Bad Firefox!

I haven't had any trouble with 3.5.2 or 3.0.13 on multiple computers both at home and at work. I've got WinXP or Win2K on all of them (no Vista or Windows 7 yet).

My guess is you either have a bad add-on/plug-in, or your Firefox Profile is screwed up, or your security software (ie: AVG) is mucking it up.

First thing I would try is un-install AVG, restart, and then run Firefox. You don't want to leave AVG un-installed permanently. Just for a short time to test things out, then you can put AVG (preferably the newest version) back.

Next thing I would try is this:

1. Remove ALL plug-ins in Firefox. Un-install ANY AND ALL toolbars.

2. Un-install Firefox. Un-install JAVA. Un-install FlashPlayer.

3. Shut Down and Restart the computer.

4. Install Firefox.

5. Install newest version of JAVA (www.java.com)

6. Install newest version of FlashPlayer (www.adobe.com).

7. Try it and see if it works. Do not install any additional add-ons/plug-ins yet!

8. If it is working correctly, then try adding plug-ins. Best to do them ONE AT A TIME, then close Firefox, and open it again to add the next plug-in. If it starts acting up again, then the last plug-in you installed is probably the culprit.

9. Put the toolbars back if you really want them (personally I can't stand the damn things).

If it still isn't working, the next thing I would try is deleting your profile:

1. Export your Bookmarks if you want to save them (BOOKMARKS -> Organize Bookmarks -> Import and Backup -> Export HTML)

2. Un-install Firefox.

3. Go into your Application Folder. In Win2K/XP this is C:\Documents and Settings\xxxxxx\Application Data. In Vista I think it is C:\Users\xxxxxx\Application Data. Replace "xxxxxx" with your user name.

4. Go into Mozilla, then Firefox, then Profiles.

5. Delete anything you find there.

6. Repeat steps 4 and 5 for the Local Settings\Application Data folder.

7. Install Firefox.

8. Import your Bookmarks if you saved them earlier.

9. Try it and see if it works correctly. If it does, then put your plug-ins/add-ons back (step 8 above).

i just right clicked the firefox icon and told it to open in safe mode

then i clicked disable all addons

then save changes and restart firefox

the hard part was finding the place to re enable the add ons

firefox worked great without the add ons

i finally found where to enable the add ons after a while looking

tools ...add ons ...extensions ...and plug ins

i enable each one till i find the problem one

My belated thanks to the recent posters. I'm very grateful for your help. You know how maddening software problems can be.

The problem did turn out to be an add-on. I'd removed a special toolbar, and thought that was the end of it, but the add-on was still there. As soon as I removed it, everything went back to normal. That toolbar had been a conduit for spyware, and it was no more than a convenience, so out it went. But just like the monster at the end of a Hollywood movie, it revived for one last swipe at me.

Since then, Firefox released version 3.5.3, which works well. Thanks again to everyone.