Firefox Crashes (FF v1.0)

**CWBillow** · 2004-12-01 08:42

I restored my system from a backup in which FF had worked fine, and now it crashes on startup unless I enter it in Safe mode.

What's causing this, and how can I fix it? I've tried 3 different backups... all with the same result... I tried uninstalling and re-installing, same result.

Chuck Billow

**TonyE** · 2004-12-01 15:51

It sounds like your profile has become corrupted. For details of how to create a new profile see mozilla.org

**jscher2000** · 2004-12-01 16:45

Windows crashes on startup, or Firefox crashes on startup? I'm not sure I understand the part about safe mode...

**CWBillow** · 2004-12-01 18:40

Jefferson:

It's the Firefox. And if I delete all the extensions, it's "fine"... But if the extensions aren't going to cooperate, what's the point?

Regards,
Chuck Billow

**CWBillow** · 2004-12-01 18:49

Tony:

Seems like that might be it... Thanks.

I'll holler if it doesn't hold up...

Regards,
Chuck

**TonyE** · 2004-12-01 18:59

Chuck

When you create a new profile you may find it useful to copy the following files from your old profile:
bookmarks.html, cookies.txt, hostperm.1, key3.db, signon.txt, formhistory.dat and user.js

You will still need to install your extensions again but many useful settings will be transferred to the new profile by copying theses files.

Profiles can become corrupt if you add and remove extensions and themes on a regular basis. I use 2 profiles, my main profile and a test profile. The test profile is a copy of the main profile and I use it when I want to try out a new extension before adding it to the main profile.

**CWBillow** · 2004-12-01 19:20

Tony:

2 Profiles is a REAL good idea...

Especially when you (as I) are just learning and trying FF, and since the extensions are not under one roof for controls etc., that would help a lot.

Thanks.
Chuck

**CWBillow** · 2004-12-01 19:33

Tony:

But I just happened to think: if it's setting up several or changing extensions that corrupts profiles, and even with the file copies, you would have to re-set up the extensions, what would stop the same thing happening again...? 'Cause that's what happened to me. I would start over, get just so far, and then *Spuuuu8t*.

Regards,
Chuck Billow

**TonyE** · 2004-12-01 19:49

Chuck

Some extensions can conflict with one another, especially if they do similar things. Others, such as Tab Browser Extensions can cause Firefox to become less stable.

The MozillaZine forums are a good place to research and ask questions about Firefox and extensions. Due to the sheer number of Firefox experts that use those forums if we can not solve your problem here then they will probably be able to help.

**KenK** · 2004-12-01 20:59

Hi Chuck

I just had a similar experience and was able to get things corrected.
After trying a couple of re-installs to no avail, I found the Extensions folder by drilling down through the Applications folder (the sequence might vary depending on your OS) and deleting the extensions that I installed since my last successful start of Firefox. You have to identify the extensions by "date" as the descriptions are alpha-numeric gobbly-gook.
I then "Restored" them from the Recycle Bin, one at a time, until Firefox refused to start. Actually, it had "started to start" as it showed up in the "Task Manager" where I "End Task"'d it. That extension went back into the Recycle Bin.
Repeated my restoring until all the deleted extensions were either restored or deleted back into the RB.
Two of six extensions were scrapped.

For some reason, it took a couple of reloads of Firefox to get back all of my toolbar icons, but all seems to work OK now.......so far!

Have a Great day!!!
Ken

**TonyE** · 2004-12-01 21:26

Ken

That approach has a drawback. Details of installed extensions are kept in a file called extensions.rdf and this method will result in it listing extensions that are no longer installed. Editing this file to remove references to no longer installed extensions is not straightforward and can cause new problems. If you use this method to identify problem extensions then I recommend creating a new profile afterwards containing your chosen extensions.

**CWBillow** · 2004-12-01 21:52

Ken:

Thanks for the info... Hope FF will cure this bump...

Why couldn't we just save a backup copy of the entire profile, and copy it over if there's a problem?

Regards,
Chuck Billow

**jscher2000** · 2004-12-01 22:31

> Hope FF will cure this bump...

Well... I think people need to exercise more care in installing extensions. As far as I know, they are not stress-tested and approved by Mozilla, and from what I have read on this board, they may not work from one build to the next. They should be treated like any other freeware on the web: with extreme caution. <img src=/S/smile.gif border=0 alt=smile width=15 height=15>

**CWBillow** · 2004-12-01 22:36

Jefferson:

You're right... PLEASE tie my hands down... I can't resist the "Install" button...

Chuck

**KenK** · 2004-12-01 23:44

Hi Tony

I, just now, went back to the two folders in my Recycle Bin and cut & pasted them to a temp folder.
I then opened the "chrome" subfolder in each and recorded the names of the extensions.
I then opened the "Tools>Extensions" list and "Uninstalled" the two extensions. As you pointed out, they were still listed.
I closed and re-opened Firefox and all is still OK.
BTW, the two extensions that gave me trouble are "Verify Url" and "Crash Recovery" (must be some irony there!!).

Have a Great day!!!
Ken

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