Firefox will not load. There are no error messages.
Firefox was working fine. Then the next time I turned on the computer to use it the program would not load. You click on the icon, which in pinned to the bottom toolbar, and it will show it has been clicked then never load. I have tried to use Program manager but can not even get program manager to work. I did find the program profile and renamed it, uninstalled Firefox and reinstalled and it still would not load. I also moved the profile to a different location. This did not work. I do not have a recent enough restore point to go back to when it was working. After uninstalling I also restarted the computer prior to reinstalling the software.
I would prefer to use Firefox as my browser but have no idea what else to do. I am on a PC and use windows 7 ultimate.
All Replies (4)
Create a new profile as a test to check if your current profile is causing the problem.
See "Creating a profile":
- https://support.mozilla.org/kb/profile-manager-create-and-remove-firefox-profiles
- http://kb.mozillazine.org/Standard_diagnostic_-_Firefox#Profile_issues
If the new profile works then you can transfer files from a previously used profile to the new profile, but be cautious not to copy corrupted files to avoid carrying over problems.
It is possible that your security software (firewall, anti-virus) blocks or restricts Firefox or the plugin-container process without informing you, possibly after detecting changes (update) to the Firefox program.
Remove all rules for Firefox and the plugin-container from the permissions list in the firewall and let your firewall ask again for permission to get full unrestricted access to internet for Firefox and the plugin-container process and the updater process.
See:
Hi, thanks for replying back.
Here is what I have done.
- I am unable to create a new profile. Mozilla never comes up as an option. By using the information from the website I can find the default profile, but I am unable to create a new one. I therefore, I renamed the profile and moved it to my desktop, and uninstalled Firefox. I downloaded and installed Firefox again. (restarted my computer after the uninstall) When downloading Firefox the message states that once Firefox is installed it will automatically open. This does not happen and when you click on the icon it will just light up like you clicked on it then in 5-10 seconds the icon goes back to the unclicked in appearance and never loads.
I then uninstalled Firefox again, removed Mozilla from the firewall in McAfee and reset the defaults. I also check windows Firewall and could not find any blocking of the program. I then restarted the computer and downloaded Firefox again. Still having the same issue.
What else should I try? I assume there must a corrupt file? somewhere but do not know where else to look.
Do a clean reinstall and delete the Firefox program folder before (re)installing a fresh copy of the current Firefox release.
- Download the full Firefox installer and save the file to the desktop
https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/all.html
If possible uninstall your current Firefox version to cleanup the Windows registry and settings in security software.
- Do NOT remove "personal data" when you uninstall your current Firefox version, because this will remove all profile folders and you lose personal data like bookmarks and passwords including data in profiles created by other Firefox versions.
Remove the Firefox program folder before installing that newly downloaded copy of the Firefox installer.
- (32 bit Windows) "C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\"
- (64 bit Windows) "C:\Program Files (x86)\Mozilla Firefox\"
- It is important to delete the Firefox program folder to remove all the files and make sure that there are no problems with files that were leftover after uninstalling.
- http://kb.mozillazine.org/Uninstalling_Firefox
Your bookmarks and other personal data are stored in the Firefox profile folder and won't be affected by an uninstall and (re)install, but make sure NOT to remove personal data when you uninstall Firefox as that will remove all Firefox profile folders and you lose your personal data.
If you keep having problems then also create a new profile.
Start Firefox in Safe Mode {web link}
Poke around safe web sites. Are there any problems?
Then restart.