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After updating to Firefox 15 on my Vista machine Firefox will not open. I have removed and reinstalled it but still won't open. How do I fix this?

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  • Last reply by ideato

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I am running Windows Vista Home Premium and after doing the update for Firefox 15, firefox won't start. I get no error messages or anything it just won't start. I removed Firefox and reinstalled but that didn't help.

What is next to try?

I am running Windows Vista Home Premium and after doing the update for Firefox 15, firefox won't start. I get no error messages or anything it just won't start. I removed Firefox and reinstalled but that didn't help. What is next to try?

All Replies (4)

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Hi lwhealon,

Try starting Firefox in Safe Mode to see how it works there. Safe Mode is a troubleshooting mode, which disables most add-ons.

(If you're not using it, switch to the Default theme.)

  • You can use Safe Mode by holding the Shift key when you use the Firefox desktop or Start menu shortcut.
  • Or use the Help menu item and click on the Restart with Add-ons Disabled... menu item while Firefox is running.

Don't select anything right now, just use "Continue in Safe Mode." To exit the Firefox Safe Mode, just close Firefox and wait a few seconds before using the Firefox shortcut (without the Shift key) to open it again. If it is good in the Firefox Safe Mode, your problem is probably caused by an extension, and you need to figure out which one.

Please follow the Troubleshoot extensions, themes and hardware acceleration issues to solve common Firefox problems article for that.

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I can't even start firefox in safe mode. I am using the shift key and then clicking on the firefox shortcut on the desktop as well as trying the start menu icon but neither start firefox.

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Anyone have any other ideas? I can't even bring up Firefox in safe mode...

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Hi lwhealon

try from Start > Run > and type to check 1 of :

firefox -safe-mode

"C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe" -safe-mode or

"C:\Program Files (x86)\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe" -safe-mode

(to enable the Run box in win 7 see: enable Run box win 7 )

also check if Firewall or/and other security software blocking firefox start (like ad-blocker, web-accelerator etc).

With Firefox completely closed (probably because you can not start it), open the application folder (by default, C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox on Windows) rename firefox.exe to firefox1.exe, then double-click firefox1.exe. If Firefox runs without problems, it could indicate that your firewall is blocking Firefox.


good luck