Resolved [Error when starting FF: Firefox is already running, but is not responding]

When I try to open Firefox I get this message.

Firefox is already running, but is not responding. To open a new window, you must first close the existing Firefox process, or restart your system.

I have restarted my computer and this has not resolved the problem. I was told to delete the PARENT.LOCK in the profile, but I could not find it. I am at a loss. Please send me an email with a fix.

Thanks for your help,

Jack

 

G'Day "wjlassley "

Update to the latest v3.5.7

Could you not do better for your System Spec , there must be more to it !

pcbugfixer

 

You can click on Ctrl-Alt-Delete to bring up task manager. Then click on Processes tab. Delete (exit) all instances of Firefox.exe. FF should now start when you click on the icon.

 

And after doing that 50 times - what next ?

The issue was in part in the earlier versions that did not unload after you exited out of Firefox and the newer versions seems not to have that issue.

pcbugfixer

 

Ctrl-Alt-Delete was the first thing that I tried before I began to ask for answere. I have now downloaded v3.5.7, which didn't help either. The Mozilla site has an answer that mentions the profile, but I could not find the file it says to delete.

 

Did you re-boot after installing the new Firefox ?
Also did you empty the Trash - All Temp files including cookies and Temp Internet files etc., ?

If not - it's a good idea do so now.

pcbugfixer

 

Some people use the term download and install, interchangeably. Are you one of them?
If so, you have modified the program (you did not mention which version, nor how you installed the new program (if you installed it), but the Profile remains the same. I am using three Firefox versions, each with its own Profile. Two Profiles have no parent.lock, while another one has it. I have 3.5.7, 3.5.8pre and 3.6beta. I have noticed that 3.5.8pre (not a final version), regularly, does not close on Exit. I don't care, since I am not going to stick with it, but I would consider creating a new profile. I will let you know if I find a cure.

 

I installed v3.5.7 from the Mozilla site. I restarted my computer and emptied the trash file as someone had suggested. It still gives the same answer.

 

If you are still having this problem, it is possible that you have a corrupted profile. When I downloaded the 3.5.7 update on my wife's XP computer, it did something to the profile. Some sites would not open and some would open but with scrambled text.
Anyway, I completely uninstalled FF using these instructions.

http://www.tweakguides.com/Firefox_3.html

Then I installed v. 3.5.7, and everything worked as it should.

 

I completed the instructions that you sent and was successful in installing the new release. The only problem I had was deleting the folder: \Documents and Settings\[Username]\Local Settings\Application Data\Mozilla, as I did not have the priviledge. I would really appriciate it if you know how to change or add priviledges if you would give me these instructions. In any case I am very thankful for you help I am now on Mozilla.
Thank you again,
Jack Lassley

 

Why would you want to delete that folder. It contains the Profile info. Deleting it would be a disaster, if you don't backup the data. Good thing that you did not have the privilege.

 

That was the whole point "Westside" we suspect that the User profile is corrupt so the instructions in http://www.tweakguides.com/Firefox_3.html under "Uninstalling Firefox "saves what we need and deletes what we don't !

Good one Jayt36

And "wjlassley" you are an or have Administrator privileges ?yes?

pcbugfixer

 

Thankyou pcbugfixer. .

and wjlassley, I am glad you got it fixed.

 

I understand that a Profile may be corrupted, but I would create a new profile, and use it, rather than deleting what I have. Of course, if files are backed up, one can do anything he/she wants. I said

in my previous message.
So, has there been a fix?

 

As it is, on System 3 booting in XP Pro SP3 and using Firefox 3.5.7, I had already tried a new profile, and rebooted, but did not fix this issue. Other System 4 (similar to 3) does not have this problem, nor any other PC System in my Workshop.

So, being Sunday here now, I will perform the un-install procedure on Monday my time, as I have a lot of Add-ons, etc that need to be re-loaded, and then I will let you know.

As to "wjlassley ", I do not know if wjlassley completed the tasks correctly and if it fixed the issue.

pcbugfixer