Windows 10: Windows 10 1607 - Firefox will not start

I have been unsuccessful updating two machines to Windows 10 1607. During my latest attempt Firefox would not display its browser screen. If I looked at task manager I could see firefox32* loaded. If I tried to start Firefox again, I would get another firefox32* but no browser screen. I tried starting Firefox holding down the shift key, no add-ons, but no change. I uninstalled Firefox and reinstalled yielding the same result.

I rolled the machine back to the previous version of Windows 10 and Firefox worked fine. What am I doing wrong? I have been unable to find any other information on this problem.

Thank you

:)

 

Cumulative Update for Windows 10 Version 1607 for x64-based Systems (KB3194798)

After loading the update to Windows 10 version 1607 my Google Chrome will not open. My connection is good, and both Firefox and the Edge will open. Help!

 

Problem after installing updates

Hi,

I installed the following Windows 10 updates:

Cumulative Update for Windows 10 Version 1607 for x64-based Systems (KB4013429)

Update for Windows 10 Version 1607 for x64-based Systems (KB4013418)

Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool for Windows 8, 8.1, 10 and Windows Server 2012, 2012 R2, 2016 x64 Edition - March 2017 (KB890830)

Update for Windows 10 Version 1607 for x64-based Systems (KB3150513)

After this, many of my other programs/apps do not start and I get a fail messages stating that "the application was unable to start correctly". Examples of apps are Avast Antivirus, Spotify, Firefox etc. After this, it is impossible to open them.

I have tried to install the latest windows 10 update (Cumulative Update for Windows 10 Version 1607 for x64-based Systems (KB4015438)) in the hope that this would fix the problem, but it has not.

When I start the computer in fail safe mode, all apps seem to be working.

So, how do I fix this issue?

**Post moved by the moderator to the appropriate forum category.**

 

I had no such problem with Firefox and the Anniversary Update. It may be that your Firefox is working too, but the window location is set to appear somewhere outside your desktop area. Do you see a Firefox icon on the taskbar when you have firefox32* running? If so, does a Firefox thumbnail appear when you hover over it? If it does, right-click on the thumbnail view and select Maximise.

That can get your Firefox visible, but it won't cure the 'outside the screen' problem. One easy way to fix that would be to open anything else at the same time then, using window's 'snap' feature, click-and-drag it to the side of the desktop. This will set the snapped app to occupy one half of the screen and offer a choice of what will occupy the other half. Choose Firefox and its window will be set to appear on your desktop again.

 

Thank you for your response. The Firefox icon does not appear on the taskbar.

 

Thoughts:

Any errors noted in the Event Viewer ?

May try to thoroughly uninstall Firefox by manually removing the registry entries and folders and reinstall. (regedit/this pc)

Manually set Firefox as your default browser. Open Control Panel/type Default Programs in search bar (upper right)/click Firefox

Does the icon appear as a Desktop Shortcut immediately after install ? If so, try to launch from desktop and also click desktop icon to place in taskbar.


Mozilla Forums may also have advice.

 

Have you tried starting Firefox in Safe Mode, a standard diagnostic procedure?

Safe Mode - MozillaZine Knowledge Base

 

Thank you for your response.

No errors in the event viewer. I did uninstall Firefox by manually removing the directories, but not the registry entries. I have Firefox as my default browser. Yes, the Firefox icon disappears when I do an uninstall and reappears when I do an install.

I will try the uninstall and delete the registry entries and see how that works.

 

Yes, I have tried starting Firefox in safe mode.

 

There's a comprehensive list of point to check here, including this one that as far as I can tell you haven't tried yet.

https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb...viously-worked

I routinely use the Profile Manager myself. Not for trouble-shooting, but because I need two profiles: one for day to day browsing, the other exclusively for accessing a website I help manage. The bookmarks, cache and cookies are stored completely independently for each profile - reduces the risk of cross-contamination.