Join the AMA (Ask Me Anything) with the Firefox leadership team to celebrate Firefox 20th anniversary and discuss Firefox’s future on Mozilla Connect. Mark your calendar on Thursday, November 14, 18:00 - 20:00 UTC!

This site will have limited functionality while we undergo maintenance to improve your experience. If an article doesn't solve your issue and you want to ask a question, we have our support community waiting to help you at @FirefoxSupport on Twitter and/r/firefox on Reddit.

Search Support

Avoid support scams. We will never ask you to call or text a phone number or share personal information. Please report suspicious activity using the “Report Abuse” option.

Learn More

Crashes in Windows 8.1

more options

Between Firefox crashing on a regular basis and the way Mozilla OUSTED their CEO, I am ready to dump not only FF but thunderbird...but I digress from the issue at hand....

It appears Mozilla is using the old adage that its not their issue, its add-ins or extensions we are using...whatever...its become like the old AOL joke...you need to reinstall the software...

Well I have reinstalled the software, disabled hardware acceleration, and here are my crash report records:

bp-71414179-149a-4bd4-9bc1-fadda2140420 4/19/2014 7:33 PM
bp-afe344b8-11e7-4c09-813c-7cdee2140419 4/19/2014 4:20 PM
bp-de53d771-af8e-488b-9801-267252140419 4/19/2014 2:06 PM
bp-5a9aefb2-42eb-41d2-9b78-ead3f2140419 4/19/2014 2:00 PM
bp-9f0f3a09-5f7f-4789-aa37-432e62140419 4/19/2014 12:57 PM
bp-1b8730a3-b595-434a-b48a-6f46e2140419 4/19/2014 11:38 AM
bp-7ef4590e-c883-4a60-b8c3-5e05e2140419 4/19/2014 8:36 AM
bp-54e3f1ba-f80b-469c-b8c5-0f3e72140418 4/18/2014 6:59 PM
bp-f123723a-4349-4d8a-a481-733402140418 4/17/2014 8:45 PM
7c5d42ac-464a-40b2-b25b-5a4a9ceb176c 4/17/2014 8:34 PM
4841b59e-aa95-4edf-a689-8e6040ba9d50 4/17/2014 8:32 PM
bp-72f3da71-f2ae-4eec-aa52-27f012140417 4/17/2014 2:46 PM
bp-1f71b989-98a5-48d6-be07-b036d2140417 4/17/2014 7:35 AM
bp-3f0c0fa4-55c2-4109-9734-043682140416 4/16/2014 2:43 PM
bp-34869ac0-7165-4d24-9a2e-82fc32140415 4/15/2014 6:39 PM

So...what is causing my issues?...

I am already investigating alternative browsers...

Between Firefox crashing on a regular basis and the way Mozilla OUSTED their CEO, I am ready to dump not only FF but thunderbird...but I digress from the issue at hand.... It appears Mozilla is using the old adage that its not their issue, its add-ins or extensions we are using...whatever...its become like the old AOL joke...you need to reinstall the software... Well I have reinstalled the software, disabled hardware acceleration, and here are my crash report records: <pre><nowiki>bp-71414179-149a-4bd4-9bc1-fadda2140420 4/19/2014 7:33 PM bp-afe344b8-11e7-4c09-813c-7cdee2140419 4/19/2014 4:20 PM bp-de53d771-af8e-488b-9801-267252140419 4/19/2014 2:06 PM bp-5a9aefb2-42eb-41d2-9b78-ead3f2140419 4/19/2014 2:00 PM bp-9f0f3a09-5f7f-4789-aa37-432e62140419 4/19/2014 12:57 PM bp-1b8730a3-b595-434a-b48a-6f46e2140419 4/19/2014 11:38 AM bp-7ef4590e-c883-4a60-b8c3-5e05e2140419 4/19/2014 8:36 AM bp-54e3f1ba-f80b-469c-b8c5-0f3e72140418 4/18/2014 6:59 PM bp-f123723a-4349-4d8a-a481-733402140418 4/17/2014 8:45 PM 7c5d42ac-464a-40b2-b25b-5a4a9ceb176c 4/17/2014 8:34 PM 4841b59e-aa95-4edf-a689-8e6040ba9d50 4/17/2014 8:32 PM bp-72f3da71-f2ae-4eec-aa52-27f012140417 4/17/2014 2:46 PM bp-1f71b989-98a5-48d6-be07-b036d2140417 4/17/2014 7:35 AM bp-3f0c0fa4-55c2-4109-9734-043682140416 4/16/2014 2:43 PM bp-34869ac0-7165-4d24-9a2e-82fc32140415 4/15/2014 6:39 PM </nowiki></pre> So...what is causing my issues?... I am already investigating alternative browsers...

Modified by cor-el

Chosen solution

I have narrowed it down to one of my extensions/plugins as I disabled them all and no crashes...I have since reactivated my lastpass and my ad block plus and so far no issues...The remaining extensions/plugins currently disabled are:

-https everywhere -invisible hand -shockwave -silverlight -vlc web plugin -nitro pdf plugin

Thanks for all the help with this...

Read this answer in context 👍 0

All Replies (6)

more options

I'm not an engineer, but I do look at a lot of crash reports here. I can't recall a single case where the most recent 9 reports each had a different crash signature. Usually there is a high degree of consistency pointing to a particular issue. So I think that's a bit of a dead end for me, unfortunately.

Another unusual thing about your reports is they show extremely low memory use on the system, from 9-18% at the time of the crash. Does that seem right to you, hardly anything else running at the time of the crash?


There are a number of standard things to try, if you haven't already. These include:


Firefox's Safe Mode is a standard diagnostic tool to deactivate extensions and some advanced features of Firefox. More info: Diagnose Firefox issues using Troubleshoot Mode.

You can restart Firefox in Safe Mode using

Help > Restart with Add-ons Disabled (Flash and other plugins still run)

In the dialog, click "Start in Safe Mode" (not Reset)

Any improvement in stability?


A new profile will have your system-installed plugins (e.g., Flash) and extensions (e.g., security suite toolbars), but no themes, other extensions, or other customizations. It also should have completely fresh settings databases and a fresh cache folder.

Exit Firefox and start up in the Profile Manager using Start > search box (or Run):

firefox.exe -P

Any time you want to switch profiles, exit Firefox and return to this dialog.

You'll click the Create Profile button. I recommend using the default location suggested (i.e., don't choose a different folder). Then start Firefox in the new profile you created.

Any improvement in stability?

When returning to the Profile Manager, you might be tempted to use the Delete Profile button. But... it's a bit too easy to accidentally delete your "real" profile, so I recommend resisting the temptation. If you do want to clean up later, I suggest making a backup of all your profiles first in case something were to go wrong.


You can refresh your Firefox program files WITHOUT uninstalling Firefox. You just hide the existing program folder and re-run the installer.

(1) Download a fresh installer from https://www.mozilla.org/firefox/all/ to a convenient location. (Scroll down to your preferred language.)

(2) Exit out of Firefox.

(3) Rename the folder

C:\Program Files (x86)\Mozilla Firefox

to

C:\Program Files (x86)\OldFirefox

(4) Run the installer you downloaded in #1. It should automatically connect to your existing settings.

Any improvement in stability?

Note: Some plugins may exist only in that OldFirefox folder. If something essential is missing, look in these folders:

  • C:\Program Files (x86)\OldFirefox\Plugins
  • C:\Program Files (x86)\OldFirefox\browser\plugins
more options

You can also do a malware check with several malware scanning programs on the Windows computer.
Please scan with all programs because each program detects different malware.
All these programs have free versions.

Make sure that you update each program to get the latest version of their databases before doing a scan.

You can also do a check for a rootkit infection with TDSSKiller.

See also:

more options

Thanks for the responses, and while I have not had a chance to run through them all, I wanted to add that this was a brand new system build with Windows 8.1, and I have had ESET installed from day 1. The only add-ons to Firefox, are those I previously had under Vista on an older computer and had no issues with previously (outside if of that annoying shockwave error). Firefox will sometimes crash immediately upon opening when the only thing opening is my Speeddial home page. I will attempt to run through these suggestions this weekend. Thanks again.

more options

I have run all the recommended programs and all that came up, is one google tracking cookie...So I would say that pretty much eliminates any potential issues of that ilk in this case....

As I said, sometimes as soon as I open Firefox it will shut down...

more options

do the crashes also happen when you launch firefox in safemode?

as it was said before the wide range of error signatures is a bit staggering, maybe your hardware is involved in the issue. can you test the integrity of your RAM with a tool like www.memtest.org?

more options

Chosen Solution

I have narrowed it down to one of my extensions/plugins as I disabled them all and no crashes...I have since reactivated my lastpass and my ad block plus and so far no issues...The remaining extensions/plugins currently disabled are:

-https everywhere -invisible hand -shockwave -silverlight -vlc web plugin -nitro pdf plugin

Thanks for all the help with this...