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Firefox freezes trying to download or save files, Import/Export bookmarks, clicking (Tools) Options (was: Fire Fox crashes in Windows safe mode and in Firefox Safe mode)

  • 1 cavab
  • 8 have this problem
  • 13 views
  • Last reply by AliceWyman

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Hi

XP sp3 4gb ram Firefox 6.0.2

Firefox crashes every time I do any of the following. Then I have to force quit Fire fox.

If i click a download link on a web page, Firefox freezes the instant I click the link ...but Firefox does not freeze if I click a web link on a web page or page navigation link.

If i go to the Menu bar > Tools > Options, Firefox freezes the instant I select Options from the Tools menu. ...but Firefox does not freeze if select any other item from the Tools menu.

If I go to the Menu bar > File, Firefox instantly freezes the instant I select either "Save Page as..." or "Open file..." ...but Firefox does not freeze if I select any other option from the File menu such as: New Tab, New Window, Send Link, page Setup, Print, Exit etc

If I go the Menu Bar > Bookmarks > Show all Bookmarks > Import and Backup, Firefox instantly freezes the second I select "Import" or "Export" ... but Firefox does not freeze if I select any other command in the Bookmarks sub menus, nor does it freeze if I back out of the menu entirely.

Same as above for History if I select "Import" or "Export"

...so I have isolated the problem to a limited number of commands in Firefox that cause Firefox to freeze... described above. Everything else in Firefox works fine.

HERE IS A SUMMARY OF WHAT CAUSES THE FREEZING: • Clicking a download link on a webpage • Going to the Menu Bar > File and selecting "save as" or "Open File" • Going to the Menu bar > Tools and selecting Options. • Going to Bookmarks > Show all Bookmarks > Import and Backup and selecting either "Import" or "Export" • Same as above for History if I select "Import" or "Export"

Everything else in Firefox works fine. I went through every menu command and checked for freezes. Only the commands I mentioned above cause the freezing.

I tried the following to try to fix it:

• Reset my modem and router (Problem still exists)

• Uninstalled FF. Deleted folders, profiles (Downloads.sqlite), Registry entries. Reinstalled. (Problem still exists)

• Restarted FF in Firefox safe mode. (Problem still exists)

• Restarted in Windows Safe mode and then started FF in Firefox safe mode (Problem still exists)

• Disabled Window firewall. Disabled ZoneAlarm firewall, Shutdown ZoneAlarm firewall. Set Internel Options to default settings. (Problem still exists)

• I reset the config option: browser.download.manager.scanWhenDone to false

What does work? • Firefox does not crash when I click a link an go a website, navigate a page, use a menu item command.

• Firefox works fine on my other computer.

• Internet Explorer works fine on the computer that Firefox is having a problem on.

• My other applications work fine on the computer that Firefox is having a problem on.

I want to add that, I just overcame the XP Recovery Virus by following a post that suggested running the following software to fix the virus. Everything seems back to normal except Firefox.

The software I ran to fix the problem are listed below: • malwarebytes • superantispyware • ccleaner • combofix. • smart defrag • then load a good anti-virus. (I ran Zone Alarm virus scan)

Hi XP sp3 4gb ram Firefox 6.0.2 Firefox crashes every time I do any of the following. Then I have to force quit Fire fox. If i click a download link on a web page, Firefox freezes the instant I click the link ...but Firefox does not freeze if I click a web link on a web page or page navigation link. If i go to the Menu bar > Tools > Options, Firefox freezes the instant I select Options from the Tools menu. ...but Firefox does not freeze if select any other item from the Tools menu. If I go to the Menu bar > File, Firefox instantly freezes the instant I select either "Save Page as..." or "Open file..." ...but Firefox does not freeze if I select any other option from the File menu such as: New Tab, New Window, Send Link, page Setup, Print, Exit etc If I go the Menu Bar > Bookmarks > Show all Bookmarks > Import and Backup, Firefox instantly freezes the second I select "Import" or "Export" ... but Firefox does not freeze if I select any other command in the Bookmarks sub menus, nor does it freeze if I back out of the menu entirely. Same as above for History if I select "Import" or "Export" ...so I have isolated the problem to a limited number of commands in Firefox that cause Firefox to freeze... described above. Everything else in Firefox works fine. HERE IS A SUMMARY OF WHAT CAUSES THE FREEZING: • Clicking a download link on a webpage • Going to the Menu Bar > File and selecting "save as" or "Open File" • Going to the Menu bar > Tools and selecting Options. • Going to Bookmarks > Show all Bookmarks > Import and Backup and selecting either "Import" or "Export" • Same as above for History if I select "Import" or "Export" Everything else in Firefox works fine. I went through every menu command and checked for freezes. Only the commands I mentioned above cause the freezing. I tried the following to try to fix it: • Reset my modem and router (Problem still exists) • Uninstalled FF. Deleted folders, profiles (Downloads.sqlite), Registry entries. Reinstalled. (Problem still exists) • Restarted FF in Firefox safe mode. (Problem still exists) • Restarted in Windows Safe mode and then started FF in Firefox safe mode (Problem still exists) • Disabled Window firewall. Disabled ZoneAlarm firewall, Shutdown ZoneAlarm firewall. Set Internel Options to default settings. (Problem still exists) • I reset the config option: browser.download.manager.scanWhenDone to false What does work? • Firefox does not crash when I click a link an go a website, navigate a page, use a menu item command. • Firefox works fine on my other computer. • Internet Explorer works fine on the computer that Firefox is having a problem on. • My other applications work fine on the computer that Firefox is having a problem on. I want to add that, I just overcame the XP Recovery Virus by following a post that suggested running the following software to fix the virus. Everything seems back to normal except Firefox. The software I ran to fix the problem are listed below: • malwarebytes • superantispyware • ccleaner • combofix. • smart defrag • then load a good anti-virus. (I ran Zone Alarm virus scan)

Modified by AliceWyman

All Replies (1)

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Hi. This is about a question you posted to the Firefox Support forum three months ago (I'm sorry you never got an answer).

Did you ever fix the problem where Firefox freezes or hangs, when clicking a download link or using (File menu) "save as" or "open file"? Or when going to the Firefox (Tools) menu and clicking Options ? Or trying to Import or Export bookmarks?

I found this thread searching for a solution for someone on MozillaZine's support forum who's having a similar issue. See this thread: (maybe something he's tried that didn't work for him will work for you?)

http://forums.mozillazine.org/viewtopic.php?f=38&t=2382953&start=15
Cannot download or click tools -> options

Modified by AliceWyman