firefox won't start problem

After a system freeze, firefox stopped working. Uninstalled Had trouble installing newer version but was able to install older version. It still wont start. Can't install new profile. Don't know the problem. Need Help.

 

Hi mpkost. Welcome to the board. Since this is more than likely a problem with Firefox (profile issue perhaps?) , I've moved your post to the Netscape/Mozilla forum where those that are more familiar with Firefox are more apt to see it. Welcome again!

 

Hi mpkost,

Welcome to the forum.

You didn't mention which versions of Firefox you tried, or what OS you're using but, for purposes of this post, I'll assume it's XP.

A system freeze makes me think that something else is going on with your computer but, since you describe yourself as "experienced ", I'll also assume that you've checked for viruses and spyware.

My experience is that Firefox (FF) sometimes gets "lost" after a system malfunction (that may be because I have both the program and profile folders in other than the default locations, with other than the default names ). Unfortunately, just uninstalling the program doesn't solve the problem, so give these suggestions a try:

1. Assuming you've used the Standard installation (which I suspect most users do), save your FF profile folder (which will have a name something like 6d98j35.default), located at C:\Documents and Settings\<username>\Application Data\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\ in a safe location.

2. With FF closed, delete:

I. the FF program folder, at C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox

II. the two Mozilla folders in:

a. C:\Documents and Settings\<username>\Application Data\Mozilla\

b. C:\Documents and Settings\<username>\Local Settings\Application Data\Mozilla\​

3. Use a Registry cleaner, such as RegSeeker to clean the Registry of all references to firefox (use the "Find in registry ..." menu selection).

4. Reinstall FF. If you let the installation wizard open FF, it will be a plain vanilla version, using none of your personal settings.

5. To regain your personal settings (bookmarks, extensions, etc.) delete the contents of the new profile folder (again located at C:\Documents and Settings\<username>\Application Data\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\, but with a different name), and copy the contents of your original saved profile folder to it. Now, when you open FF, it should use your personal settings.​

HTH but, in any case, please report back.

 

Jim,

This won't work unless you copy the complete Firefox folder located here:
C:\Documents and Settings\<username>\Application Data\Mozilla\Firefox

Otherwise the profiles.ini file will generate this error:

 

That doesn't make sense. Once I had 20 windows of it open at the same time.

 

Yes, but take note of what the error says says....

Open several Firefox windows and then have a look at the processes tab in Task Manager. You'll see that there is only one instance of the Firefox process running. All of the Firefox windows are running from within the same process.

 

In addition to Zander's comment, copying the entire Firefox folder, includes the profiles.ini file, so Firefox has the pointer to the Profile.

The error I received was because I had followed JSS3rd's instructions to the letter. By copying only the Profiles folder, Firefox lost its pointer to the Profile, as the profiles.ini file now contained the NEW profile location...

 

Ramona ...

As I composed my post Friday morning, I did exactly what I described no fewer than three times on my second computer, to make sure that I made no mistakes in my step-by-step instructions. Each time the end result was FF using my personal settings.

This evening, after reading your posts, I did so again, with the same result as on Friday. After some thought, however, I realized that I had made an assumption while writing my instructions that very probably caused you to misunderstand them.

Nowhere did the instructions say that one should copy the the old C:\Documents and Settings\<username>\Application Data\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles folder to the new profile. I thought that was clear from the instructions in step #1, which led to my (perhaps incorrect) assumption that the reader would understand that he/she should delete the contents of the new "profile name" folder (xxxxxxxx.default), which is found in the Profiles folder, and copy the contents of the original profile name folder, saved in step #1, to it.

I apologize for the confusion.


To all ...

By way of correction, my instructions might better have read:

1. Assuming you've used the Standard installation (which I suspect most users do), save your FF profile name folder (which will be named something similar to "6d98j35.default "), located in the C:\Documents and Settings\<username>\Application Data\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles folder, to a safe location.

2. With FF closed, delete:

I. the FF program folder, at C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox

II. the two Mozilla folders:

a. C:\Documents and Settings\<username>\Application Data\Mozilla

b. C:\Documents and Settings\<username>\Local Settings\Application Data\Mozilla​

3. Use a Registry cleaner, such as RegSeeker to clean the Registry of all references to firefox (use the "Find in registry ..." menu selection).

4. Reinstall FF. If you let the installation wizard open FF, it will be a plain vanilla version, using none of your personal settings.

5. To regain your personal settings (bookmarks, extensions, etc.), close FF and delete the contents of the new profile name folder (C:\Documents and Settings\<username>\Application Data\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\xxxxxxxx.default), and copy the contents of your original profile name folder (saved in step #1) to it. Now, when you open FF, it should use your personal settings.​

I hope this clarifies things.

 

Jim,

I have found that assuming a member knows something has often resulted in confusion. Appreciate your clarifying for our new member, mpkost!

Sorry, but I find saving the entire Firefox folder to be most efficient when moving, or replacing a Profile. I do the same with Thunderbird.. Different strokes for different folks!

 

Hi Ramona,

I just posted a re-write of my Clarification post (#8), which should clarify things even further.