Firefox failed to update after compatibility.ini modification
Hi!
When Firefox 96.0 rolled out on my machine, I was surprised to see my old Firefox Quantum theme default to dark. I did not enjoy this new behavior, so I tried to downgrade to 95.0.2. After installing it, Firefox told me it couldn't load the user profile, as it was used on a newer version of Firefox.
I have no idea where exactly I read this, but some website contained an instruction to erase compatibility.ini and that would allow me to use the profile on older versions. Tried that and it actually worked. I did notice that, when Firefox tried to update, it would say it failed. I was hoping that, once I find a solution to the forced dark mode and I update Firefox, the problem would go away.
Fast forward a few weeks, I found AutoConfig and browser.theme.toolbar-theme option in about:config. So I updated Firefox manually and applied AutoConfig and my original problem was gone.
Fast forward more weeks, there is another update for Firefox. And Firefox was still unable to automatically update. So I tried reconstructing compatibility.ini, which I did fully. But Firefox still won't update.
At this point, it's been like 3 months with a crippled user profile and I must say I'm tired of updating Firefox manually.
Is there any way I can fix this profile? If not, what exactly should I copy over so all my preferences, cookies, addons and themes get carried over to a new one?
פתרון נבחר
Well, I finally fixed it. It proved to be far easier than I thought.
Today I was really tired of this problem and Refreshed Firefox. Did not solve the issue. Decided to reinstall Firefox completely. Issue still not solved. Used some uninstaller software to remove the registry entries, still not fixed.
However, when reinstalling from a 95.0.2 standalone installer, the Wizard was throwing an error that it did not have permissions to firefox.exe for some reason. So I went in Program Files, got the Take Ownership context menu option, used it on the whole Mozilla Firefox folder and, lo and behold, Firefox automatically updated as soon as I double clicked on it.
Not sure this is a full fix, since, after removing firefox.exe like 5 times, it had no reason not to have permission to manipulate it, I am the system admin afterall. But, at least for now, it's fixed. From this point onward, at least I know where to investigate further. It's very curious how deleting compatibility.ini somehow triggered this...
Read this answer in context 👍 0כל התגובות (9)
Hi there! It looks like reconstructing compatibility.ini was either not registered by the system or there was some error in the reconstruction process. A good way to diagnose the root of the problem would be to troubleshoot the updating system and the original problem you had. Could it also be that the configuration of your update settings has been changed?
You can select a theme that has dark text on the tabs (toolbars) if you currently use a theme with light text to prevent Firefox from using a dark background for webpages.
You can change this pref on the about:config page from 3 to 2 to revert to the Firefox 94 behavior regarding to prefer dark or light background for webpages. You can use 0 (dark) or 1 (light) to set a specific state.
- about:config => layout.css.prefers-color-scheme.content-override [dark:0, light:1, system:2, browser:3]
You can open the about:config page via the location/address bar. You can accept the warning and click "I accept the risk!" to continue.
I don't know how you can fix the profile. You can copy data from the old to the new but you will have to reinstall add-ons; I suggest backing up data from add-ons that allow you to do that. I have added the first link in case it is of some use.
https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/troubleshoot-and-diagnose-firefox-problems
https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/profile-manager-create-remove-switch-firefox-profiles https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/recovering-important-data-from-an-old-profile https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/profiles-where-firefox-stores-user-data
23pk0883 said
Hi there! It looks like reconstructing compatibility.ini was either not registered by the system or there was some error in the reconstruction process. A good way to diagnose the root of the problem would be to troubleshoot the updating system and the original problem you had. Could it also be that the configuration of your update settings has been changed?
Well, the reconstruction must have been registered, since Firefox is using it and modifying it every time I update Firefox. Or at least I think it should be registered.
How exactly can I troubleshoot the updating system?
I also don't see much that can change in the update settings to cause such issue.
Ok, so I have some news. To me, it looks like modifying compatibility.ini broke something else.
Right now, I tried using the Debugging Window and this message popped up when trying to update: "Error: Can't find profile directory.". Something similar also pops up when manually installing the latest versions.
Update settings have not been changed at all.
You can remove compatibility.ini to make Firefox create a new file. I don't k now what changes you made to compatibility.ini, but this file merely keeps info about the last Firefox version that used the profile and I don't think it would cause issues with updating, so it is quite possible that something else is broken.
You can create a new profile as a quick test to see if your current profile is causing the problem.
See "Creating a profile":
If the new profile works then you can transfer files from a previously used profile to the new profile, but be cautious not to copy corrupted files to avoid carrying over problems.
cor-el said
You can remove compatibility.ini to make Firefox create a new file. I don't k now what changes you made to compatibility.ini, but this file merely keeps info about the last Firefox version that used the profile and I don't think it would cause issues with updating, so it is quite possible that something else is broken.
Removing compatibility.ini does not force Firefox to make a new one. The only way to recreate it is by analysing about:support info and looking at the file structure or by creating a new profile.
Most likely something else is broken at this point, as I mentioned in my last reply: erasing compatibility.ini caused something to break in the profile folder, because I reconstructed the file and Firefox now keeps updating it every time I force an update. So it's definitely used, but something else broke now.
cor-el said
You can create a new profile as a quick test to see if your current profile is causing the problem. See "Creating a profile": If the new profile works then you can transfer files from a previously used profile to the new profile, but be cautious not to copy corrupted files to avoid carrying over problems.
I already tested that, new profiles work just fine. Problem is, as mentioned in my last reply, Firefox cannot find the profile directory. I would rather fix this profile than keep on copying and re-creating profiles until I figure out exactly which file is corrupt and should not be copied. Until then, I can live with updating Firefox manually.
What is interesting is that, in about:profiles, Firefox does point to the right location for the profile. So it does find the profile directory?
Firefox should create a new compatibility.ini if you removed the file, so make sure you look at the file in the correct location.
You can use the button on the "Help -> More Troubleshooting Information" (about:support) page to go to the current Firefox profile folder or use the about:profiles page (Root directory).
- Help -> More Troubleshooting Information -> Profile Folder/Directory:
Windows: Open Folder; Linux: Open Directory; Mac: Show in Finder - https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/profiles-where-firefox-stores-user-data
You can check for issues with profiles.ini if Firefox has trouble finding a profile. You can rename the current profiles.ini (profilesOLD.ini) and then use the profile manager to register your last used profile.
פתרון נבחר
Well, I finally fixed it. It proved to be far easier than I thought.
Today I was really tired of this problem and Refreshed Firefox. Did not solve the issue. Decided to reinstall Firefox completely. Issue still not solved. Used some uninstaller software to remove the registry entries, still not fixed.
However, when reinstalling from a 95.0.2 standalone installer, the Wizard was throwing an error that it did not have permissions to firefox.exe for some reason. So I went in Program Files, got the Take Ownership context menu option, used it on the whole Mozilla Firefox folder and, lo and behold, Firefox automatically updated as soon as I double clicked on it.
Not sure this is a full fix, since, after removing firefox.exe like 5 times, it had no reason not to have permission to manipulate it, I am the system admin afterall. But, at least for now, it's fixed. From this point onward, at least I know where to investigate further. It's very curious how deleting compatibility.ini somehow triggered this...