I need advice about Firefox from our resident experts. I installed the latest version - 3.5.2 - as soon as it became available. For the last week or more, I can no longer open Firefox after my computer has been on more than a couple of hours. If I click on the desktop shortcut, or use the Start Menu, nothing happens. If I restart the computer, Firefox works once more. No other software on my computer gives me this trouble. I've run the full range of diagnostic tests of hardware and software with no result.

Thinking the problem was just with the new version, I uninstalled 3.5.2 and reinstalled 3.0.13. Now the same thing happens with the old version! I love Firefox, so this is driving me batty. I use Internet Explorer for back-up, but I strongly prefer Firefox. If I can't fix this problem, I'm considering Google Chrome. Can one of you computer geniuses help? I've posted this problem on the Firefox Forum, so far with no response. Could it be the summer heat (even with air conditioning)? Still, it's only Firefox that's affected.

I use Vista Home Premium, SP2 on an HP Pavillion with 3G of RAM.

i have the same problem when i view something requiring java then close firefox

i cant restart firefox without a computer restart..a screen pops up saying firefox is already running

somehow the java is messing it up

I get the "Firefox is already running" message sometimes. If I close the "already running" message and wait a short time it will load and start normally. --FLO--

Perhaps deleting Firefox and reinstalling it will help. I am running 3.5.x and having no difficulties on any of the three computers here. (Win2K, Xp Pro, Xp Home).

Speed

Make sure you are up to date with your Java www.java.com. Also It could be related to an add-on behaving badly. Then there is the usualy stuff, clean out out the Firefox cache and cookies. Delete all the excees files in the windows TEMP directory, and Temporary Internet Files directory.

Do you have good Anti-Virus/Anti-Spyware software? Run full scans for both and see if you picked up anything nasty.

Batman

Thanks all for your thoughtful posts!

I use AVG Free 8.5, among other anti-virus software, and the Firefox Forum suggested that two features of the AVG Security Toolbar - Search Shield and Active Search Shield - gave Firefox problems. I've disabled those features, and await results.

I'll check the possible Java connection. I try to keep everything up to date, including Java. I use FileHippo Update Checker, and Update Notifier.

Once, I was watching a streaming download of a TV show, shut down Firefox, and the music kept playing for another 15 seconds!

Look in the Firefox Forum, and you'll see *hundreds* of posts complaining about problems and malfunctions. Scary.

I hope it's not an unknown add-on. There are many, and it would be a bear to try to find out which.

I keep my computer very clean - CCleaner every day, which removes temp files, cookies, etc.

I don't think it's a virus. I use Windows Defender, AVG Free 8.5, Spybot Search & Destroy, Comodo Internet Security, ClamWin (the best!), and MalWareBytes. Nothing there.

Thanks again for your posts. I'll let you know what happens.

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bobover3 (imported) wrote: Fri Aug 21, 2009 12:16 pm Once, I was watching a streaming download of a TV show, shut down Firefox, and the music kept playing for another 15 seconds!

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The buffer on a streaming download is 20 to 30 seconds. It's like the buffer on IPODs or CD players. It prevents skipping and jerky playback.

I have no problem with foxfire, it might be Vista.

I use Windows7 64bit. had to reload everything and everything works, 8 g memory no problems.

River

AVG was *not* the trouble.

I heard Mozilla just released an updated version of 3.5 - 3.5 RC3. I uninstalled 3.0.13 (being careful to uninstall my profile) and installed 3.5 RC3. So far, all is well. Even the EA spelling checker works! I'll let you all know if there's any other problem.

i dont know vista that well ( as i hate the os its got problems and its verry slow ! ) but under xp hit ctrl - alt + delete and in task manager under the processes tab all you do is click on firefox.exe and then click the end process button on the bottom it asks you if you want to do this and clicking yes kills it stone dead ! then click on icon for firefox and it starts up clean again