Firefox keeps crashing: "Firefox had a problem and crashed"

This is with my brand new computer with Vista. I install Firefox, click the icon to open, it crashes before it opens. This has happened over and over again. I uninstall, restart, reinstall. Click to open, it imports bookmarks, then crashes before the browswer window opens.

I took a screenshot of the error message but don't see a way to attach it.

Anyone have an idea? Thank you.

 

Can't you tell us what the error says? May be not the entire error, but the critical parts of it. I have three Firefox installations, each with its own profile, and they have never crashed.
Reinstalling, usually, does no good, but a new profile may. However,the description of what is going on on is no help. Did you try to work without importing bookmarks? More details are needed.

 

What version are you using ? If you are using v.3 then try v.2.0.0.16...

 

Details

I will try installing the earlier version of firefox, see what that does.
UPDATE: The earlier version works! Thank you.

--

The error message is in a "Mozilla Crash Reporter" window. It says:

"Firefox had a problem and crashed. We'll try to restore your tabs and windows when it restarts.

To help us diagnose and fix the problem, you can send us a crash report. "

then there's a box to fill in details - I've done this numerous times, but no answer yet. Then there's an option to quit firefox or restart firefox. I used to choose restart, but it just crashed immediately and this window reappears.

I'll let you know if anything works better with the earlier version.

Thank you!

 

Welcome to the Forum, Saratica!

Saratica,

Remove Google Desktop Search, if installed, and see if this helps.

 

Hi Ramona,

I don't have it installed. (I double-checked in the Programs folder and in the Add/Remove Programs folder.)

Thank you!

 

If v.3 was giving problems, using the same profile which was used by 2.0.0.16 then it may be a "translation" problem, as v.3 uses some formats different from 2.0.0.16.
Please confirm that 2.0.0.16 is ok, and the problems were with v.3.
Since I wanted to compare v.3 with 2.x, I kept both, and created a separate profile for v.3. I, never had a problem.

 

Version 2.0.0.16 is working like a charm, so it seems V3 was the problem. Thank you all.

 

Install Firefox V3 either after uninstalling V2, or into a different directory, or both. DO NOT INSTALL ANY OF THE EXTENSIONS YOU HAVE RUNNING IN V2.

I'l wager you are OK, then.

 

Typically, abnormal behavior occurs when one versio, which is considerably different is installed on top of an earlier one, and the earlier profile is used for the new version. Since I was testing beta versions of FF3.0, I had to install it in a different folder, to compare it with 2.x. And, a separate profile had to be created. For one day, I, even had three Firefoxes, i.e:2.0.0.16, 3.0.1, and 3.0.1 portable. I like the latter so much that I uninstalled the regular version, and I made 3.0.1 portable my default.

 

Unfortunately, I'm not clear on what you mean by "install in a different directory." Would that mean a different folder when it says to install to a place in my program file? How do I create a new profile for a program that has not installed yet? Sorry... not enough jargon know-how.

 

Yes. That is a start. For example, FF2 usually installs into \Program Files\Firefox\ so I installed FF3 into \Program Files\Firefox3\. When I stayed on FF3 and uninstalled FF2 the \Program Files\Firefox\ directory went away for good and the other remained.

Here is an article on managing profiles.

 

Saratica,

Do a "Custom" Install ". Note the option to make Fx the Default Browser.

By default, Firefox names the Program Folders by Version, so you can either leave them in the Mozilla Firefox 2.0.0.16, and Mozilla Firefox 3.01 folders, or change the name: Screen Shot. your choice.

To create a new Profile before installing:
Right click the Desktop Shortcut, and select: Properties
To the end of the Target line, add: -p
This will take you to the Profile Manager
Remember to remove the -p once you have created a new Profile

Once you have both Versions installed:
Right click the 2.0.0.16 Desktop Shortcut, and select: Properties
To the end of the Target line, add: -p profilename
(the profile name you created)

Repeat the process for Version 3.01

 

Thank you for this detail - just what I needed. I will try this later today and let you know how it turned out.

 

I don't care for firefox 3, so i use version 2... I hate what they did to the downloader..

 

I have heard of many people complaining about the downloader. Specifically, that FF3 was taking inordinate amount of time to scan for viruses. I have never had any download take more than 1-2 sec extra, and I don't think that it is so bad. However, one should be given the option of rejecting virus scanning. My AntiVirus is set up to do that!

 

It is fairly easy to do. Read this for how.

 

i believe you are using v3 beta. nowadays there is version 3.0.1. and it won't crash. beta version will always crash. don't expect too much on beta version. the 3.0.2 is newest version, full version i mean.

 

3.0.1 is still the most recent GA version of Firefox.

 

Where did you hear that? There is 3.0.2 pre nightly .