Odd problem with Firefox 3

I'm hoping someone can help me with this one, because I am stumped. I use firefox across all my computers, because: 1.) Firefox rocks and 2.) I can sync my bookmarks/etc through addons like foxmarks.

I've been using Firefox three since about Beta 3, and it's been great on my home desktop, and my laptop. At work, I've been using a thumb drive and the portable apps version of Firefox 3, so I don't have to download anything on to my work hard drive. This setup was working fine, and I had no problems at all...until...

The portable version of Firefox 3 beta 4 (5?) tried to update itself to RC1. It crashed in the middle of the update. When I tried to restart, it would only bring up the Mozilla Crash Reporter, which would successfully report whatever had caused the crash, only about a third of the time. I never got it to load again, so I thought I'd try a fresh clean install of RC1 (portable). And again, same problem, it'd only bring up the Mozilla Crash reporter.

At this point I was frustrated enough to break a personal rule of mine, and flat out download the full blown version of firefox on my work computer... again, it would only bring up the Mozilla Crash Reporter. Finally I gave up and re-installed Firefox 2 portable onto my flash drive, and it runs perfectly.

HERE is the kicker: the same install of Firefox 3 portable that doesn't run on my work computer, works fine on any other computer. I've had ZERO complications on my home computer or laptop, so it's really frustrating me that this is happinging on a computer that I spend 8 Hours of my life a day on. I tried posting at Mozillazine, but they only refer me to the standard Diagnostics, which I've been through several times (ie...new profile, safe mode, uninstall-delete folder-reinstall, and diskchk) to no avail. It bothers me that not even safe mode will load, and only brings up the crash reporter. I'm pretty sure it's not a security setting, or the firewall. We use Nod32 at the office, and Firefox 2 is working perfectly. I've tried running CCleaner (long shot, but I thought I'd try), and using Revo Uninstaller to completely remove anything firefox related. I've even sifted through the registry looking for anything out of place. Virus scan and spyware scans are clean, and there really isn't a whole lot on this computer besides Autocad and Civil3d. I'm almost positive that its whatever happened during the update, but I can't for the life of me figure out what has changed.

Sorry for the long post, if anyone's got any suggestions that I can try without administrator acess (soft-it lockdown), I'm all ears.

Have you tried clearing out all of the temp folder on that computer?

CCleaner cleans em out, but I might try doing it manually. Is there anything in particular I should look for?

Clean out everything you can, those portable apps have to put some files in that computer temp folder to run, if one of those is corrupted who know what can go wrong.

Maybe a mangled registry entry? That would potentially screw up any new installation as well as the current one.

That was my thought, but I'm honestly not sure what to look for in the registry.

Well remove firefox from add/remove programs, then use a program like regcleaner and remove anything that references mozilla or firefox

Yep, RegCleaner or Registry Mechanic (if you are willing to pay) RegCleaner is great though, for being free.

Revo Uninstaller http://www.revouninstaller.com/ is the greatest program ever.
It runs the programs uninstaller, then searches for leftover reg and file entries.
Never had a problem with it either. That and ccleaner are two must-haves if you need to do much uninstalling and such. http://www.ccleaner.com/

Try starting Firefox in safe mode.

Example:
You may just need to make a clean profile. If it's a portable install, then just delete it from the flash drive and reinstall it.

Yea love both programs, but I've already downloaded, and run those two programs multiple times. With no success....

See that IS the problem. Even the vanillla version will not start in safe mode at all. I can bring the profile manager up by using the -P switch, but once I've created a new profile, and try to start from it, the Crash Reporter starts again. Uninstalling and Reinstalling on the flash drive doesn't work either. Anyway I can think of, that you would normally do to get firefox or any program running is not working.... :Frustration!!!!:

Watch out Blind flying monkey with a knife.

Can you install the app in safe mode on the computer? It could be the antivirus screwwing things up. Also, If you are using Mccrappy's Host Intrution Prevention System (the new desktop fire wall) god help you.

I'll try installing in safe mode, but the AV is nod32, and I can't imagine that it's causing the problem.


*QUICK UPDATE*

I went ahead and did a complete uninstall (removing the app data) and reinstall, and when I ran Firefox, it crashed once, but then brought up the browser. It was stable for a few minutes (I even closed it and reopened it to be sure) but when I went to start downloading extensions (I started with Foxmarks, which I've never had a problem with), the problems started again. It downloaded the extension fine, but when I tried to restart to activate the extension, it went straight to the crash reporter and would not stop again.

On a second uninstall/reinstall, same thing. After the first initial crash, it ran just fine. This time I tried checking for updates, and BOOM! another crash, followed by the never ending stream of crash reports on startup. So, there must be a temp file somewhere that I can't find, or a corrupt system file that Firefox uses to do downloads and updates. Any ideas?

Update v.2

Regcleaner didn't find anything.

Well it is possible there is a problematic extension. I had an issue where I was unable to open AddOns. I had to disable and later update one AddOn.

Would that still be a problem after multiple uninstall/clean installs?

If you keep installing certain extensions, yes.

Okay, the problem I have is sans-extensions. Even with No Extensions, Firefox is crashing at start up. Were it an extension problem, Firefox wouldn't have any problem starting in Safe-mode.

I am pretty sure something broke when it crashed while updating.

Go for a completely clean install. Backup your bookmarks, jot down your extensions and then uninstall. Be sure to delete the Firefox folders from both Program Files and your %UserProfile%\Application Data\Mozilla\Firefox. After that, install.

Believe me, if it was that simple I'd have never posted! :P

Does anyone know of any other folders/registry values firefox changes when installing or updating? I've looked all over the place and come up with nothing.

*Update*

I took some time off from the problem and went back to firefox 2 (at work) and it works like normal. I've tried when I have a few spare moments at work, to do a clean reinstall Firefox 3, and I've mostly met with failure.

I say mostly, because once I got it to work for a few days. I couldn't use the Foxmarks extension for some reason, but it would at least load up. BUT THE INSTANT, I tried to update to a newer version of firefox 3, it started crashing again. Since then I've not been able to get it to start at all. Same story: clean install/safe mode/new profile/zero extensions = instant crash at startup.

What else could be affecting it this badly?

Run a reg cleanup.

Auslogics makes a great one Snipious. Email me regarding that.

RegScrub is a free tool that works pretty well.

CCleaner's Issue cleaner would work, and even jv16 PowerTools trial for registry cleanup.

I only found a Reg Defrag by Auslogics, If there's another, I'll email you for details.

I've tried CCleaner, and another called Glary Utilities, but that hasn't seemed to fix anything.

Could it be a .dll problem? Is there a reg fixer like program for .dll's?

It's not in beta anymore, it's already had a couple of updates since it's release around June. I've submitted bug reports when the Crash Reporter doesn't crash on me, and I've browsed bugzilla, the mozilla support forum and mozillazine. I'm not alone, but no one's found a fix yet.

FF3 is out of beta, and was fully released. It is amazing btw.

Did some digging today, and I found out that this is a bug, and it hasn't been resolved yet. So it's not a problem on my end. I'm just gonna have to be patient and wait for them to fix it soon. (hopefully before December!)

Deleted by Katsumi

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