I just started having this problem, not sure if it's slackware or firefox. I used to be able to open and run firefox. Now, it shows the little bouncing icon, but it never starts. This applies whether I go thru the menu or try to run it from the command line. This is what ps aux shows and continues to show, even though firefox isn't running.

root 2612 0.0 0.2 2080 1044 ? S 06:34 0:00 /bin/sh /usr/lib/mozilla-firefox/run-mozilla.sh /usr/lib/
root 2668 0.5 2.2 28816 8744 ? S 06:34 0:00 /usr/lib/mozilla-firefox/firefox-bin
root 3324 0.0 2.2 28816 8744 ? S 06:34 0:00 /usr/lib/mozilla-firefox/firefox-bin
root 3325 0.0 2.2 28816 8744 ? S 06:34 0:00 /usr/lib/mozilla-firefox/firefox-bin

Anyone else with this problem? I had it on Debian as well.

Barbara

You run your browser as root..?

If firefox is showing in a ps, then it IS running, even if it's not got any visible window. Try killing all the processes, THEN see if you can run it.

Well, I just happened to be in as root

I've tried that, killing it then restarting. It just doesn't want to open a window, not sure why.

Do you get any error messages when you try and run it from the command line?

No, no errors, it just looks like it's going to start then it goes away. can't find anything in the logs either. It's frustrating.

OKay I found out what's happening with Firefox, but not why.

I run KDE 3.2.2. When I start Firefox and it never starts, this shows up in /var/log/messages:

May 5 17:27:50 cresswell gconfd (bjp-32669): starting (version 2.4.0.1), pid 32669 user 'bjp'

Why is gconfd involved in this?

Any thoughts?

Barbara

If you're using the gtk build of firefox (which you probably are), then gconf will naturally be involved as it handles all the user settings for GTK themes, preferences, etc

Do you have any problems with other GTk software?

--Shade

Well, Bluefish runs fine, no gconf message in the logs. Any suggestions of modifications to gconf? Or Firefox settings?

What extensions do you have downloaded/enabled? I've seen funky stuff happen when cross-versioned extensions or plugins are used.

Try moving your .phoenix directory to something like .phoenixbak

--Shade

I have this exact same problem. Firefox just won't start. I tried removing ~/.mozilla ~/.phoenix. Still, firefox just won't start. I am using the default firefox for linux tarball from mozilla.org.

I am also using KDE 3.2.2. I don't know if it matters though.

any ideas why it will not start?

thanks,
Osho

I found that this seems like some gtk/gnome/gconf problem. I can run gnome fine and most things under it. However, when I try to run gnome-font-properties; it seems to hang just like forefox.

Any idea why?

I am having the same issue. Using fedora core one and gnome. It used to work, then I installed chatzilla. What is funny is that if I switch to root, and use command line, it works, but when I go back as a user, no cigar.

I got same kind of problem. I solved it doin':
uninstall
remove ~/.phoenix
reinstall
I also installed flash plugin inside mozilla directory.

firefox was working and everything was happy, then Suse installed a load of updates and firefox won't open. I click the icon, the menu disappears then nothing happens.
Please step by step instructions, only had Suse 2 weeks...

Wrong forum (It's Slackware forum here), too old thread, this is bad, bad!
My advice: start firefox from a xterm, see the errors and report them on a Suse forum