Computer Help...Firefox

[Jeff Hahn]

This afternoon when I got home from work I turned on our laptop. When it booted up, it automatically started updating Firefox. Midway through the update, the update locked. I let it alone for quite a while but it did not budge. So, I cancelled the update. Since then, Firefox will not open.

I uninstalled it, rebooted the computer, reinstalled it, and it still won't work. I checked the Mozilla website and it was not helpful at all. I have uninstalled and reinstalled Firefox several times, with no results. But, if I click on Firefox, it won;t open. But, if I try to uninstall it after that, it tells me that Firefox is running. When I hit "Control" "Alt" Delete" to see what's running, Firefox is not shown as running.


My son-in-law is an IT person, but he knows business software, but nothing like this.


Any ideas? Son-in-law thinks that maybe the "Directory" has been corrupted. I also thought about doing a "System Restore," but our laptop hasn't been backed-up for AGES, so a "System Restore" is probably not an option.


HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[cowtrimmer]

Have you tried to uninstall it right after a reboot without trying to open it first ?

[Jeff Hahn]

Yes...in fact it can not be uninstalled if it is running. So, I had to reboot and then uninstall. If I tried to open it, as I noted it does not show in the window that opens when I do "Control/Alt/Delete." But, when I go to reboot, the computer tries to "End Program" before shutting down. But, it says that Firefox is not reponding. I think I've tried everything that I know to do and nothing makes a difference.

[cowtrimmer]

reboot,uninstall it, then download a fresh version and install that one.

[Jeff Hahn]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by cowtrimmer &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">reboot,uninstall it, then download a fresh version and install that one. </td></tr></table>

Did that already...several times. No luck.

[idbefishing]

Try Ccleaner, run the uninstall utility then the registry cleaner utility then the regular cleaning. Download firefox again and reinstall.

[ReelDoc]

Jeff,
1) Open up the Task Manager (Cntl-Alt-Del) then click on the "Processes" tab.
2) Click on "Image Name" header to alphabetize the list.
3) You should find "firefox.exe" in the list. Highlight it then click "End Process" in the lower right. A dialog box will pop up asking if you want to end the process - click "End Process".
4) You may find more than one instance of "firefox.exe" running. If so close them all then try again.


Modified by ReelDoc at 8:47 PM 2/2/2012

[Jeff Hahn]

I have Ccleaner and ran it....but I don't remember if this was when Firefox was uninstalled or not. What is the Registry Cleaner? Is that the Disk Cleanup?

[barchief]

silly question, but did you try running it in safe mode?

[Jeff Hahn]

Not that I know of...I just turned the computer on and the update started automatically. I'm not even sure I would know how to turn on the safe mode.

[vatreefarmer]

Ran into a similar (but less severe) issue with FireFox yesterday as well. It started to run the update, but after 10 minutes, I just cancelled the update. That was taking longer than the original install of the entire program

[barchief]

when you reboot, just hit F8 while it is booting and the menu to access safe mode will show up.

[Jeff Hahn]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by vatreefarmer &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">Ran into a similar (but less severe) issue with FireFox yesterday as well. It started to run the update, but after 10 minutes, I just cancelled the update. That was taking longer than the original install of the entire program</td></tr></table>

This is exactly what happened to me today. But, I apparently canceled the update at a crucial point and that messed everything up.

[Jeff Hahn]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by barchief &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">when you reboot, just hit F8 while it is booting and the menu to access safe mode will show up.</td></tr></table>

Ok, once I am in safe mode...then what?

[barchief]

now uninstall Firefox and reinstall it from safe mode.

[Walkabout7781]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by Jeff Hahn &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">

Ok, once I am in safe mode...then what?</td></tr></table>


Hit it?

[idbefishing]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by Jeff Hahn &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">I have Ccleaner and ran it....but I don't remember if this was when Firefox was uninstalled or not. What is the Registry Cleaner? Is that the Disk Cleanup?</td></tr></table>

Registry cleaner is part of ccleaner as is the uninstall utility. The update was canceled so the program is missing important files to run the program properly. Ccleaner uninstall firefox using it own program instead of using the corrupted firefox. The registry cleaner will completely delete firefox so you can start clean.

[Jeff Hahn]

Problem solved!!! My son-in-law played with it for about 45 minutes. He became convinced that the problem was not with the computer, but with the updated version of Firefox...version 10.0 So, he uninstalled the new version, searched the web, and installed Firefox version 8.0. Now, it's running fine and even saved all my previous bookmarks!

Thanks for everyone's help!

[cowtrimmer]

Good to hear