[SOLVED] Firefox won't start - "Failed to execute default Web Browser"

I've just updgraded from Firefox 3 to version 4 (by running "pacman -Syu") on my 64-bit Arch installation. I started XFCE and Firefox 4 worked fine for a few minutes before crashing and closing automatically.
A short while later (long enough to forget exactly what I was doing when it crashed!) I tried to run it again, but got the error message Failed to execute default Web Browser. / Input/output error.
I've tried rebooting the PC and re-installing firefox & firefox-i18n, but still get the same error. If I run "firefox" from a terminal window, I get the following response:
OpenOffice path before fixup is '/usr/lib/openoffice.org3'
OpenOffice path is '/usr/lib/openoffice.org3'
*** NSPlugin Wrapper *** WARNING:(/build/src/nspluginwrapper-1.3.0/src/npw-wrapper.c:3160):invoke_NP_Initialize: assertion failed: (rpc_method_invoke_possible(g_rpc_connection))
NOTE: child process received `Goodbye', closing down
OpenOffice path before fixup is '/usr/lib/openoffice.org3'
OpenOffice path is '/usr/lib/openoffice.org3'
firefox: symbol lookup error: /usr/lib/mozilla/plugins/libvlcplugin.so: undefined symbol: NPP_Initialize
I'm not sure why there are so many references to "OpenOffice"...
Can anyone offer any suggestions as to how to get Firefox working again? (Thanks in advance!)
Last edited by esuhl (2011-03-25 00:40:19)

^-Ubermensch-^ wrote:https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+sour … bug/722690
Thanks for that. After I posted my last message, Firefox crashed again on a website containing embedded video. I disabled the add-on, but when VLC was updated, I guess it installed and enabled the add-on again. Firefox worked fine initially, but I've just tried to open it again and the same "input/output error" message appeared. I rebooted, but the problem persisted.
Uninstalling the vlc-plugin package seems to have resolved that, though.

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[SOLVED] - firefox won't start

First off, this problem happens on a kubuntu 0804 machine on kde3. However, their forum has not thrown up anything yet, so I am trying to leech the knowledgeable Arch crowd
Problem:
Firefox comes up after two minutes after clicking on the icon but freezes immediately.
Attempted solutions:
Purged and reinstalled - no joy
Deleted ~/.mozilla - no joy
Purged, reinstalled and deleted ~/.mozilla - no joy
Started firefox in safe mode - no joy
Disabled IPv6 - no joy
Further probing:
installed strace and started from the command line, start hangs with message:
connect(36, {sa_family=AF_INET, sin_port=htons(16001), sin_addr=inet_addr("127.0.0.1")}, 16
Further attempted solutions:
Checked /etc/hosts - all clear
Checked /etc/resolv.conf - all clear
Am using Seamonkey instead but would prefer to get back to firefox but heck, this thing beats me!
Last edited by toad (2009-08-30 15:39:30)

markus@markus-desktop:~$ ping 127.0.0.1
PING 127.0.0.1 (127.0.0.1) 56(84) bytes of data.
--- 127.0.0.1 ping statistics ---
5 packets transmitted, 0 received, 100% packet loss, time 4009ms
Perhaps the /etc/hosts is dodgy after all?
markus@markus-desktop:~$ cat /etc/hosts
#127.0.0.1 localhost
#127.0.1.1 markus-desktop
127.0.0.1 localhost markus-desktop markus
# The following lines are desirable for IPv6 capable hosts
::1 ip6-localhost ip6-loopback
fe00::0 ip6-localnet
ff00::0 ip6-mcastprefix
ff02::1 ip6-allnodes
ff02::2 ip6-allrouters
ff02::3 ip6-allhosts

Firefox update failed, so I re-installed. Now firefox won't start up at all?

''locking as a duplicate of https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/969557''
So I ran firefox, and it was updating. While updating, firefox crashed for no apparent reason so I had to close it. Afterwards, every time I tried to start up firefox, it gave me the update failed error, followed by a crash less than a second later. I followed some instructions, uninstalling and re-installing firefox (without removing personal data), but now firefox won't start up at all!
Now what?

We're sorry to hear that your Firefox seems to be crashing when you open it. Please perform the following steps to give us a crash report ID that helps us find out more about the cause of the crash.
#Press the following shortcut to get a Run window: [Windows] + [R]. This should bring up a window that contains a text field.
#In that text field, enter %APPDATA% and press Enter. An explorer window should open.
#From that explorer window, double-click on the ''Mozilla'' folder, then double-click on ''Firefox'' and then on ''Crash reports''. Double-click on ''submitted''.
#Now, you should see a list of files that contain reports. Go to ''View'' > ''Arrange Icons by'' > ''Modified'' to get the most recent files at the top of the window.
#Open the most recent 5 files with a text editor and copy the IDs.
#Paste each ID with '''bp-''' into the reply window on the forums.
Thanks in advance!
You can find more information and troubleshooting steps in the [[Firefox crashes]] article.

After reboot firefox won't start. runs in task manager, but won't pop up. reset, safe mode and uninstall/re-install won't help. ok if no reboot.

win7 Pro. has been running firefox ok. but lately with 25 and now 26, the firefox won't start. I can see firefox is running in task manager. but it just won't pop up.
if I download it again and install it, it will run, but every time I reboot the system, it just won't run again.
try: reset, safe mode, uninstall & reinstall, new/clean profile, none of those work.

There may be a corrupted file on Firefox.<br>
Please attempt to perform a clean reinstall. <sup>[https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/forum-response-clean-reinstall (More Details)]</sup> This is different than a regular uninstall.
If a clean reinstall does not fix the issue, please try starting your operating system in safe mode.<br>
To do so, please do the following:
#Ensure that your computer is shut down completely
#Press the power button
#Tap the <code>F8</code> key repeatedly before the Windows logo and startup screen is displayed
#Select Safe Mode With Networking for the advanced startup options list
Please report back with the results of both solutions.

Firefox won't start, there is no error message and it is not already running.

Hi,
When I try to click on firefox, the little wait icon appears and then disappears. Nothing opens, not even safe mode. I've looked at the "Firefox won't start and there is no error message" help section and looked at my task manager processes. It seems that when I click firefox, it briefly appears on my processes and then disappears. This happened yesterday while I was in the middle of using it. At the same time, my Skype also crashed, which makes me think the two are correlated. The two programs still don't work. The only way that I can open firefox is if I install it all over again with the "launch firefox now" option checked at the end. When I have a firefox window open, I can open other firefox windows just fine. When I close it, nothing opens. Thanks for your help.

1) Start Task Manager
2) Open Processes (make the description area large enough to see)
3) look for a description that says ''firefox''
4) Select it and press End Process
'''Now Firefox should work properly.'''

Firefox won't start; no error message; profile manager also won't start. What can I do?

Suddenly, firefox won't start. I get no error message--it just won't open. System restore to a month before the problem did not help.
From the suggestions on this page: http://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/Firefox%20will%20not%20start... I did not recently install add-ons or clean the registry, so I think it may be a profile problem. But profile manager will not open--only a tiny window with a white rectangle and no text.
I would like to not lose all my bookmarks. And I would like to continue using Firefox.
What can I do?

dmcritchie, thank you for your reply!
Before I received your response, I tried something that seems to have worked. I used Chrome to go to the Firefox website and downloaded Firefox (without uninstalling it first) and went through the installation process again. For some reason, this worked, even though I already had the latest version of Firefox, and I can now open Firefox successfully.
If it stops working again, I will try your suggestion. In the meantime, thank you much!

Firefox won't start after an update. Firefox help says check virtualization settings. What is virtualization settings and where do you check them and for what? I have Windows XP

Firefox won't start after downloading update. I've reinstalled Firefox, still won't start. Help says check virtualization settings. What and where are virtualization settings? I have Windows XP.

This might be Zone Alarm since it provides virtualization. Please try the instructions to turn off virtualization in the following support question
http://support.mozilla.com/en-US/questions/880170

Failed to execute default file manager (Input /Output Error) [SOLVED]

I'm having an issue in XFCE where the default Terminal, Browser and File Manager launch correctly - but with this error:
Failed to execute default [file manager] [terminal emulator] [browser]
Input /Output Error
I have the requisite "Preferred Application" set as Chrome/Thunar/xfce4-terminal.
If I run
exo-open --launch FileManager
From terminal, it says:
[1] 4281 segmentation fault (core dumped) exo-open --launch FileManager
Remember, it launches the app successfully - and the apps themselves launch correctly, it's only exo-open that I have a problem with! Everything else works great on this system.
Last edited by yochaigal (2015-04-28 11:10:06)

demolitions wrote:
I got the same problem, I observed the problem appearing with those lines in "dmesg", the same library (libpthread-2.21.so) is also present in other software errors (critical and not) since my last update (friday 24th).
I'll try downgrading glibc, see if that works around the problem.
[ 587.042204] traps: xfce4-terminal[1022] general protection ip:7f6500100150 sp:7ffe14c978d8 error:0 in libpthread-2.21.so[7f65000ee000+18000]
[ 592.113288] traps: xfce4-terminal[1026] general protection ip:7fbf1c97a150 sp:7ffe2f916188 error:0 in libpthread-2.21.so[7fbf1c968000+18000]
[ 620.913826] traps: xfce4-notifyd[494] general protection ip:7fa4859a2150 sp:7fff84dd7708 error:0 in libpthread-2.21.so[7fa485990000+18000]
[ 974.008983] traps: xfce4-terminal[1384] general protection ip:7f519df84150 sp:7ffe3573e4f8 error:0 in libpthread-2.21.so[7f519df72000+18000]
[ 974.850083] traps: xfce4-terminal[1387] general protection ip:7f6ed57f8150 sp:7ffec58369c8 error:0 in libpthread-2.21.so[7f6ed57e6000+18000]
[ 975.521687] traps: xfce4-terminal[1390] general protection ip:7f5e91d00150 sp:7ffd70179d18 error:0 in libpthread-2.21.so[7f5e91cee000+18000]
[ 979.179030] traps: exo-open[1393] general protection ip:7fbdd2a24150 sp:7ffe9e0c5608 error:0 in libpthread-2.21.so[7fbdd2a12000+18000]
[ 984.286944] traps: exo-helper-1[1395] general protection ip:7fd5d8473150 sp:7ffd53706a08 error:0 in libpthread-2.21.so[7fd5d8461000+18000]
[ 1012.318773] traps: xfce4-terminal[1502] general protection ip:7ffb62b1b150 sp:7fffd5c986f8 error:0 in libpthread-2.21.so[7ffb62b09000+18000]
[ 1101.456187] traps: xfce4-terminal[1521] general protection ip:7f3285cf2150 sp:7fff3c6df158 error:0 in libpthread-2.21.so[7f3285ce0000+18000]
[ 1102.120447] traps: xfce4-terminal[1525] general protection ip:7fdd50c3a150 sp:7ffe96656ce8 error:0 in libpthread-2.21.so[7fdd50c28000+18000]
[ 1103.246180] traps: xfce4-terminal[1529] general protection ip:7f93f2b49150 sp:7ffc539d34e8 error:0 in libpthread-2.21.so[7f93f2b37000+18000]
[ 1103.976302] traps: xfce4-terminal[1532] general protection ip:7f6a55204150 sp:7ffd13eb77f8 error:0 in libpthread-2.21.so[7f6a551f2000+18000]
[ 1118.718286] traps: xfce4-terminal[1953] general protection ip:7efc94fb9150 sp:7ffd6f5fbed8 error:0 in libpthread-2.21.so[7efc94fa7000+18000]
[ 1160.851856] traps: xfce4-terminal[1992] general protection ip:7f39aaddb150 sp:7ffdb4478aa8 error:0 in libpthread-2.21.so[7f39aadc9000+18000]
[ 1165.279367] traps: xfce4-terminal[2004] general protection ip:7f3a50756150 sp:7ffd743c07b8 error:0 in libpthread-2.21.so[7f3a50744000+18000]
[ 1173.696850] traps: xfce4-terminal[2008] general protection ip:7f0930b98150 sp:7ffc5cd54e78 error:0 in libpthread-2.21.so[7f0930b86000+18000]
[ 1177.567234] traps: xfce4-terminal[2011] general protection ip:7f5ea2222150 sp:7ffd81d4e898 error:0 in libpthread-2.21.so[7f5ea2210000+18000]
Tried downgrading glibc from 2.21-3 to 2.21-2 as this is the package which contains libpthread.so, and on my other arch workstations I don't have the issue, but to no avail, same error box pops up when using exo-open, and my IDEs are not starting.
I'll try comparing installed packages versions on both workstations.

Failed to execute default file manager (input/output error) After Firefox Reset? [Any more help? you guys/gals rule!]

after resetting firefox it seems I cant open anything from the menu as i get the above error msg.

Are you using ubuntu? [http://askubuntu.com/questions/42682/failed-to-execute-default-file-manager-input-output-error]

Firefox won't start. Everytime I end the process/close the last window, it keeps getting stuck at about 2500k memory in the task manager. (continued)

Firefox won't start. Everytime I end the process/close the last window, it keeps getting stuck at about 2500k memory in the task manager. The only way I have to fix it is to change some kind of compability settings or try and access it in a new way, and every time it crashes/closed/computer blue screens that setting will no longer work.
That is a short term solution, but eventually I'll run out of ways to access firefox successfully. I've tried many solutions, and some worked, but only once. I have yet to find a permanent solution for this problem.

First please update your plugins to make sure you are up to date. Shockwave Flash player has a newer version 16. In order to better manage the memory that Firefox uses please see these troubleshooting steps: [https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/firefox-uses-too-much-memory-ram Firefox Uses too much RAM]
You also mentioned that Firefox crashes, we're sorry to hear that Firefox is crashing. In order to assist you better, please follow the steps below to provide us crash IDs to help us learn more about your crash.
#Enter ''about:crashes'' in the Firefox address bar and press Enter. A Submitted Crash Reports list will appear, similar to the one shown below.
#Copy the '''5''' most recent Report IDs that start with '''bp-''' and then go back to your forum question and paste those IDs into the "Post a Reply" box.
''' Note:''' If a recent Report ID does not start with '''bp-''' click on it and select '''Submit'''.
(Please don't take a screenshot of your crashes, just copy and paste the IDs. The below image is just an example of what your Firefox screen should look like.)
;[[Image:aboutcrashesFx29|width=500]]
Thank you for your help!
More information and further troubleshooting steps can be found in the [[Firefox crashes - Troubleshoot, prevent and get help fixing crashes]] article.

Firefox won't start on windows 7. Used to word when it was on version 18. I have different windows 7 machine it works fine on that.

firefox won't start on windows 7 after upgrading to version 19 or 20. Even if it starts up I cannot do anything on it, its in not responding mode. I have tried uninstalling and installing again with both version 19 and 20. Also i tried deleting the profile and re creating a new profile.

it does not work even in windows safe mode with networking. same issue. if i wait for some time firefox comes but in not responding mode. then a pop shows up with - script: chrome//browser/content/tabbrowser.xml 2123 .

I keep getting this error message and Firefox won't start....Exc in ev handl: Error: Error setting property on NPObject!

Firefox won't start and this message keeps coming up....I uninstalled and reinstalled....but didn't help...
Exc in ev handl: Error: Error setting property on NPObject!

Disable "McAfee Site Advisor" extension which was just updated to 3.4.0, which probably took it out of the addons block list.
* "Ctrl+Shift+A" > find McAfee Site Advisor and use "Disable", and then restart Firefox.
* Do a Google Search no problem
* It seems that if you re-enable Site Advisor again, and restart Firefox you are okay. At least you know where to look if you get the error again or Google searches slow down.

Firefox won't start after windows update

After windows Updated my computer Firefox won't start. I tried a clean reinstall two times, won't work. When I tried to start the firefox the first time after booting my computer it comes with the following message.
XML Parsing Error: undefined entity
Location: chrome://mozapps/content/extensions/update.xul
Line Number 14, Column 1:
<wizard id="updateWizard"
^
Any Help would be greatly appreciated. I like firefox and I'm using it the last 7 Years.
Thanks
DK

I cheated a little bit and put the issue url in a working version of firefox:
chrome://mozapps/content/extensions/update.xul
What I got was a page that looked like this below and console:
blah blah parser:
<pre><nowiki> xml-stylesheet
xml-stylesheet
<wizard id="updateWizard" xmlns="http://www.mozilla.org/keymaster/gatekeeper/there.is.only.xul" title="Firefox Update" windowtype="Addons:Compatibility" branded="true" onload="gUpdateWizard.init();" onwizardfinish="gUpdateWizard.onWizardFinish();" onwizardcancel="return gUpdateWizard.onWizardCancel();" onclose="return gUpdateWizard.onWizardClose(event);" buttons="accept,cancel" pagestep="1" currentpageid="dummy" firstpage="true" lastpage="true">
<script type="application/javascript" src="chrome://mozapps/content/extensions/update.js"></script>
<stringbundleset id="updateSet">
<stringbundle id="brandStrings" src="chrome://branding/locale/brand.properties"></stringbundle>
<stringbundle id="updateStrings" src="chrome://mozapps/locale/extensions/update.properties"></stringbundle>
</stringbundleset>
<wizardpage id="dummy" pageid="dummy"></wizardpage>
<wizardpage id="offline" pageid="offline" next="versioninfo" label="Firefox is working offline" onpageadvanced="return gOfflinePage.onPageAdvanced();">
<description></description>
<checkbox id="toggleOffline" checked="true" label="Go online now." accesskey="G" oncommand="gOfflinePage.toggleOffline();"></checkbox>
</wizardpage>
<wizardpage id="versioninfo" pageid="versioninfo" next="mismatch" label="Checking Compatibility of Add-ons" onpageshow="gVersionInfoPage.onPageShow();">
<label>
Checking your add-ons for compatibility with this
</label>
<separator class="thin"></separator>
<progressmeter id="versioninfo.progress" mode="undetermined"></progressmeter>
<hbox align="center">
<image id="versioninfo.throbber" class="throbber"></image>
<label id="versioninfo.status" flex="1" crop="right"></label>
</hbox>
<separator></separator>
</wizardpage>
<wizardpage id="mismatch" pageid="mismatch" next="checking" label="Incompatible Add-ons" onpageshow="gMismatchPage.onPageShow();">
<label></label>
<separator class="thin"></separator>
<listbox id="mismatch.incompatible" flex="1"></listbox>
<separator class="thin"></separator>
<label>
Firefox can check if there are compatible versions…
</label>
</wizardpage>
<wizardpage id="checking" pageid="checking" next="noupdates" label="Checking for Compatible Add-ons" onpageshow="gUpdatePage.onPageShow();">
<label></label>
<separator class="thin"></separator>
<progressmeter id="checking.progress"></progressmeter>
<hbox align="center"></hbox>
</wizardpage>
<wizardpage id="noupdates" pageid="noupdates" label="No Compatible Add-ons Found" onpageshow="gNoUpdatesPage.onPageShow();">
<description></description>
<separator class="thin"></separator>
<hbox id="updateCheckErrorNotFound" class="alertBox" hidden="true" align="top"></hbox>
<separator class="thin"></separator>
<description id="noupdatesCheckEnabled" hidden="true"></description>
<vbox id="noupdatesCheckDisabled" hidden="true"></vbox>
<separator flex="1"></separator>
<label></label>
<separator class="thin"></separator>
</wizardpage>
</nowiki></pre>
I do not see much about coloum 14, but I am guessing this file is stored somewhere and its corrupt. Update.xul suggests that it is the update file. Do you still have this in your downloads folder? There are two places for update and for a clean reinstall:
[http://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/new/] in a private window will give you a new install or you can choose from here: [https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/all/]
This is what the file should look like; [http://hg.mozilla.org/mozilla-central/log/7a2edc5171e6/toolkit/mozapps/extensions/content/update.xul] If you can copy and paste that file from a working browser we can see the issue, but it will just look the same as the error.
if you can replace the contents of the file locally with what it should look like it will fix the error, but who knows if there are other errors. May be best to delete the updater and save all the profile folder contents.

Firefox won't start after update - nothing in support pages helps

windows 7 - firefox won't start after update - no support pages are relevant

-> [[Firefox will not start]]
Check and tell if its working.

Firefox won't start after google chrome imported all data(bookmarks,passwords,history,etc) from firefox

firefox won't start after i import the data to google chrome.

Start Firefox in <u>[[Safe Mode]]</u> to check if one of the extensions or if hardware acceleration is causing the problem (switch to the DEFAULT theme: Firefox (Tools) > Add-ons > Appearance/Themes).
*Don't make any changes on the Safe mode start window.
*https://support.mozilla.com/kb/Safe+Mode
See also:
*http://kb.mozillazine.org/Browser_will_not_start_up

[SOLVED] Firefox won't start - "Failed to execute default Web Browser"

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