Firefox crashes or fails to start
I am using a Windows XP machine. 3 days ago Firefox would not start. The process shows in Task Manager but never opens. Tried starting in Safe Mode but it crashes. The Crash Reporter will not submit the report.
Contents of the last crash report: 37fad37a-d1d9-4c5d-bd03-c814e988bdeb.extra
CPUMicrocodeVersion=0x4
AbortMessage=###!!! ABORT: new XPCJSContext failed to initialize.: file c:/builds/moz2_slave/m-esr52-w32-000000000000000000/build/src/js/xpconnect/src/XPCJSContext.cpp, line 3474
StartupTime=1505869458
SafeMode=0
ProductName=Firefox
Vendor=Mozilla
InstallTime=1502645114
ReleaseChannel=esr
Notes=xpcom_runtime_abort(###!!! ABORT: new XPCJSContext failed to initialize.: file c:/builds/moz2_slave/m-esr52-w32-000000000000000000/build/src/js/xpconnect/src/XPCJSContext.cpp, line 3474)
Version=52.3.0
ServerURL=https://crash-reports.mozilla.com/submit?id={ec8030f7-c20a-464f-9b0e-13a3a9e97384}&version=52.3.0&buildid=20170802111520
StartupCrash=1
BuildID=20170802111520
ProductID={ec8030f7-c20a-464f-9b0e-13a3a9e97384}
CrashTime=1505869458
UptimeTS=1428.9588009
SecondsSinceLastCrash=39
BreakpadReserveAddress=79691776
BreakpadReserveSize=67108864
BlockedDllList=
SystemMemoryUsePercentage=39
TotalVirtualMemory=2147352576
AvailableVirtualMemory=1882677248
TotalPageFile=1759567872
AvailablePageFile=1505341440
TotalPhysicalMemory=1064759296
AvailablePhysicalMemory=641785856
MozCrashReason=MOZ_CRASH()
Chosen solution
Save the file. Then Close Firefox.
Using your file browser, open the Programs Folder on your computer.
Windows: C:\Program Files C:\Program Files (x86)
Mac: Open the "Applications" folder. https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/how-download-and-install-firefox-mac
Linux: Check your user manual. If you installed Firefox with the distro-based package manager, you should use the same way to uninstall it. See Install Firefox on Linux; https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/install-firefox-linux
If you downloaded and installed the binary package from the Firefox download page, simply remove the folder Firefox in your home directory. http://www.mozilla.org/firefox#desktop ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Do Not remove the profiles folder.
Look for, and rename any Mozilla or Firefox program folders by adding .old to them. Do not rename the Mozilla Thunderbird folder if there is one.
After rebooting the computer, run a registry scanner if you have one. Then run the installer. If all goes well, remove the OLD folders when you are done. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++ If there is a problem, start your Computer in safe mode and try again.
http://encyclopedia2.thefreedictionary.com/Linux+Safe+Mode This shows how to Start all Computers in Safe Mode; Free Online Encyclopedia
Read this answer in context 👍 1All Replies (5)
There are several things this could be.
https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/changes-toolbars-and-window-sizes-are-not-saved You may have corrupt xulstore.json or Localstore.rdf file.
Close Firefox. Open your file browser to this hidden location:
- Mac: *~/Library/Application Support/Firefox/Profiles
- Linux: *~/.mozilla/firefox/Profiles
- Windows: %AppData%\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles
- *C:\Users\<user>\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles
- Windows XP: C:\Documents and Settings\<user>\Application Data
\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\
Search for the above files. Then rename or delete them. Restart Firefox.
Let’s do a full clean re-install;
As of Firefox 53 in March 2017, WinXP and Vista won't be supported any longer.
https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/install-older-version-of-firefox?cache=no Be sure to read everything here.
If you still want to downgrade, look under; I still want to downgrade. Click the Directory of other versions and languages link. Look for the directory of the version that you want. But, remember that old versions may have security issues.
You should also check out Firefox; Extended Support Release {web link} ESR Notes System Requirements
Chosen Solution
Save the file. Then Close Firefox.
Using your file browser, open the Programs Folder on your computer.
Windows: C:\Program Files C:\Program Files (x86)
Mac: Open the "Applications" folder. https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/how-download-and-install-firefox-mac
Linux: Check your user manual. If you installed Firefox with the distro-based package manager, you should use the same way to uninstall it. See Install Firefox on Linux; https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/install-firefox-linux
If you downloaded and installed the binary package from the Firefox download page, simply remove the folder Firefox in your home directory. http://www.mozilla.org/firefox#desktop ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Do Not remove the profiles folder.
Look for, and rename any Mozilla or Firefox program folders by adding .old to them. Do not rename the Mozilla Thunderbird folder if there is one.
After rebooting the computer, run a registry scanner if you have one. Then run the installer. If all goes well, remove the OLD folders when you are done. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++ If there is a problem, start your Computer in safe mode and try again.
http://encyclopedia2.thefreedictionary.com/Linux+Safe+Mode This shows how to Start all Computers in Safe Mode; Free Online Encyclopedia
Thanks for the help.
Glad to help. Safe Surfing.