msconfig>Diagnostic startup fails

I am trying to determine why Firefox takes 20 seconds to open. This does not happen in Safe Mode so presumably another package is causing the delay. Consequently, I wanted to start in diagnostics mode. However, as soon as I click on the button for Diagnostics startup, the blue rotating circle appears next to the mouse pointer and never advances.
I checked in Services and found the Diagnostics Host Service is not running and cannot be started.
Any suggestions would be appreciated.

I have run sfc /scannow, which reports no problems. Manual shutdown after selecting 'Diagnostic startup' means that the PC restarts in 'Selective startup'. However, then selecting 'Normal startup' and attempting 'Restart' ends up with a black screen (mouse pointer still active), so requiring a manual shutdown. Manual booting then returns the system to normal.
I'm thinking that a System Restore may be necessary.

TopGeek said:

I am trying to determine why Firefox takes 20 seconds to open. This does not happen in Safe Mode so presumably another package is causing the delay. Consequently, I wanted to start in diagnostics mode. However, as soon as I click on the button for Diagnostics startup, the blue rotating circle appears next to the mouse pointer and never advances.
I checked in Services and found the Diagnostics Host Service is not running and cannot be started.
Any suggestions would be appreciated.

If it does not happen in Firefox Safe Mode, this article will help to determine what causes the issue.

Private said:

If it does not happen in Firefox Safe Mode, this article will help to determine what causes the issue.

Thanks for the suggestion. I have already tried disabling all Extensions and Add-ons but with no effect. If I start Firefox in Safe Mode by holding the Shift Key while clicking on the Firefox taskbar icon, it opens in 4 seconds. I should really raise this in the Firefox forum.
What I am more concerned about is - why I cannot enter diagnostic mode through msconfig.

Hey TopGeek-

I don't know if you looked over the link that 'Private' provided, but there is an option to "Refresh" Firefox, which might help.

If you're having problems with Firefox, refreshing it can help. The refresh feature fixes many issues by restoring Firefox to its default state while saving your essential information like bookmarks, passwords, and open tabs.

However, I should add that two days ago I was also having an issue with FF (v.43) where it was taking an very long time to open and respond. I tried a few things to no avail, so I tried to refresh it. For whatever reason, after I did the refresh, my browser was a wreck. EVERYTHING was completely different.

Rather than spending too long trying to unscrew things, I simply used a back-up image from the day before.

I guess the point being is the Refresh option can be useful, or be problematic.

b1rd

Edit:

Here's a link that might offer some help in ref to the diagnostic issue. It is for Win-8, but there might be something to help.
http://www.thewindowsclub.com/the-di...g-in-windows-8

Thanks for your suggestions, b1rd. Actually, the FF issue is the least of my concerns, just a minor annoyance. However, the Diagnostic startup now seems to have resolved itself. I changed the Diagnostic Host Service to Automatic but still could not get it to run even after rebooting. Now, I suddenly find the the Service is running and Diagnostic startup works again. These weirdities are designed to drive us mad.

These weirdities are designed to drive us mad.

it's working.

b1rd said:

it's working.

Yes but that doesn't prevent you wracking your brains to figure out the how/why of the situation.

I meant the "weirdities" seem to be working, as they are driving ME mad as well .


b1rd

There certainly are a lot of oddities in Firefox (and Thunderbird, for that matter) and that undoubtedly stems from the process of disseminated development. When it works, it's great but, when it goes wrong, it's a nightmare.
I was also contemplating a 'Refresh' but I don't fancy the process of restoring the missing files afterwards. FF is evidently capable of extracting the files to be saved in the Old Firefox Data folder left on the Desktop. Why then does it not have a simple way of reimporting those files after the Refresh?