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Repairing Firefox files: Firefox files are corrupted and I can't get the program to un- or reinstall

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  • Last reply by FredMcD

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During a recent restart, my Firefox icon turned into a broken icon, and Firefox itself wouldn't start up. It wouldn't respond to any input, for that matter. I also tried refreshing it, as the program suggested before I deinstalled, but that also didn't do anything. After a succesfull first de- and reinstallation, Firefox still didn't open or respond to anything. I went to look in the program files, and found the Firefox files map damaged and, from the looks of it, as broken as the old version I had. I wanted to deinstall again, but this time, I simply couldn't. The system won't let me deinstall as long as I don't "reboot to complete a previous update". Problem is, there is no update. Nothing happens when I reboot, and I am thus effectively stuck in a loop where Firefox is literally unuseable. Does anyone know how to restore or at least work with damaged files so I can delete them and install a fresh version or something?

During a recent restart, my Firefox icon turned into a broken icon, and Firefox itself wouldn't start up. It wouldn't respond to any input, for that matter. I also tried refreshing it, as the program suggested before I deinstalled, but that also didn't do anything. After a succesfull first de- and reinstallation, Firefox still didn't open or respond to anything. I went to look in the program files, and found the Firefox files map damaged and, from the looks of it, as broken as the old version I had. I wanted to deinstall again, but this time, I simply couldn't. The system won't let me deinstall as long as I don't "reboot to complete a previous update". Problem is, there is no update. Nothing happens when I reboot, and I am thus effectively stuck in a loop where Firefox is literally unuseable. Does anyone know how to restore or at least work with damaged files so I can delete them and install a fresh version or something?

Chosen solution

Let’s do a full clean re-install;

Note: Firefox comes in three or more folders on all computers. They are;

Maintenance: (Programs Folder) <Windows Only> Firefox itself: (Programs Folder) And two folders in the profile of each user on the computer for each Firefox profile for that user.

If you remove the Firefox folder, the user profiles would not be affected.


Download Firefox For All languages And Systems {web link}

Save the file. Then Close Firefox.

Using your file browser, open the Programs Folder on your computer.

Windows: C:\Program Files C:\Program Files (x86) Note: Check Both Folders

Mac: Open the "Applications" folder. https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/how-download-and-install-firefox-mac

Linux: Check your user manual. If you installed Firefox with the distro-based package manager, you should use the same way to uninstall it. See Install Firefox on Linux; https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/install-firefox-linux

If you downloaded and installed the binary package from the Firefox download page, simply remove the folder Firefox in your home directory. http://www.mozilla.org/firefox#desktop ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Look for, and remove any Mozilla or Firefox program folders. Do not remove the Mozilla Thunderbird folder if there is one.

Do Not remove any profile folders.

After rebooting the computer, run a registry scanner if you have one. Then run the installer. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++ If there is a problem, start your Computer in safe mode and try again.

http://encyclopedia2.thefreedictionary.com/Linux+Safe+Mode This shows how to Start all Computers in Safe Mode; Free Online Encyclopedia

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Let’s do a full clean re-install;

Note: Firefox comes in three or more folders on all computers. They are;

Maintenance: (Programs Folder) <Windows Only> Firefox itself: (Programs Folder) And two folders in the profile of each user on the computer for each Firefox profile for that user.

If you remove the Firefox folder, the user profiles would not be affected.


Download Firefox For All languages And Systems {web link}

Save the file. Then Close Firefox.

Using your file browser, open the Programs Folder on your computer.

Windows: C:\Program Files C:\Program Files (x86) Note: Check Both Folders

Mac: Open the "Applications" folder. https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/how-download-and-install-firefox-mac

Linux: Check your user manual. If you installed Firefox with the distro-based package manager, you should use the same way to uninstall it. See Install Firefox on Linux; https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/install-firefox-linux

If you downloaded and installed the binary package from the Firefox download page, simply remove the folder Firefox in your home directory. http://www.mozilla.org/firefox#desktop ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Look for, and remove any Mozilla or Firefox program folders. Do not remove the Mozilla Thunderbird folder if there is one.

Do Not remove any profile folders.

After rebooting the computer, run a registry scanner if you have one. Then run the installer. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++ If there is a problem, start your Computer in safe mode and try again.

http://encyclopedia2.thefreedictionary.com/Linux+Safe+Mode This shows how to Start all Computers in Safe Mode; Free Online Encyclopedia