605437 - Firefox.exe process running, but no browser.

Status: RESOLVED INCOMPLETE

(Firefox :: General, defect)

Description

[Mike]

User-Agent:       Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 8.0; Windows NT 5.1; Trident/4.0; .NET CLR 2.0.50727; .NET CLR 1.1.4322; .NET CLR 3.0.04506.30; .NET CLR 3.0.04506.648; InfoPath.2; .NET CLR 3.0.4506.2152; .NET CLR 3.5.30729; .NET4.0C; .NET4.0E)
Build Identifier: Mozilla/5.0 (Windows; U; Windows NT 5.1; en-US; rv:1.9.2.10) Gecko/20100914 Firefox/3.6.10 ( .NET CLR 3.5.30729; .NET4.0E)

I discovered something.  Once or twice a day, I'll start Firefox at work.  The process will start in task manager, but the browser doesn't start.  I'll kill the process tree and try again.  This still won't work.  What DOES work is "starting" Firefox and going to the firefox process.  Right click on the process and click Set Affinity (on a dual core proc) and unchecking one of the procs.  After unchecking one of them, Firefox jumps to life.

This happens to me and a few others I work with, so I'm sure we're not the only ones.  We're all using Dual Core CPUs on XP Pro.

Reproducible: Sometimes

Steps to Reproduce:
I wish I knew.  It seems random.
Actual Results:  
See Details

Expected Results:  
See Details

See Details

Comment 1

[Matthias Versen [:Matti]]

Does it work ifg you run Firefoc in the Firefox safemode ?
http://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/Safe+Mode

Comment 2

[Mike]

Honestly, I didn't even think to try in Safe Mode.  If it happens today, I'll give it a shot and let you know.

Thanks!
Mike

Comment 3

[Mike]

This morning, I rebooted my PC.  I tried starting Firefox 3 separate times but no browser showed on the screen.  In task manager, I saw Firefox.exe listed 3 times.  I tried to start Firefox Safe Mode and it still did not work or show any additional processes.  I closed 2 of the 3 hung processes and on the 3rd, I did right clicked, selected set affinity, uncheck one of the cores, and the browser popped right up.  After that, to test, I closed Firefox completely and started it again with no problem.  When it's back up and running, the process is running both cores and doing fine.  The only other program I was running at the time was Outlook which connects to our Exchange server.

As an additional note - I updated to the latest version yesterday when the download was available (v2.6.11 - Mozilla/5.0 (Windows; U; Windows NT 5.1; en-US; rv:1.9.2.11) Gecko/20101012 Firefox/3.6.11 ( .NET CLR 3.5.30729; .NET4.0E)) and the issue remains.

Thanks!  I hope I'm helping!
Mike

Comment 4

[Mike]

Sorry, I meant v3.6.11.  My mistake.

Comment 5

[Tim (fmdeveloper)]

Reporter -> Are you still experiencing this issue with the latest version of Firefox 5? Does the issue occur with the latest nightly? http://nightly.mozilla.org/

Comment 6

[Tim (fmdeveloper)]

Closing bug as Incomplete - if you are still experiencing this issue or have more information to provide feel free to post back here and we can re-open the bug. You can also get assistance by visiting the Firefox help site -> http://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/Ask+a+question