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PC intermittently gives blue screen crash under Firefox v9 but OK under V3

  • 13 uphendule
  • 19 zinale nkinga
  • 6 views
  • Igcine ukuphendulwa ngu John-W

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Using V9 I encountered unpredictable BSOD events with message "A problem has been detected & windows has been shut down to prevent damage to your computer. etc (recommended checks)" No BIOS tuning; Memory integrity OK; no disk errors; no malware problems; no other software updates. Using XP Pro. Problem disappeared on reverting to Firefox V3.6.15; However now have lost FireFTP compatable with V3.6.15. One other observation may be relevant - upgrade to V3.6.25 failed to restart (The update could not be installed. Please make sure there are no other copies of Firefox running on your computer, and then restart Firefox to try again.) Task manager showed that no copies were running so couldn'y install update to V3.6.25. Upgrades have previously been OK.

Using V9 I encountered unpredictable BSOD events with message "A problem has been detected & windows has been shut down to prevent damage to your computer. etc (recommended checks)" No BIOS tuning; Memory integrity OK; no disk errors; no malware problems; no other software updates. Using XP Pro. Problem disappeared on reverting to Firefox V3.6.15; However now have lost FireFTP compatable with V3.6.15. One other observation may be relevant - upgrade to V3.6.25 failed to restart (The update could not be installed. Please make sure there are no other copies of Firefox running on your computer, and then restart Firefox to try again.) Task manager showed that no copies were running so couldn'y install update to V3.6.25. Upgrades have previously been OK.

All Replies (13)

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Generally, this is no fault of Firefox's. 3.6.25 is fully security updated, so it's fine. Sorry about this. If you let me know what computer you have I may be able to help.

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It's V9 that I have a problem with. Reference to V3.6.25 was peripheral.

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A BSOD death means a problem with a Windows service (e.g. security software) or a system driver. So you need to check what is causing it in your case on the screen itself or in the Event Viewer.

Make sure that all drivers like the graphics display driver are up to date.

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I agree this is the logical answer but there's no problem with Firefox V3. I've just re-installed FirefoxV9 and PC instantly shuts down and reboots when I attempt to use the scroll bar within Firefox to scroll down (didn't pinpoint it before). Eventvwr shows a system error code 1000008e in the system log (prm 1 : c0000005 prm 2: bd0d13a2 prm 3: ad8ac3f4 prm 4: zero) with no other information. PC appears to be OK if I don't access Firefox. Graphics driver is bang up to date and no problems are revealed by the device driver. All clues still point to Firefox V9 as the problem.

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You may likely have the issue with Firefox 4.0, 5.0, 6.0, 7.0 and 8.0 also.

Again Firefox does not cause BSOD but something is getting triggered whether it is a antivirus, software firewall, graphics driver or even a hardware issue like putting just the right load on power supply to trigger a power cut or such (been a long while since I have seen that being the cause for a Fx user though).

Firefox can run completely off a usb flash drive for example.

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I researched your error code, it can a driver error but is most likely to be an error with your RAM or graphics card memory. As I said before, if you tell me your computers model, I will find any possible causes or driver issues.

Okulungisiwe ngu Tom Farrow

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If Windows currently reboots automatically with a BSOD error then disable that automatic restart.
Then you can see on the blue screen which program or DLL caused the problem.

  • Control Panel > System > Advanced > Startup and Recovery > Settings : untick "Automatically restart"
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Thanks for your helpful inputs - particularly disabling Auto restart - I've now established that the conflict is with nv4_disp.dll (driver for graphics adapter NVidia GEFORCE 7900S) for every BSOD. The focus was on Firefox V9 each time and triggered usually by use of the scroll bar but has also once in attempt to use back screen. This is the latest driver (V285.58) and the MS signature checker suggests its OK. I use Kaspersky AV9 and have spent the last few days running all manner of (clean) malware checkers; registry cleaners; spyware detectors etc. I would be very interested to hear from someone with the same graphics card. I use a variety of software but this problem seems unique to Firefox V9 and my graphics card. (I haven't used Firefox versions 4 to 8). Version 3.15 (& probably V3.25) was OK.

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taddle1 - I should just say that my PC was supplied by Evesham computers (long gone) to my spec. in 2006 so I would have to list all the components. I don't have a driver manager but I don't suspect other problems & device manager seems happy.

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1. Start the Computer Tapping the F8 Key as Soon as you push the button to start it keep tapping till you see "WINDOWS Advance options menu"

2. Highlight the Option Safe Mode using the Arrow Keys on your Keyboard and hit Enter to Select the option.

3. Hit Enter again on Windows XP under Please Select an Operating System.

4. Select ADMINISTRATOR on the Welcome Screen and Click on YES on the Popup Message which will say Windows is running in safe mode.......

5. Click on START and then right click on MY COMPUTER icon and select properties with left click, this will pop up a system properties Windows under that select HARDWARE on top and under that select DEVICE MANAGER

6. Under Device manager click on the '+' sign next to DISPLAY ADAPTERS and right click on the NVIDIA Adapter and select uninstall and click OK on the Confirmation POP UP.

7. Close All the Windows and Restart the System Normally.... Windows Will start normally without any errors but with the basic Display Settings.

8. Locate you Display Drivers CD and install the Drivers from the Disc for your NVIDIA Card and the Issue may be resolved

Okulungisiwe ngu JayGarcia

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Dad7732 -I've tried this but the drivers appear to have merley disabled rather than uninstalled so I end up with the same drivers since I can't install old drivers over later ones. Thank-you for the idea.

As a final throw I've disabled all add-ons & frills and stopped the anti-virus program. However, sad to say, that has not helped.

Back to the comfort of Firefox 3.15 I guess.

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Sorry to hear that. Do you have a list of the parts? I can quite happy look up some of them and see if they are incompaitable with firefox, and if so why. I just need things such as graphics card, LAN card or WLAN card and any PCI devices. Also, your motherboard's model could be useful.

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Thanks for your offer; The bones of the system are identified by : Microsoft Windows XP Professional 5.1.2600 Service Pack 3 IE 8.0.6001.18702 Memory 2047 MB Sound Blaster X-Fi Xtreme Audio NVIDIA GeForce 7900 GS | NetMeeting driver | RDPDD Chained DD 1 Display EIZO 1920 X 1200 - 32 bit Marvell Yukon 88E8056 PCI-E Gigabit Ethernet Controller CD / DVD Drives E: SONY DVD RW AW-G170A | F: SONY DVD-ROM DDU1615 | COM Ports COM1 LPT Ports LPT1 Mouse 5 Button Wheel Mouse Present CPU Info Intel(R) Core(TM)2 CPU 6700 @ 2.66GHz USB Controllers 10 host controllers. Firewire (1394) 1 host controllers. BIOS Manufacturer Phoenix Technologies, LTD BIOS Info AT/AT COMPATIBLE | 08/13/06 | IntelR - 42302e31 Motherboard Foxconn 965X7AA Draytek router I'm currently using Firefox 3.6.25 and that seems to be OK; haven't tried versions 4 to 8.