Firefox crashing

derrick

Firefox keeps crashing since I updated to current version, (41.0.1), last week, usually just Firefox but twice the computer went off and started to reboot.

Is it a problem with this new version or something else?

Last week I had to do a full recovery using the disc, (not sure how I accomplished that).

I also keep getting a “Welcome to the Found New Hardware Wizard” window and wanting to install some software I know nothing about, it says, “This Wizard helps you install software for: Unknown.

Also every now and again a Microsoft widow pops up saying some software/hardware wants to install and it recommends not installing.

A balloon also keeps popping up near the taskbar saying something like “new hardware found, problem installing”.

Any ideas what the problem is and how to fix it?




TIA




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esuhl

You could try a clean user profile with Firefox to see if that helps. Just run the command "firefox -p" and then create a new profile to see if the problem persists.

Have you scanned for malware?

derrick

esuhl wrote: »

You could try a clean user profile with Firefox to see if that helps. Just run the command "firefox -p" and then create a new profile to see if the problem persists.

Have you scanned for malware?

AVG runs and scans, yesterday it found 15 threats and I had to delete them manually.

Not sure what is meant by "a clean user profile with Firefox", could/would this lose bookmarks etc?

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donnac2558

I don't think I am on that version, had no notice of an update version.

But over the past few weeks had a oops we are sorry, restart Firefox or close. I just do the restart and all is well.

agrinnall

I've not had any problem myself with 41.0.1 but with some previous versions it's hung when I've been using Flash. Can't say it's ever caused a reboot though. Might be worth checking your add-ons to make sure things are up to date.

And there are lots of things that AVG won't catch, I'd suggest at least a Malwarebytes scan.

derrick

agrinnall wrote: »

I've not had any problem myself with 41.0.1 but with some previous versions it's hung when I've been using Flash. Can't say it's ever caused a reboot though. Might be worth checking your add-ons to make sure things are up to date.

And there are lots of things that AVG won't catch, I'd suggest at least a Malware bytes scan.

Checked add-ons, (plug ins), 3 showing red but not activated:

Java Deployment Toolkit 6.0.330.3 Known to be vulnerable. Use with caution. Set for “ask to activate”

Java ™ Playform SE 6 U33 3 Known to be vulnerable and should be updated. Set for “ask to activate”

QuickTime Plug-in 7.1.6 3 Known to be vulnerable and should be updated. Set for “ask to activate”


Of the others only 4 are "always activate",and have been as such for ages.


Re Malware bytes, had a problem with this a while back , it would not install, am using AVG.


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Fightsback

Java 6 !

Uninstall it as you probably don't need it anyway, remove it using programs and features from the control panel.

You should uninstall QTime as well using the same method.

derrick

Fightsback wrote: »

Java 6 !

Uninstall it as you probably don't need it anyway, remove it using programs and features from the control panel.

You should uninstall QTime as well using the same method.

As they are not actived I doubt they are causing the problem, but I will remove anyway.

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agrinnall

I would dump AVG and install Avast instead, it works fine alongside Malwarebytes on my PCs. And don't forget, Malwarebytes does a different job to Antivirus programmes.

esuhl

derrick wrote: »

Not sure what is meant by "a clean user profile with Firefox", could/would this lose bookmarks etc?

No -- you can have multiple user profiles in Firefox. Each one has their own set of bookmarks, add-ons, cookies, cache, passwords, etc. So creating a new "clean" profile to use for testing won't delete your current one.

Running "firefox -p" opens the profile manager where you can see a list of existing profiles, create new ones, delete old ones, and you can choose to have Firefox start using a particular profile or whether to prompt you.

As for the malware, definitely worth running the free version of MalwareBytes' Anti-Malware and adwCleaner to (hopefully) get rid of any malware that might remain.

https://www.malwarebytes.org/
https://toolslib.net/downloads/viewdownload/1-adwcleaner/

Avast's bootable Rescue Disc is really effective too -- it sometimes removes malware that even a locally installed version of Avast misses.

https://www.avast.com/en-gb/faq.php?article=AVKB114

esuhl

Fightsback wrote: »

Java 6 !

Uninstall it as you probably don't need it anyway, remove it using programs and features from the control panel.

You should uninstall QTime as well using the same method.

I noticed that the browser plugins don't always get deleted when uninstalling via the control panel.

In Firefox, if you go to Tools / Add-ons and click the Plugins tab, and then the "More" hyperlink for the relevant plugin, you can see a list of files that the plugin uses. If uninstalling via the control panel hasn't worked, you can close Firefox and manually search for and delete the files that the plugin uses to completely remove it.