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Installing Latest Firefox on Windows XP Embedded gives error: "This application has failed to start because pdh.dll was not found"

  • 6 replies
  • 2 have this problem
  • 15 views
  • Last reply by guigs

Gerrat
Gerrat
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I'm trying to install the latest (standards-based) browser I can on on old Windows XP Embedded computer. The computer's hardware does not meet the "Recommended Hardware" of a Pentium 4 (it has a P3). I initially tried installing/running Firefox version 28, and that seemed to work fine. Version 36 gives the error I stated in the question. It's not paramount that I run the *latest* version of Firefox (the browser is ONLY used for an intranet application), but I'd like to install the latest version that will run, and if there's a simple fix for this version, I'd like to explore that.

Regards, 

 Gerrat
I'm trying to install the latest (standards-based) browser I can on on old Windows XP Embedded computer. The computer's hardware does not meet the "Recommended Hardware" of a Pentium 4 (it has a P3). I initially tried installing/running Firefox version 28, and that seemed to work fine. Version 36 gives the error I stated in the question. It's not paramount that I run the *latest* version of Firefox (the browser is ONLY used for an intranet application), but I'd like to install the latest version that will run, and if there's a simple fix for this version, I'd like to explore that. Regards, Gerrat

Chosen solution

hi gerrat, it's probably best to use the firefox 31 esr version in your case: https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/organizations/

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All Replies (6)

FredMcD
FredMcD
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I've called the big guys to help you. Good luck. Wait until you know what you can instal.

guigs
guigs
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This is an error that might be caused by malware or something that has been messed with in the operating system.

Boot your computer in Safe Mode or take it to a technician if there are still errors after a reinstall and malware scan.

Gerrat
Gerrat Question owner
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Well, I was pretty sure it didn't have malware. It was running a steady state - like program & we have dozens of these on our network (but not on our domain). We have a corporate anti-virus (Sophos) running on all the computers on our domain, and there are no notifications of anything suspicious coming from these units.

Just to be sure I installed and ran an antivirus scan against it though - as suspected, nothing suspicious found.

As I mentioned, FF 28 runs fine, it's just the latest (36.0) that doesn't run (I haven't tested any versions in between). Either seems to install without hitch, but when the latest version is run, it gives the error about the missing dll.

Regards, 

 Gerrat
philipp
philipp
  • Moderator
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Chosen Solution

hi gerrat, it's probably best to use the firefox 31 esr version in your case: https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/organizations/

Gerrat
Gerrat Question owner
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Thanks Philipp, I'll try that next. I saw the esr versions, but wasn't sure what they were. They're probably my best bet.

I've tried installing most versions between 28 and 36 now. The latest (non-esr) version that works is 31.0. Versions 32.0.3 and 33.0.3 both fail with "Couldn't load XPCOM" (a different error than version 36).

guigs
guigs
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Yes and that error also comes from parts of a previous installation, to rule that out you might want to also try a fresh install on another computer that does not have an old profile on it.