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Firefox won't work after update

  • 3 replies
  • 2 have this problem
  • 1 view
  • Last reply by FredMcD

timugast
timugast
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Yesterday I let firefox update to 51.0.1. It was a manual update and I selected 'restart later' (in other words I had the browser still minimized). However I later ran ccleaner BEFORE I had restarted firefox - I forgot about the update! Now when I open firefox the browser is totally blank and won't connect to any site. It also won't let me access the options section.

If I reinstall firefox it does initially work when the browser opens after installation. However when I shut that down then reopen firefox I get the blank screen again. The problem kicks in once it creates the 'default user' profile. If I delete that profile then firefox works, but when I close firefox and reopen it (after the 'default user' profile is then created) the problem comes back.

I have tried deleting all trace files/folders/regkeys but nothing seems to solve this annoying problem. I've disabled AV/firewall but still nothing. I started pc in safe-mode and it works fine however after reboot same problem is there. Anyone have any ideas that would prevent me from having to do a full format?

Thanks in advance.

Yesterday I let firefox update to 51.0.1. It was a manual update and I selected 'restart later' (in other words I had the browser still minimized). However I later ran ccleaner BEFORE I had restarted firefox - I forgot about the update! Now when I open firefox the browser is totally blank and won't connect to any site. It also won't let me access the options section. If I reinstall firefox it does initially work when the browser opens after installation. However when I shut that down then reopen firefox I get the blank screen again. The problem kicks in once it creates the 'default user' profile. If I delete that profile then firefox works, but when I close firefox and reopen it (after the 'default user' profile is then created) the problem comes back. I have tried deleting all trace files/folders/regkeys but nothing seems to solve this annoying problem. I've disabled AV/firewall but still nothing. I started pc in safe-mode and it works fine however after reboot same problem is there. Anyone have any ideas that would prevent me from having to do a full format? Thanks in advance.

All Replies (3)

cor-el
cor-el
  • Moderator
  • Top 10 Contributor
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Did you try a clean reinstall and delete the Firefox program folder?

Create a new profile to test if your current profile is causing the problem.

See "Creating a profile":

If the new profile works then you can transfer files from a previously used profile to the new profile, but be cautious not to copy corrupted files to avoid carrying over problems.

You can copy files like these to the current Firefox profile folder to recover specific data.

  • bookmarks and history: places.sqlite
  • bookmark backups: JSON backups in the bookmarkbackups folder
  • SQLite files like cookies.sqlite (cookies) and formhistory.sqlite (saved form data)
  • logins.json and key3.db (decryption key) for Passwords saved in the Password Manager
  • cert8.db and possibly cert_override.txt for (intermediate) certificates stored in the Certificate Manager
  • persdict.dat for words you added to the spelling checker dictionary
  • permissions.sqlite for Permissions and possibly content-prefs.sqlite for other Site Preferences
  • sessionstore.js for open tabs and pinned tabs and tab groups
timugast
timugast Question owner
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Hello thank you for your lengthy and speedy reply. I really appreciate it.

I also concluded it must be an issue with the default user profile yet that didn't solve it. In the end it turns out it was Bitdefender blocking Firefox. It was unable to resolve it in some way (I guess with the partial update mentioned in previous post) so Firefox was stuck in limbo. I'd already disabled Bitdefender prior to this with no luck so I dismissed it initially. It wasn't until I added Firefox to its exclusion list that it resolved it.

This is itself is not an ideal solution since potentially Firefox.exe could get hijacked and bitdefender may not detect it.

Thanks again for your help.

FredMcD
FredMcD
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Let’s do a full clean re-install; Download Firefox For All languages And Systems {web link} Save the file. Then Close Firefox.

Using your file browser, open the Programs Folder on your computer.

Windows: C:\Program Files C:\Program Files (x86)

Mac: Open the "Applications" folder.
https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/how-download-and-install-firefox-mac

Linux: Check your user manual. If you installed Firefox with the distro-based package manager, you should use the same way to uninstall it - see Install Firefox on Linux. If you downloaded and installed the binary package from the Firefox download page, simply remove the folder Firefox in your home directory.

Do Not remove the profiles folder.

Look for, and rename any Mozilla or Firefox program folders by adding .old to them. Do not rename the Mozilla Thunderbird folder if there is one.

After rebooting the computer, run a registry scanner if you have one. Then run the installer. If all goes well, remove the OLD folders when you are done.

If there is a problem, start your Computer in safe mode and try again.

Starting The Computer In Safe Mode;
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