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Attempting to open Firefox freezes computer, requiring system shutdown via On/Off button. Opening FF in Safe Mode doesn't help anything.

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  • Last reply by Kelvets

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I was using Firefox just fine as I have been for years, and when I tried to open it today after restarting the machine, it froze the computer almost completely (mouse works, but clicking it anywhere does nothing and ctrl + alt + del does not work). Sometimes even the mouse ceases to work. The only way to react to this is to shut down the system by cutting the energy (On/Off button) as I have waited up to 5 minutes and the system does not recover.

I have tried opening the Safe Mode dialog box (start -> run -> firefox -safe-mode) and choosing the options to disable extensions and toolbars and "reset user preferences to FF defaults" and click "apply and restart" and the computer freezes. If I hit the "continue with Safe Mode" button instead, I get to see the FF screen with a blank tab on it but the computer freezes as well.

I am completely baffled by this sudden problem. I am having to type this from Google Chrome and thus I cannot supply troubleshooting information, sadly. I am sure it is not conflict with antiviruses because I have not installed any new firewalls or antiviruses before the problem started.

I tried downloading Firefox 8.0 and installing it (was previously on 7.0) but it didn't help at all. I also tried running FF with Windows on Safe Mode, but the freeze still happens.

Please help me, my life depends on ReminderFox reminding me of stuff and now I can't access it :,-(. I need FF back ASAP!

Thanks a whole lot!

Addendum: The freeze is also happening at random even without opening Firefox, it has a chance of happening when I click something. My computer has frozen when I: 1- clicked the "reveal desktop" button to minimize all windows; 2- Attempted to close a tab in Chrome; 3- Clicked "play" in a Youtube video that had been loaded and waiting for some time). It will also almost always freeze when I leave it idle for more than about 10 minutes.

But it will guaranteedly freeze when trying to open FF, which doesn't happen with any other program.

I think my computer is breaking down. :(

I was using Firefox just fine as I have been for years, and when I tried to open it today after restarting the machine, it froze the computer almost completely (mouse works, but clicking it anywhere does nothing and ctrl + alt + del does not work). Sometimes even the mouse ceases to work. The only way to react to this is to shut down the system by cutting the energy (On/Off button) as I have waited up to 5 minutes and the system does not recover. I have tried opening the Safe Mode dialog box (start -> run -> firefox -safe-mode) and choosing the options to disable extensions and toolbars and "reset user preferences to FF defaults" and click "apply and restart" and the computer freezes. If I hit the "continue with Safe Mode" button instead, I get to see the FF screen with a blank tab on it but the computer freezes as well. I am completely baffled by this sudden problem. I am having to type this from Google Chrome and thus I cannot supply troubleshooting information, sadly. I am sure it is not conflict with antiviruses because I have not installed any new firewalls or antiviruses before the problem started. I tried downloading Firefox 8.0 and installing it (was previously on 7.0) but it didn't help at all. I also tried running FF with Windows on Safe Mode, but the freeze still happens. Please help me, my life depends on ReminderFox reminding me of stuff and now I can't access it :,-(. I need FF back ASAP! Thanks a whole lot! '''Addendum:''' The freeze is also happening at random even without opening Firefox, it has a chance of happening when I click something. My computer has frozen when I: 1- clicked the "reveal desktop" button to minimize all windows; 2- Attempted to close a tab in Chrome; 3- Clicked "play" in a Youtube video that had been loaded and waiting for some time). It will also almost always freeze when I leave it idle for more than about 10 minutes. But it will '''guaranteedly''' freeze when trying to open FF, which doesn't happen with any other program. I think my computer is breaking down. :(

Modified by Kelvets

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Addendum: The freeze is also happening at random even without opening Firefox, it has a chance of happening when I click something. My computer has frozen when I: 1- clicked the "reveal desktop" button to minimize all windows; 2- Attempted to close a tab in Chrome; 3- Clicked "play" in a Youtube video that had been loaded and waiting for some time). It will also almost always freeze when I leave it idle for more than about 10 minutes.

But it will guaranteedly freeze when trying to open FF, which doesn't happen with any other program.

I think my computer is breaking down. :(