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Updated to 4.0 beta 10 now it won't open

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My son downloaded the update to beta 10, now I can't open Firefox at all. when you click on the icon, it looks like it is going to open, and if you look in task manager firefox.exe*32 appears in the processes tab but does not appear in open applications. Tried everything related I could find in the help website, nothing worked.

By the way, this also happened the last time I tried to update Thunderbird, and the only way I could fix it (because I received NO help from anyone) was to completely delete the program and just not run it anymore.

My son downloaded the update to beta 10, now I can't open Firefox at all. when you click on the icon, it looks like it is going to open, and if you look in task manager firefox.exe*32 appears in the processes tab but does not appear in open applications. Tried everything related I could find in the help website, nothing worked. By the way, this also happened the last time I tried to update Thunderbird, and the only way I could fix it (because I received NO help from anyone) was to completely delete the program and just not run it anymore.

All Replies (5)

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You shouldn't be running 4.0beta versions any longer - they were pre-release development versions for the purpose testing the new Firefox 4.0 version as it was being developed. Firefox 4.0 was released over two months ago, and it has received one security update - you should be using 4.0.1 .

http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/
Download Firefox 4.0.1.
Kill that errant process in the Processes tab and un-install that 4.0 beta version.
Then install 4.0.1.

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OK, I could be confused....I am running windows 7 and when you mouse over icons or look in the start menu, it says 4.0 beta 10 (until a few days ago it said 4.0 beta 8) But, when I finally got the program open, it is calling itself Firefox 5? I had to completely re-set up the whole program.

It finally gave me a message that a script wasn't working and opened.

But, it is still really random...one time it will open right away, one time it will take 4-5 minutes......

I wouldn't lose much if I trashed it and re-downloaded, because I lost everything I used to have saved in here anyway. Would it solve the script problem?

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I had just decided to uninstall and re-download, and sure enough, when I check in the uninstall programs, the program listed is Firefox 5.0. Yet in my start menu and in the shortcuts, it calls itself 4.0 beta 10. Does that change what you would do?

Maybe the problem is the program is having an identity crisis every time I try to open it ;)

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No, since a Beta version of Firefox 4 was installed, you're on the Beta Channel for updates. Firefox 5.0b2 was released last week and you received that update.

If you install the 4.0.1 release version as I mentioned above, you'll be on the Release Channel and won't receive Beta updates - plus you'll have a release version which is more stable than a pre-release, beta version might be.

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I think Firefox 4 beta users were recently offered Firefox 5 beta. If you switch from the beta series to the released series, it's much simpler.

I recommend backing up your Firefox settings in case something goes wrong during the changeover. See Backing up your information. (You can copy your entire Firefox profile folder somewhere outside of the Mozilla folder.)