How to Repair Mozilla Firefox 3.6 Crashes

Crashes always occur when you least expect them.

Firefox version 3.6 is not the newest version available, and many errors are fixed simply by upgrading the browser. If you are not ready to upgrade for whatever reason, there are troubleshooting steps you can take to prevent crashes. This version of Firefox is known to crash at startup if FIPS mode is enabled. It also features a built-in support page that helps Firefox technicians troubleshoot problems with the browser.

Instructions

1. Start Firefox in safe mode to determine if the crashes are being caused by poorly designed extensions. Extensions include toolbars, add-ons and themes, which are designed to add functionality to the browser. Launch safe mode from the shortcut located in the Start Menu. Alternatively, type "firefox.exe -safe-mode" into the search box and press "Enter."

2. Disable the extensions if the crash occurs upon exit, or if it did not surface during safe mode. Click "Tools," "Add-Ons" and "Extensions." Click "Disable" next to any extensions you do not use. If you do not wish to uninstall the extensions, perform an update check from "Tools," then "Add-Ons" and "Find Updates."

3. Delete the download history if the crash occurs while downloading a file. The downloading history file can become corrupted if Windows is shut down improperly, or if Firefox shuts down unexpectedly. Go to "Help," then "Troubleshooting Information." Under "Application Basics," click "Open Containing Folder," and a folder will open. Delete the file in the folder labeled "Downloads.sqlite."

4. Check for viruses if the crashes are random. Viruses can cause all types of disruption to your system. Run an antivirus scan on your entire computer, and keep the virus definitions updated. Shut down Firefox during the scan, and restart the computer when scanning is complete. In addition, download and install antispyware software to search for other malicious files. Spyware is known to interfere with Web browsers, especially spyware designed to collect information and send it over the Internet.

Tips & Warnings

• If all else fails, send a crash report by typing "About:Crashes" into the address bar.

References

• Mozilla Firefox; Firefox 3.6 Release Notes; December 2010
• Mozilla Firefox: Firefox Crashes
• St. Norbert College: Firefox Add-Ons
• MozillaZine: Updating Add-Ons
• Web Monkey; Troubleshooting Firefox Gets Easier With New About: Support Page; Scott Gilbertson; September 2009
• Mozilla Firefox: Problematic or Out of Date Extensions

Resources

• Mozilla Firefox: Firefox Will Not Start
• Mozilla Firefox: Firefox Hangs
• Mozilla Firefox: Error Loading Web Sites
• Mozilla Firefox: How Do I Manually Check for Updates?
• Mozilla Support: Getting Help With Your Crash