Computer help forum: Unresponsive Firefox

What is the make and model of the laptop?

Have installed any new programs just before this started?

Have you tried booting into safe mode?

It's a Dell Vostro 3550. I haven't installed any new programs recently, but I think I upgraded my AdAware earlier this week. I haven't tried booting into safe mode.

As I was replying to your message TWB404, Firefox went unresponsive again and then crashed. I've just had to reboot using the power button, but couldn't find an option to start in safe mode.

When you press the power button and the puter starts to boot, start tapping the F8 key. You have to be quick after pressing the power button. Just keep tapping it until you get a screen asking oyu how you want to start Windows. Select Safe mode and see what happens. Lots of line are going to flash by, the boot looks nothing like the normal boot. The link below shows you what the screen will look like.

http://www.bleepstatic.com/tutorials/safemode/windows-7/windows-7-f8.jpg

Try booting into safe mode just to see if you have anything happen. If I understand you correctly, you are having problems before you open FF. If you have no problems in safe mode then it is one of the programs that is starting when you start in normal boot.

Second are you running AdAware and Avast at the same time. If so turn stop AdAware from starting at boot and see if the problems go away.

I looked up the model number and it says Win 7 pro came preinstalled. Is that correct. I ask so we can eliminate any install or upgrade to pro.

The link below is for CCleaner. It is a great program and can help finding which program might be the problem during boot. If you want you can download it and install it. Once it is install click tools and then start up. That will list the programs that are starting during the boot process. You can use the disable button for one program at a time to help find out if it is a program that is starting during boot. After you disable one program and do a reboot. if the problem does not go away you can disable another and try it. When your done you can come back and re enable them. I love that feature of the program.

http://www.piriform.com/ccleaner/download

It also has a great cleaning feature, but if your not familiar with cleaning puters, leave all setting at the default level.

I wouldn't go that far, but there may well be a bad HDD in the unit.

So to the OP, I would suggest that when the laptop is first booting, keep pressing the F12 key until you see a message about preparing the one time boot menu. From there select the diagnostics option, and let that run. If it at some point asks you to run a thorough or extended test, say yes. It'll probably take around an hour give or take, so make sure you have the time to spend on this.

If you get some kind of failure message, write it down, and give it to some Dell chat representative when you make your warranty claim. I would say the odds of this happening are quite good based on the symptoms. If you end up getting a clean bill of health from the diagnostics, then feel free to come back and we'll spitball some other ideas.

Jimmy. Exactly when do you suggest I press the F12 key? Should I do it as soon as I've switched on? I may be jumping the gun a little as I haven't tried that option yet, and probably won't do in until the morning, but I've been looking for Dell help. Perhaps I didn't look hard enough as all I could find were forums with various questions and not a phone number for technical help. I'm also worried about the possibility of returning my laptop in case I lose anything that may need to be reinstalled, for example my Microsoft Office. And of course there's the problem of being without a laptop. I've just bought a Blackberry Playbook, but I'm still getting used to it and haven't used it for emailing or anything so far as I'm much more proficient on a keyboard.

Yes. When you first turn the computer on, and see the Dell logo, probably with a little progress meter at the bottom. With Dell systems I find it's best to keep pressing the key about 1-2X/second until you see the message about the boot menu, otherwise it's probably not going to show up.

djhammerhead I'm really old fashioned and never use my laptop on my lap or thighs. I always operate it on a table or desk surface. Are you suggesting I run to the cost of a new hard drive for a six month old laptop?

Bob Windows 7 was already installed on my laptop when I received it. What more detail do you need?

Try the diagnostics, tell how much ram and about how you installed Adaware and it all went downhill?
Bob

Another matter Bob. You tried to help me a week or so ago when I had a problem with uploading and downloading attachments to my webmail. BTYahoo sorted it for me last week, but it happened again yesterday. I phoned them again and this time I was told to restart my router. I think the explanation was that it would re-acquire the IP address, and as this hadn't been done the previous time, that's why the problem recurred. He promised that I won't experience the same problem ever again, so I'll just have to wait and see.

So you'll only have new and different experiences?

It was a shame they didn't reveal what they fixed.
Bob