: true ID: searchimage@searchimage.fr Name: Stylish Version: 1.4.3 Enabled: true ID: {46551EC9-40F0-4e47-8E18-8E5CF550CFB8} Name: Webmail Ad Blocker Version: 4.25 Enabled: true ID: gmailnoads@mywebber.com Name: YouTube ALL HTML5 Version: 2.1.1 Enabled: true ID: jid1-qj0w91o64N7Eeg@jetpack Name: YouTube Unblocker Version: 0.5.4 Enabled: true ID: youtubeunblocker@unblocker.yt Name: Ghostery Version: 5.2.1 Enabled: false ID: firefox@ghostery.com Important Modified Preferences ------------------------------ accessibility.typeaheadfind.flashBar: 0 browser.cache.disk.capacity: 358400 browser.cache.disk.smart_size_cached_value: 358400 browser.cache.disk.smart_size.first_run: false browser.cache.disk.smart_size.use_old_max: false browser.places.smartBookmarksVersion: 6 browser.search.useDBForOrder: true browser.sessionstore.resume_session_once: true browser.sessionstore.upgradeBackup.latestBuildID: 20140317233948 browser.startup.homepage: https://www.google.com browser.startup.homepage_override.buildID: 20140428194100 browser.startup.homepage_override.mstone: 29.0 browser.tabs.warnOnClose: false dom.mozApps.used: true extensions.lastAppVersion: 29.0 keyword.URL: https://duckduckgo.com/?t=lm&q= network.cookie.prefsMigrated: true network.protocol-handler.app.apt: /usr/bin/apturl network.protocol-handler.app.apt+http: /usr/bin/apturl network.protocol-handler.warn-external.apt: true network.protocol-handler.warn-external.apt+http: true places.database.lastMaintenance: 1399060382 places.history.expiration.transient_current_max_pages: 89076 plugin.disable_full_page_plugin_for_types: application/pdf plugin.importedState: true privacy.donottrackheader.enabled: true privacy.sanitize.migrateFx3Prefs: true storage.vacuum.last.index: 1 storage.vacuum.last.places.sqlite: 1397473064 Graphics -------- Adapter Description: Tungsten Graphics, Inc -- Mesa DRI Intel(R) Ivybridge Mobile x86/MMX/SSE2 Device ID: Mesa DRI Intel(R) Ivybridge Mobile x86/MMX/SSE2 Driver Version: 3.0 Mesa 8.0.4 GPU Accelerated Windows: 0/1 Basic Vendor ID: Tungsten Graphics, Inc WebGL Renderer: Tungsten Graphics, Inc -- Mesa DRI Intel(R) Ivybridge Mobile x86/MMX/SSE2 windowLayerManagerRemote: false AzureCanvasBackend: cairo AzureContentBackend: cairo AzureFallbackCanvasBackend: none AzureSkiaAccelerated: 0 JavaScript ---------- Incremental GC: true Accessibility ------------- Activated: false Prevent Accessibility: 0 Library Versions ---------------- NSPR Expected minimum version: 4.10.3 Version in use: 4.10.3 NSS Expected minimum version: 3.16 Basic ECC Version in use: 3.16 Basic ECC NSSSMIME Expected minimum version: 3.16 Basic ECC Version in use: 3.16 Basic ECC NSSSSL Expected minimum version: 3.16 Basic ECC Version in use: 3.16 Basic ECC NSSUTIL Expected minimum version: 3.16 Version in use: 3.16
Modified
Can you try to start Firefox in Safe Mode to see if Firefox works properly with no error? You can start Firefox in Safe Mode below:
- Windows/Mac: Go to Help > Restart with add-ons disabled
- Linux: Run firefox -safe-mode in the Terminal/Konsole
If Firefox opens up fine with no problems, it's probably one of your extensions that's causing the issue. You can re-enable your add-ons one by one until you find the one that causes the issue upon being re-enabled.
Am I supposed to start enabling add-ons one by one while in safe mode? cause it won't let me...
It did start without problems though, but still not saving session, tabs, windows that I had opened etc.
Modified
Chosen Solution
You can check for problems with preferences.
Delete a possible user.js file and numbered prefs-##.js files and rename (or delete) the prefs.js file to reset all prefs to the default value including prefs set via user.js and prefs that are no longer supported in the current Firefox release.
It is possible that there is a problem with the file(s) that store the extensions registry.
Delete the extensions.* files (e.g. extensions.json, extensions.sqlite, extensions.ini) and compatibility.ini in the Firefox profile folder to reset the extensions registry.
New files will be created when required.
See "Corrupt extension files":
- http://kb.mozillazine.org/Unable_to_install_themes_or_extensions
- https://support.mozilla.org/kb/Unable+to+install+add-ons
If you see disabled or not compatible extensions in "Firefox/Tools > Add-ons > Extensions" then click the Tools button at the left end of the Search bar to check if there is a compatibility update available.
If this hasn't helped then also delete possible addons.json and addons.sqlite files.
Could you help me in finding the folders containing those files perhaps? I'm not sure I know where they are and wouldn't wanna delete any files out of mistake.
You can use this button to go to the currently used Firefox profile folder:
- Help > Troubleshooting Information > Profile Directory: Show Folder (Linux: Open Directory; Mac: Show in Finder)
See also:
Thanks! will try it out!
Thanks a lot! I didn't have to delete the addons.json and addons.sqlite files, worked like a charm when deleted the prefs.js, extensions.* and compatibility.ini files. I am not sure if that had anything to do as well, but i noticed that I wasn't the owner of some files in there so I ran a chown -R.
Thanks again!
You're welcome
not all of these files are in my user profile (which is named "default", followed by a string of numbers and letters). The two addons files and one extension file are, but the two that worked for the asker, pref.js and compatibility.ini are not in the profile folder. I'm supposed to delete any or all of these, right?
Windows hides some file extensions by default.
Among them are .html and .ini and .js and .txt, so you may only see the prefs and compatibility file name without file extension.
You can see the real file type (file extension) in the properties of the file via the right-click context menu in Windows Explorer.
I deleted all those files and re-started Firefox. I went into add-ons and re-enabled thes ones I wanted and re-started again. No change. The ones that need to be restarted did not start and now one that was working yesterday is not working now. Firefox was working great until about 3 months ago, and then it's started freezing about every time I click a button. I've done everything the forum suggests, turning off hardware accelerator, uisng script, flash and ad blockers. All my add-ons were working fine until I reset Firefox, which I did because on the constant freezing. I added new add-ons in addition to the old ones. None of the ones that need to be re-started to enable are working now and they did before.
This is my troubleshooting information:
Application Basics
Name: Firefox Version: 30.0 User Agent: Mozilla/5.0 (Windows NT 5.1; rv:30.0) Gecko/20100101 Firefox/30.0
Crash Reports for the Last 3 Days
All Crash Reports (including 5 pending crashes in the given time range)
Extensions
Name: Clean Links Version: 2.6.0 Enabled: true ID: {158d7cb3-7039-4a75-8e0b-3bd0a464edd2}
Name: Erase Facebook ads and suggestions Version: 1.1.1.0 Enabled: true ID: jid1-UfSghNz6VhKecw@jetpack
Name: NO Google Analytics Version: 0.6 Enabled: true ID: jid1-JcGokIiQyjoBAQ@jetpack
Name: Video Blocker Version: 1.0.0 Enabled: true ID: jid1-3OQ5HY7YsLBV7Q@jetpack
Name: Adblock Plus Pop-up Addon Version: 0.9.2 Enabled: false ID: adblockpopups@jessehakanen.net
Name: Disconnect Version: 3.14.0 Enabled: false ID: 2.0@disconnect.me
Name: Flash Control Version: 1.0.5 Enabled: false ID: jid1-sNL73VCI4UB0Fw@jetpack
Name: Microsoft .NET Framework Assistant Version: 0.0.0 Enabled: false ID: {20a82645-c095-46ed-80e3-08825760534b}
Name: NoScript Version: 2.6.8.28 Enabled: false ID: {73a6fe31-595d-460b-a920-fcc0f8843232}
Name: Skype Click to Call Version: 6.11.0.13348 Enabled: false ID: {82AF8DCA-6DE9-405D-BD5E-43525BDAD38A}
Name: Updated Ad Blocker for Firefox 11+ Version: 0.7.7 Enabled: false ID: {4DC70064-89E2-4a55-8FC6-E8CDEAE3618C}
Important Modified Preferences
accessibility.blockautorefresh: true accessibility.typeaheadfind: true browser.cache.disk.capacity: 358400 browser.cache.disk.smart_size_cached_value: 358400 browser.cache.disk.smart_size.first_run: false browser.cache.disk.smart_size.use_old_max: false browser.link.open_newwindow: 2 browser.places.smartBookmarksVersion: 7 browser.sessionstore.upgradeBackup.latestBuildID: 20140605174243 browser.startup.homepage: http://www.wikipedia.org/ browser.startup.homepage_override.buildID: 20140605174243 browser.startup.homepage_override.mstone: 30.0 browser.tabs.loadInBackground: false dom.mozApps.used: true extensions.lastAppVersion: 30.0 gfx.blacklist.direct2d: 3 gfx.blacklist.layers.direct3d10: 3 gfx.blacklist.layers.direct3d10-1: 3 gfx.blacklist.layers.direct3d9: 3 gfx.blacklist.layers.opengl: 3 gfx.blacklist.stagefright: 3 gfx.blacklist.suggested-driver-version: 6.1400.1000.5218 gfx.blacklist.webgl.angle: 3 gfx.blacklist.webgl.msaa: 3 gfx.blacklist.webgl.opengl: 3 gfx.direct2d.disabled: true layers.acceleration.disabled: true network.cookie.prefsMigrated: true places.database.lastMaintenance: 1403210052 places.history.expiration.transient_current_max_pages: 26584 plugin.disable_full_page_plugin_for_types: application/pdf plugin.importedState: true privacy.donottrackheader.enabled: true privacy.sanitize.migrateFx3Prefs: true storage.vacuum.last.index: 0 storage.vacuum.last.places.sqlite: 1403118175
Graphics
Adapter Description: Intel(R) 82915G/GV/910GL Express Chipset Family Adapter Drivers: ialmrnt5 Adapter RAM: Unknown Device ID: 0x2582 Direct2D Enabled: Blocked for your graphics driver version. Try updating your graphics driver to version 6.1400.1000.5218 or newer. DirectWrite Enabled: false (0.0.0.0) Driver Date: 1-23-2005 Driver Version: 6.14.10.4020 GPU #2 Active: false GPU Accelerated Windows: 0/13 Basic Blocked for your graphics driver version. Try updating your graphics driver to version 6.1400.1000.5218 or newer. Vendor ID: 0x8086 WebGL Renderer: Blocked for your graphics driver version. Try updating your graphics driver to version 6.1400.1000.5218 or newer. windowLayerManagerRemote: false AzureCanvasBackend: skia AzureContentBackend: cairo AzureFallbackCanvasBackend: cairo AzureSkiaAccelerated: 0
JavaScript
Incremental GC: true
Accessibility
Activated: false Prevent Accessibility: 0
Library Versions
NSPR Expected minimum version: 4.10.6 Version in use: 4.10.6
NSS Expected minimum version: 3.16 Basic ECC Version in use: 3.16 Basic ECC
NSSSMIME Expected minimum version: 3.16 Basic ECC Version in use: 3.16 Basic ECC
NSSSSL Expected minimum version: 3.16 Basic ECC Version in use: 3.16 Basic ECC
NSSUTIL Expected minimum version: 3.16 Version in use: 3.16
Closing solved thread.
ikonoklast61 If you need support, please start your own thread, you can do so at /questions/new
See our Forum Rules and Guidelines for more info.