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Firefox won't open in normal or safe mode.

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I get a crash report each time when I try to open it normally, nothing happens when I type in the extension for safe mode. Because I can't open safe mode, the Mozilla troubleshooting guideliens cannot help me. I'm working from Windows vista, have all current updates to Windows, and have scanned my computer.

I get a crash report each time when I try to open it normally, nothing happens when I type in the extension for safe mode. Because I can't open safe mode, the Mozilla troubleshooting guideliens cannot help me. I'm working from Windows vista, have all current updates to Windows, and have scanned my computer.

All Replies (4)

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Hold the Shft key when double-clicking the Firefox desktop icon to launch Firefox, that is a shortcut to the SafeMode.

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To start in Firefox Safe Mode, hold down the Shift key while clicking on the Firefox desktop icon. To exit Firefox Safe Mode, exit from Firefox (Firefox button > Exit or File > Exit), wait a few seconds (10-30), click the desktop icon to restart Firefox.


NOTE: Establish a habit of exiting/closing Firefox with Firefox button > Exit or File > Exit to allow an orderly shutdown of Firefox and closing of all of the files that Firefox has open.


  1. Stop the Firefox process:
  2. Why Firefox may hang:
  3. Use Firefox Safe Mode to find a problem with an Extension or Plugin:


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Consider updating Firefox; your version is 9.0.1 --> current version is 10.0.1

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Thanks! I get the crash reporter, however, when I try opening Firefox in Safe Mode by using the shift key.

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https://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/Firefox%20crashes#w_get-help-fixing-this-crash

Since you can't open Firefox or keep it open long enough to get the Crash Report ID's, even in the Firefox Safe Mode - see the section entitled - You can't open Firefox because it crashes at startup even in Safe Mode:.