Firefox hangs -- no fixes work -- even if I uninstall it, it stays open in task manager!

UPDATE 2: Disregard update 1: The problem's still there: If the computer goes into sleep or hibernate, Firefox hangs when I wake it up and the problem proceeds as described. I think it's something to do with Firefox sync and/or various add-ons. I suppose I should now try the long process of gradually allowing sync permissions and add-ons until I find the particular one(s) that are causing the problem but I'd prefer not to! Any other sugestions?
UPDATE: This problem now seems to be fixed. I tried a clean install and it seems to be working, so far. The only difference is I'm no longer using AdBlock plus (coincidentally and unrelatedly), so it's possible that's what was causing the problem.
I'm running the latest vesion of Firefox on Windos 7 (32bit). It always works fine for the first few webpages but then hangs forever. Specifically, it appears to be loading the webpage, but nothing happens, not even the 'failed to load page'.
If at this point I close Firefox, it gives me the 'Firefox is running but not responding' message. If I try and close Firefox from task manager (which continues to show it using a big chunk of memory -- bigger than when it's actually running!), nothing happens.
At this point I'd tried all the obvious things: Refreshing Firefox, disabling add ons, etc. (there's no reason this should've been the problem since I use sync to run Firefox on Android and on another Windows 7 computer (64bit)). So I tried to uninstall Firefox, then reinstall it. When I went to run my newly-installed browser... Firefox was STILL running! I tried this again, from scratch, and found that it really was still open according to Task Manager, despite not appearing in the list of installed programs in the Control Panel!
So to summarise:
1) Firefox stops working after a while and hangs
2) It refuses to close even if it isn't actually on the PC anymore
3) The only way for me to fix this, so far, is to reboot my computer every time Firefox hangs... Which is all the time.

Anyone with very similar problems, please see my posts above.
'''Please start your own question using this'''
*'''[https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/new/desktop/fix-problems?search=Firefox+36.0.1+hangs+on+close+down+%28%2Fquetions%2F1051108%29#summarize-question special link]'''
Other contributors will recognise it as relating to this thread, and it cuts out a couple of steps.
Please try to give full troubleshooting information.
===Hi berndf,===
Sorry you are having problems.
I know this can not be affecting everyone. I have tried Fx36.0.1 on Windows 7 and do not notice any particular problems, although it may possibly sometimes take a few minutes for Firefox to fully close down. I do not think there is a very big surge in this sort of question being seen on the forum.
If you don't mind please start your own question, that way we get your full details and can try to solve your problem.
It is probable that there are multiple possible causes of this sort of issue.
I often try to avoid using Windows. Must admit I am not sure why processes may exist but not allow Task Manager to kill them (Presumbly we are talking ''firefox.exe'' here running under your own user name and not some system process)
That is straying into a Windows topic, but it is directly relevant. Any Windows expert wish to enlighten me please ?

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Shortly after starting Firefox the "music" reminiscent of Pac-Man starts. It is only on Firefox (haven't tried Thunderbird) even following an uninstall and re-install of Firefox. Just started today. Am using XP Home SP3.

How to get rid of Pac-Man sounds
Shortly after starting Firefox the "music" reminiscent of Pac-Man starts. It is only on Firefox (haven't tried Thunderbird) even following an uninstall and re-install of Firefox. Just started today. Am using XP Home SP3.
== This happened ==
Every time Firefox opened
== Only today (5/21/10) ==
== User Agent ==
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Dear Firefox:
I am not amused with the pac-man music. I spent the entire trying to find a virus on my computer. I might have tolerated this as an April Fool's joke, but this "celebration" was completely unnecessary!
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Firefox opens in task manager but does not display.

This morning my Firefox stopped working and I had to end task. Afterwards when trying to restart Firefox the firefox process will open under task manager but nothing displays on the screen. I've tried ending all firefox processes and restarting my pc. I also tried creating a new profile under the firefox,exe -manageprofile command. When I created the new profile and ran under it I had the exact same problem. I tried running under safe mode and I get the pop up telling me that mozila is running under safe mode with the check box's for clearing settings but there is still no window displayed and when clicking continue in safe mode the pop up box goes away and I'm left with nothing once again. I tried running the firefox setup freshly downloaded in an attempt to repair the setup of sorts but this had no effect.
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5.Repeat steps 3 and 4 until firefox finally opens (trust me, eventually it will)
6. Once it finally opens, backup your bookmarks,
7. Download a copy of firefox from there website
8. Uninstall from programs menu and make sure to check the box REMOVE ALL COMPONENTS
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*AdwCleaner: http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/download/adwcleaner/ http://www.softpedia.com/get/Antivirus/Removal-Tools/AdwCleaner.shtml
*SuperAntispyware: http://www.superantispyware.com/
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==================================
'''Try Firefox Safe Mode''' to see if the problem goes away. Safe Mode is a troubleshooting mode, which disables most add-ons.
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* On Windows you can open Firefox 4.0+ in Safe Mode by holding the '''Shift''' key when you open the Firefox desktop or Start menu shortcut.
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* On Linux you can open Firefox 4.0+ in Safe Mode by quitting Firefox and then going to your Terminal and running: firefox -safe-mode (you may need to specify the Firefox installation path e.g. /usr/lib/firefox)
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[[Image:FirefoxSafeMode|width=520]]
''Once you get the pop-up, just select "'Start in Safe Mode"''
[[Image:Safe Mode Fx 15 - Win]]
'''''If the issue is not present in Firefox Safe Mode''''', your problem is probably caused by an extension, and you need to figure out which one. Please follow the [[Troubleshooting extensions and themes]] article for that.
''To exit the Firefox Safe Mode, just close Firefox and wait a few seconds before opening Firefox for normal use again.''
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*[[firefox hangs]]
* [[firefox is already running but is not responding]]

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Firefox Hang at Exit
* https://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/Firefox%20hangs#w_hang-at-exit
Firefox is already running but is not responding
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See "Firefox hangs when you quit it":
*https://support.mozilla.org/kb/Firefox+hangs

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* [[Firefox hangs]]

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I have the problem described in /forums/knowledge-base-articles/704725. (Firefox is already running but not responding). My only solution is to use Task Manager to end the firerfox process. I am the only user and there are no other profiles on my system

Occasionally I have the problem discussed in /forums/knowledge-base-articles/704725 , Firefox is already running. My only fix is to use Task Manager to end the firefox process. At such tmes, I have no other instances running.

'''https://support.mozilla.org/questions/997866?esab=a&s=&r=1&as=s'''. 
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Sounds like Firefox is "hanging at exit". That problem is frequently caused by an Extension or a Plugin. Read all of the following articles. 
NOTE: Establish a habit of exiting/closing Firefox with Firefox button > Exit or File > Exit to allow an orderly shutdown of Firefox and closing of all of the files that Firefox has open.
#Stop the Firefox process:
#*[http://kb.mozillazine.org/Kill_application Mozillazine - Kill application]
#*Windows 7 users click [http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/window-on-windows/reap-the-benefits-of-windows-7s-task-manager/2576 here]
#*Mac users: http://techheavy.com/2011/02/the-mac-task-manager/
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#*[http://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/Firefox+hangs Firefox hangs] (see Hang at exit)
#*[http://kb.mozillazine.org/Firefox_hangs Firefox hangs (Mozillazine)] (see Hang at exit and Closing Firefox properly)
#*[https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/Firefox+is+already+running+but+is+not+responding Firefox is already running but is not responding]
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#**[http://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/Troubleshooting+extensions+and+themes Troubleshooting extensions and themes]
#**[http://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/Troubleshooting+plugins Troubleshooting plugins]
#**[http://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/Basic+Troubleshooting Basic Troubleshooting]
'''If this reply solves your problem, please click "Solved It" next to this reply when signed-in to the forum.'''

How do I stop Firefox from thinking it crashed and doing a recovery when forced to use Windows Task manager to close a bad URL that I never want to go back to?

Long question, I know :~) There are web sites that I may visit that will not allow me to exit the site, so I use Alt-Ctrl-Del in Windows to start the Task Manager and force the site to close by ending the program. The new version of Firefox (31.0) thinks that Firefox crashed and send me right back to the source of my problem.
Your documentation for this process is as follows:
After a crash
Due to unexpected issues such as problems with a website, software errors, or an accidental loss of power, Firefox may unexpectedly close. In these situations, Firefox can restore the pages that you were visiting when it is restarted. Firefox will automatically restore your previous session, the first time you launch it after a crash.
If Firefox crashes a second time, the Restore Session (i.e. "Well, this is embarrassing") page will appear when you next launch Firefox.
...and this is what I found trying to stop this process. Next, when I am forced to use Task Manager to close Firefox a second time to stop a badware site, then the 'Well this is embarrassing' dialog appears and I am finally safely away from the URL.
I do not want Firefox automatically sending me back to a problem site.
Thank you for any procedure you can suggest to stop Firefox from restoring problem web pages, Art Clapton

I am unwilling to attempt navigation away from these sites. The pop-ups that occur on the attempt to leave a site or to close the browser are exit traps offering incentive to stay.
Once upon a time, when the internet was less dangerous, I would be willing to close the exit pop-ups. Now, after twice being infected with malware trying to close the pop-ups, I now force close whichever browser I am using.
Recently, I clicked on the red X to close one pop-up, and it installed a trojan that I had to pay to be removed. When I clicked on 'Leave' in another exit pop, it didn't exit and it turned out I was giving permission to run a script file. Now that criminals have learned these exit pop-ups can be used to force a click action, the sites using them have become dangerous.
If I force the browser to close using Task manager, Please tell me how to stop FireFox from sending me directly back to the same site because it mistakenly believes it crashed when it did not. I forced it to close because I was on a site that had taken control of my browser and was not allowing me to leave the site.
No other browser sends me back to the potentially dangerous sites. I prefer Firefox, but the new version must have a setting that allows me to get safely away from a problem site?

Firefox hangs -- no fixes work -- even if I uninstall it, it stays open in task manager!

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