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Firefox does start, uninstall or install, only get note 'Firefox already running."

  • 2 replies
  • 1 has this problem
  • 19 views
  • Last reply by lwsandman

lwsandman
lwsandman
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Windows 10 home x64. Firefox does not start. Opening exe gets note, Firefox already running. Cannot uninstall get note, Firefox already running. Close Firefox in Task Manager, but cycle merely repeats. New Firefox downloaded and installed. Cycle repeats.

Firefox continually repeats that it cannot run because it is already running, otherwise known as catch 22.

L Sandman

[Personal information removed by moderator. Please read Mozilla Support rules and guidelines, thanks.]

Windows 10 home x64. Firefox does not start. Opening exe gets note, Firefox already running. Cannot uninstall get note, Firefox already running. Close Firefox in Task Manager, but cycle merely repeats. New Firefox downloaded and installed. Cycle repeats. Firefox continually repeats that it cannot run because it is already running, otherwise known as catch 22. L Sandman ''[Personal information removed by moderator. Please read [[Forum rules and guidelines]], thanks.]''

Modified by Chris Ilias

All Replies (2)

jscher2000 - Support Volunteer
jscher2000 - Support Volunteer
  • Top 10 Contributor
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Hi L Sandman, when you close Firefox in the Task Manager, could you cross-check the Details tab? Check that all instances of firefox.exe are closing fully after you terminate the main process.

If the message still appears, it could indicate that a file is locked or that an in-use flag is set. Shutting down and restarting Windows might help in that case.

lwsandman
lwsandman Question owner
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Firefox does not start in the sense that you can see it or do anything with it. Once you start the process it shows open in task manager. You can shut it down in task manager, but it only shows as started once you try to start it again. Attempts to uninstall are met with, can not do because it is running. Attempts to write over Firefox with a new version have no impact on the problem.