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Installing Firefox 31 in Windows 8.1 just gives a blank screen and 'not responding' error

  • 4 replies
  • 7 have this problem
  • 2 views
  • Last reply by FredMcD

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Firefox 31 was installed and running perfectly on my Asus laptop under win 8.1, until this morning. I opened the browser and just got a blank, white screen. Task manager showed Firefox as 'not responding'. I uninstalled and reinstalled Firefox twice, as administrator, trying 'reset Firefox' the second time. No change. I downloaded Firefox 29 and could install that. It opens but freezes and stops responding as soon as I enter a web address. I'm puzzled as Firefox was working perfectly until this morning. Has anybody come across the same problem and, better yet, found a solution?

Firefox 31 was installed and running perfectly on my Asus laptop under win 8.1, until this morning. I opened the browser and just got a blank, white screen. Task manager showed Firefox as 'not responding'. I uninstalled and reinstalled Firefox twice, as administrator, trying 'reset Firefox' the second time. No change. I downloaded Firefox 29 and could install that. It opens but freezes and stops responding as soon as I enter a web address. I'm puzzled as Firefox was working perfectly until this morning. Has anybody come across the same problem and, better yet, found a solution?

Chosen solution

It could be the work of one of your add-ons, or even add / mal-ware. Look thru your add-ons list and make sure you know what each one is and what it does. Also, check the programs that are on your computer

Windows: Start > Control Panel > Uninstall Programs. Mac: Open the "Applications" folder Linux:

  • Ubuntu Unity {web link}
  • Xfce: Applications Menu category sections
  • options depends on the package manager and the desktop environment

Go thru the list. If you find something that you don't know what it is, use a web search.

Troubleshoot Firefox Issues Caused By Malware {web link}

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Chosen Solution

It could be the work of one of your add-ons, or even add / mal-ware. Look thru your add-ons list and make sure you know what each one is and what it does. Also, check the programs that are on your computer

Windows: Start > Control Panel > Uninstall Programs. Mac: Open the "Applications" folder Linux:

  • Ubuntu Unity {web link}
  • Xfce: Applications Menu category sections
  • options depends on the package manager and the desktop environment

Go thru the list. If you find something that you don't know what it is, use a web search.

Troubleshoot Firefox Issues Caused By Malware {web link}

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Thank you very much for taking the trouble to reply. I ran full malware and antivirus scans and it is a new computer; I can't see anything in the program list that either didn't come pre-installed or isn't a proprietory program I've installed myself. I can't open Firefox to check the add-ons, as it won't go past the blank screen, but after I uninstalled it it I deleted the Mozilla folder from AppsData - Roaming. It occurred to me while writing this that the one change I have made recently is to install an external graphics adapter for a USB to serial cable, so I'm going to try uninstalling that and see if it helps. Thanks again for your help.

Phill

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That was indeed the problem. Installing the driver for an external vga link ( a usb to serial cable) caused Firefox to become unresponsive. I uninstalled that driver and rebooted and Firefox immediately started working properly again. Thanks for your nudge in the right direction!

Phill

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Glad it worked out. Happy Computing.