Failed to read the configuration file. Please contact your system administrator.
Configuration: Windows 10 Firefox 57.0.1
Problem description: Upon launch of FF, message is displayed and FF fails to launch
Solution: Wiped out Firefox and installed from scratch. Resolved message/problem.
Problem returned: Had to end Firefox process instead of closing properly. Message/problem returned.
Solution: Removed some files in FF installation directory (instead of stupid reinstall) and resolved.
Problem returned again!!!
I'll continue this cycle, but I cannot continue to use Firefox until this is resolved once and for all. I will not recommend Windows users install FF either.
Chosen solution
Are you in a managed environment where an IT department would be altering your Firefox configuration in a startup script? If not, it may indicate a malware problem.
When Firefox starts up, it checks for JavaScript files in the program folder under (depending on 32-bit/64-bit)
- C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\defaults\pref
- C:\Program Files (x86)\Mozilla Firefox\defaults\pref
Normally, this folder contains a file named channel-prefs.js. Any other file — which may be named autoconfig.js, local-settings.js, or whatever.js — is read as an Autoconfig file.
A classic Autoconfig file directs Firefox to another JavaScript file, sometimes but not always named mozilla.cfg, that contains script code Firefox is meant to execute. This Autoconfig mechanism is most often used by companies to preconfigure or lock down Firefox, but it has wide ranging applications and is potentially as powerful as a Legacy extension.
Please move any/all nonstandard .js files from the \defaults\pref folder to a neutral location for investigation. Carefully examine their contents (don't double-click, use right-click > Edit or Open With) and track down the associated script file(s) they invoke, and move those to your investigation folder. Can you assess the purpose and likely source of these files based on their contents, or would it be useful to share them for further analysis?
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I' would you Please sameone help me , how go about Sign-up at moilla, and here is my Starbear20108 outlook
Modified by James
Chosen Solution
Are you in a managed environment where an IT department would be altering your Firefox configuration in a startup script? If not, it may indicate a malware problem.
When Firefox starts up, it checks for JavaScript files in the program folder under (depending on 32-bit/64-bit)
- C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\defaults\pref
- C:\Program Files (x86)\Mozilla Firefox\defaults\pref
Normally, this folder contains a file named channel-prefs.js. Any other file — which may be named autoconfig.js, local-settings.js, or whatever.js — is read as an Autoconfig file.
A classic Autoconfig file directs Firefox to another JavaScript file, sometimes but not always named mozilla.cfg, that contains script code Firefox is meant to execute. This Autoconfig mechanism is most often used by companies to preconfigure or lock down Firefox, but it has wide ranging applications and is potentially as powerful as a Legacy extension.
Please move any/all nonstandard .js files from the \defaults\pref folder to a neutral location for investigation. Carefully examine their contents (don't double-click, use right-click > Edit or Open With) and track down the associated script file(s) they invoke, and move those to your investigation folder. Can you assess the purpose and likely source of these files based on their contents, or would it be useful to share them for further analysis?
Hi bullockr1287, do you have the identical error message as the original poster? If your problem is different, please submit a new question starting here:
Thanks for your assistance with the "default" directory. This was the same directory I worked with previously. This time I let FF start in Safe mode and then disabled extensions and all was well.
It looks like there was an errant add-on. I installed 1Password extension and didn't realize it was a beta version. I'll keep tabs on the non-beta version and also report this to Agile.
were is signup on firefox , and like to get into firefox,
Hi aaron-neville, thank you for reporting back. It's hard to understand why an extension would touch that folder. However, password manager add-ons often need to communicate with an external program, so perhaps it is somehow related to that?
Hi bullockr1287, Firefox is a free web browser you download from
https://www.mozilla.org/firefox/
After you install it, you have the option to create a Firefox Account to take advantage of Sync and other services. However, you also can just skip that and browse the web immediately.
Please start a new question for anything else.