firefox 3.0 show blank window on startup

[Matthew Swank]

Binary package hint: firefox

Since the last Firefox 3 upgrade firefox simply brings up a blank, white decorated xwindow on startup: No controls, no buttons no content. I can close the window, but that is it. This does not happen with firefox-3.5. I have tried deleting my profile, purging and reinstalling ubufox and firefox-3* packages. Running "/usr/lib/firefox-3.0.8/firefox -jsconsole -safe-mode -no-remote" results in the following errors showing up in the console:

Failed to load XPCOM component: /usr/lib/xulrunner-1.9.0.8/components/pyabout.py
Failed to load XPCOM component: /usr/lib/xulrunner-1.9.0.8/components/libpyloader.so
Error: [Exception... "'ContentLength not available (not a local URL?)' when calling method: [nsIObserver::observe]" nsresult: "0x8057001e (NS_ERROR_XPC_JS_THREW_STRING)" location: "<unknown>" data: no]

Description: Ubuntu 9.04
Release: 9.04

[Matthew Swank (akopa)]

firefox-3.5 also shows the first two console errors:
Failed to load XPCOM component: /usr/lib/xulrunner-1.9.0.8/components/pyabout.py
Failed to load XPCOM component: /usr/lib/xulrunner-1.9.0.8/components/libpyloader.so
However, firefox-3.5 seems to work fine.

[Matthew Swank (akopa)]

I am incorrect. The XPCOM component errors I see in firefox-3.5 are different from the the ones I originally documented in the bug description for firefox-3.0. Sorry for the noise.

[John Vivirito (gnomefreak)]

Please give us output of the following commands
apt-cache policy firefox-3.5
apt-cache policy xulrunner-1.9.1

[Matthew Swank (akopa)]

Here's both firefox-3.5/xulrunner-1.9.1 and firefox-3.0/xulrunner-1.9

$ apt-cache policy firefox-3.5
firefox-3.5:
  Installed: 3.5~b4~hg20090330r24021+nobinonly-0ubuntu1
  Candidate: 3.5~b4~hg20090330r24021+nobinonly-0ubuntu1
  Version table:
 *** 3.5~b4~hg20090330r24021+nobinonly-0ubuntu1 0
        500 http://us.archive.ubuntu.com jaunty/universe Packages
        100 /var/lib/dpkg/status

$ apt-cache policy xulrunner-1.9.1
xulrunner-1.9.1:
  Installed: 1.9.1~b4~hg20090330r24021+nobinonly-0ubuntu1
  Candidate: 1.9.1~b4~hg20090330r24021+nobinonly-0ubuntu1
  Version table:
 *** 1.9.1~b4~hg20090330r24021+nobinonly-0ubuntu1 0
        500 http://us.archive.ubuntu.com jaunty/universe Packages
        100 /var/lib/dpkg/status

$ apt-cache policy firefox-3.0
firefox-3.0:
  Installed: 3.0.8+nobinonly-0ubuntu3
  Candidate: 3.0.8+nobinonly-0ubuntu3
  Version table:
 *** 3.0.8+nobinonly-0ubuntu3 0
        500 http://us.archive.ubuntu.com jaunty/main Packages
        100 /var/lib/dpkg/status

$ apt-cache policy xulrunner-1.9
xulrunner-1.9:
  Installed: 1.9.0.8+nobinonly-0ubuntu2
  Candidate: 1.9.0.8+nobinonly-0ubuntu2
  Version table:
 *** 1.9.0.8+nobinonly-0ubuntu2 0
        500 http://us.archive.ubuntu.com jaunty/main Packages
        100 /var/lib/dpkg/status

[Alexander Sack (asac)]

this is likely an extension issue. ensure you have everything upgraded and run firefox -safe-mode ... then disable all extensions in tools -> addons dialog and only enable the most essential ones.

[Matthew Swank (akopa)]

I realize this wasn't explicit in the original report, but I can't access the UI at all: even in safe-mode, even after deleting my profile. Could this be reopened?

[Alexander Sack (asac)]

run a

find ~/.mozilla -name pluginreg.dat

and attach the files it spits out to this bug please.

[Matthew Swank (akopa)]

Note: this is ~/.mozilla/firefox-3.5/82fwa1gh.default/pluginreg.dat. My firefox 3.0 profile (/.mozilla/firefox/lumyh2ru.default) does not contain a pluginreg.dat

[Matthew Swank (akopa)]

The upgrade to 3.0.9+nobinonly-0ubuntu0.9.04.1 eliminated the problem.

[Alexander Sack (asac)]

thx