Thinkpads Forum

A few days ago my Firefox browser prompted me to accept an update, which I did. But after that, it just refuse to run. So, I uninstalled it and downloaded Firefox 1.5.0.5 from the Mozilla website. It installed like normal, but also refuses to run.

I even did a few anti-virus scans with my MicroTrend PC-cillin, Ad-Aware scan, and also cleared all junk at MyDocuments/Owner/Local Settings, but to no avail.

Can anyone help to get my Firefox working again, please?
Thanks.

sorry if this sounds daft/trivial, but have you tried using Add/Remove programs in Control Panel to clear out Firefox and then try a clean install?

After that, you might want to try a registry scrub with the likes of CCleaner, just to make sure.

Sounds like your profile has been corrupted..Try creating a new profile..


1. Close Firefox completely
2. Select Start > Run... from the Windows Start menu.
3. Enter firefox.exe -profilemanager and press OK.

Once you create a new profile you'll lose all your old bookmarks,etc. but see it this will at least start FF for you..

Mikek: Yes I removed FF the way you described, 4 times clean out and re-install, to no avail. I even cleaned out at My Doc/Doc and Setting/Owner/Application Data/Mozilla and deleted the Mozilla folder.

BillD: Tried typing firefox.exe in Run, but it only opened Firefox with a note saying that it cannot connect to that URL, and all others that I tried. But my Internet Explorer works fine, enabling me to type this note.


Christopher Wolfe: I know silly quest ......., but can you please explain how I can do the registry scrub. Thanks.

Rahula wrote:Mikek: Yes I removed FF the way you described, 4 times clean out and re-install, to no avail. I even cleaned out at My Doc/Doc and Setting/Owner/Application Data/Mozilla and deleted the Mozilla folder.

BillD: Tried typing firefox.exe in Run, but it only opened Firefox with a note saying that it cannot connect to that URL, and all others that I tried. But my Internet Explorer works fine, enabling me to type this note.


Christopher Wolfe: I know silly quest ......., but can you please explain how I can do the registry scrub. Thanks.

Did you type the whole command with the SPACE after .exe? firefox.exe -profilemanager

Also I don't know if this will help but I tried it,when I typed it with FF open,you're right it just opened another window of FF...But when I closed all FF windows the profile manager came up..

So if you typed the command correctly and all it does it open FF then somewhere,somehow it thinks you have FF already open..

Rahula wrote: Christopher Wolfe: I know silly quest ......., but can you please explain how I can do the registry scrub. Thanks.

Download CCleaner, then have it scan the registry *after* you have uninstalled Firefox *and* your FF profiles. That should clean out most, if not all, of the remainder of the FF install that the FF uninstaller left behind.

Best Regards,

Christopher "There is no 'e' at the end" Wolf

Christopher - sorry for spelling your name wrongly.
I downloaded the registry cleaner you recommended, but it showed such a long list of things and I chickened out for fear that I wipe out some essential stuff.

So for now I have installed Mozilla instead of Firefox, and will revert to Firefox when I next restore my HDD to what I had cloned some months ago.

Thanks guys for your prompt attention.

Rahula wrote: I downloaded the registry cleaner you recommended, but it showed such a long list of things and I chickened out for fear that I wipe out some essential stuff.

It will offer to make a registry backup for you so that if, in the process of cleaning the registry, a problem pops up...It will revert back to the older settings. I have had it scrub my registry many times and I haven't had any problems.

Hi Christopher:

Your registry trick works. Thanks for the encouragement.