Firefox window flashes and disappears

[Chuck Anderson]

Running the latest Firefox. Running minimal add-ons. Windows 7

Not sure what is happening, but sometimes the Firefox windows just
disappears - the taskbar shows a blank (still seems open but no title in
the entry). Firefox is running in the background, but no display
window. I have to end process in Task Manager.

It has happened when I have a pdf open (using native PDF) - but it has
also happened when I did not. It even happens again when - after ending
the errant process - I go to the taskbar and type "firefox -safe-mode."
When I do, it appears to be opening my last session of tabs even
though I used -safe-mode. ??

If I quickly start closing tabs or the pdf window I can get it to stay
open and it behaves ..... until the next time.

Below is the trouble shooting information, but as I said, even when
using "firefox -safe-mode" I am unable to get Firefox to stay open
without quickly clicking on close tab repeatedly.

Very confused and ..... ??????


Troubleshooting Information (abridged)
-------------------------------

Name: Firefox
Version: 35.0.1
User Agent: Mozilla/5.0 (Windows NT 6.1; WOW64; rv:35.0) Gecko/20100101
Firefox/35.0
Multiprocess Windows: 0/1

Extensions
----------

Name: Classic Theme Restorer
Version: 1.2.9.5

Name: CookieSafe
Version: 3.1

Name: iMacros for Firefox
Version: 8.8.8

Name: Noia Fox options
Version: 3.0.1

Name: Restartless Restart
Version: 9

Name: Tab Mix Plus
Version: 0.4.1.6

Name: YesScript
Version: 2.0

--
*****************************
Chuck Anderson • Boulder, CO
http://cycletourist.com
Turn Off, Tune Out, Drop In
*****************************

[Chuck Anderson]

Really? Nothing? I reinstalled Firefox - version 34 this time and it
worked for a while but tonight I can not even repair it. Even if I try
opening it in safe-mode. The window just flashes at me with all tabs
open (even in safe-mode - I am not using Firefox session manager) until
it can flash no more and then it disappears from view and must be killed
in Task Manager.

Right now I have no way of opening it again.

[Chuck Anderson]

Trying to start profile manager to create a new empty profile, but
firefox -p does not open the profile manager. It does the same thing.
It opens three windows - one full of tabs - all flashing until it
crashes and i have to kill it.

ll other applications on this machine work fine. I disabled hardware
acceleration from a private window (the only way I can open it).

[Ann Watson]

On 19/02/2015 11:47 PM, Chuck Anderson wrote:
> Trying to start profile manager to create a new empty profile, but
> firefox -p does not open the profile manager. It does the same thing.
> It opens three windows - one full of tabs - all flashing until it
> crashes and i have to kill it.
>
> ll other applications on this machine work fine. I disabled hardware
> acceleration from a private window (the only way I can open it).

I think the command line is "firefox.exe -p" for the profile manager -
at least that's what works on my Wn 7 machine.

[Caver1]

On 02/19/2015 11:47 PM, Chuck Anderson wrote:
> Trying to start profile manager to create a new empty profile, but
> firefox -p does not open the profile manager. It does the same thing.
> It opens three windows - one full of tabs - all flashing until it
> crashes and i have to kill it.
>

Did you try rebooting before trying to open profile manager? Sounds like
the Firefox process wasn't killed.

Caver1

[Chuck Anderson]

Ann Watson wrote:
> On 19/02/2015 11:47 PM, Chuck Anderson wrote:
>> Trying to start profile manager to create a new empty profile, but
>> firefox -p does not open the profile manager. It does the same thing.
>> It opens three windows - one full of tabs - all flashing until it
>> crashes and i have to kill it.
>>
>> ll other applications on this machine work fine. I disabled hardware
>> acceleration from a private window (the only way I can open it).
>
> I think the command line is "firefox.exe -p" for the profile manager -
> at least that's what works on my Wn 7 machine.

Thanks.

The .exe part is optional.

[Chuck Anderson]

Caver1 wrote:
> On 02/19/2015 11:47 PM, Chuck Anderson wrote:
>> Trying to start profile manager to create a new empty profile, but
>> firefox -p does not open the profile manager. It does the same thing.
>> It opens three windows - one full of tabs - all flashing until it
>> crashes and i have to kill it.
>>
>
> Did you try rebooting before trying to open profile manager? Sounds like
> the Firefox process wasn't killed.

I opened Task Manager and ended the process - and it disappeared from
Task Manager. That should mean it is no longer running.

[Chuck Anderson]

I was trying (once again - about every 6 moths to a year I give it a go)
to use the latest Firefox as it should be the best browser alternative.
I did a clean install on a new machine and loaded add-ons I deem
necessary (below). I've tried to repair this a couple of ways, but have
decided to fall back on Pale Moon. I'm unable to tell what triggers
this behavior, but it renders Firefox nearly useless (I have to delete
my previous session full of tabs). If Pale Moon does the same thing, I
will know it is a Windows 7 system problem on my machine. Otherwise
..... I quit (may try again in a few more months).

P.S. Hello all. I've been coming here since Netscape 4 days and am
familiar with many in this group (or was). I am still under the
impression that Firefox is the best browser alternative and wish I could
make it work for me.

My best to you all.

Chuck

[»Q«]

In
<news:mailman.1687.142440773...@lists.mozilla.org>,

Chuck Anderson <seem...@thisis.invalid> wrote:

> Trying to start profile manager to create a new empty profile, but
> firefox -p does not open the profile manager.

You can try `firefox -ProfileManager`. If still no joy, try
`firefox -CreateProfile pristine` followed by
`firefox -P pristine`. (Change 'pristine' to whatever you like as a
name for the new profile.)

I snipped your symptoms, since the quoting has gotten mixed up, but
most of sound them like malware symptoms to me. I can't help with
that, but there are people here who can.

[Caver1]

On 02/20/2015 06:02 PM, Chuck Anderson wrote:
> Caver1 wrote:
>> On 02/19/2015 11:47 PM, Chuck Anderson wrote:
>>> Trying to start profile manager to create a new empty profile, but
>>> firefox -p does not open the profile manager. It does the same thing.
>>> It opens three windows - one full of tabs - all flashing until it
>>> crashes and i have to kill it.
>>>
>>
>> Did you try rebooting before trying to open profile manager? Sounds like
>> the Firefox process wasn't killed.
>
> I opened Task Manager and ended the process - and it disappeared from
> Task Manager. That should mean it is no longer running.

If you try to open profile manager and all it does is open(reopen)
Firefox means that Firefox is still running.

--
Caver1

[Chuck Anderson]

i checked for malware and found nothing (not even PUPS).

I started from a fresh profile (created during fresh install on a "new"
Windows 7 64 bit Pro machine).

I'd love to use the latest Firefox, but neither Pale Moon (or IE) has
misbehaved at all, so I'm back to relying on Pale Moon.

Still, I'll try disabling some add-ons in FF and try to make this
problem manifest itself (first time it happened I was using native PDF
preview - later it was a popup chat page with heavy JavaScript usage).

[Note: While disabling add-ons I "discovered" about:permissions -
Permissions Manager. Nice new tool. It seems I can do without
CookieSafe. JavaScript would be a nice addition.]

[Chuck Anderson]

Okay, after some extension disabling I discovered it was Cookie Safe
(version 3.1). Odd that it crashes JavaScript pages and PDF preview,
but nonetheless, it appears that my crashes have ceased after disabling
Cookie Safe.

I have added Cookie Safe to the title of this thread to facilitate searches.

The Cookie safe button at the Cookie Safe Add-on site has black and
yellow bars and says - "This add-on has been preliminarily reviewed by
Mozilla." Another review also mentions suggests that it is unusable. I
would have to add that in my opinion, it is now dead.

I relied on it for years. As a web developer I want to limit the number
of cookies stored in FF to facilitate easier debugging of my own web
apps - and I do like to exercise some control over my own privacy.
Based on a recommendation from another reviewer at the Cookie-Safe site
I have installed Cookie Controller, which appears to have all the
functionality I desire.

I am happy to once again use a current browser - albeit, with Classic
Theme Restorer (but still disappointed that this constant merry-go-round
is now the current MO of most software and devices).

Thanks for listening and have a nice day.