Firefox sometimes fails to open and an error message is displayed
Sometimes, when I try to open Firefox, it shows an error message saying that the file can't be found. I have to close the dialogue box and try to open the browser again and again until it actually opens. Typically, this happens in the 2nd or 3rd try but may take longer. Also, this doesn't happen every time I try to open Firefox. Is there a problem in the installation? The program itself works completely fine when I get it to open.
Chosen solution
It is possibly down to your AntiVirus software taking some time to allow Firefox to work.
You could temporarily disable or uninstall your AV to investigate that as a possible reason. Perhaps for safety run any such a test when not connected to the internet.
- This is a Microsoft Article on the error
"Windows cannot access the specified device, path, or file" error when you try to install, update or start a program or file
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2669244
One cause mentioned is "Your antivirus software may be blocking the file."
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Chosen Solution
It is possibly down to your AntiVirus software taking some time to allow Firefox to work.
You could temporarily disable or uninstall your AV to investigate that as a possible reason. Perhaps for safety run any such a test when not connected to the internet.
- This is a Microsoft Article on the error
"Windows cannot access the specified device, path, or file" error when you try to install, update or start a program or file
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2669244
One cause mentioned is "Your antivirus software may be blocking the file."
You can also try a clean reinstall and delete the Firefox program folder before (re)installing a fresh copy of the current Firefox release.
- Download the full Firefox installer and save the file to the desktop
https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/all/
If possible uninstall your current Firefox version to cleanup the Windows registry and settings in security software.
- Do NOT remove "personal data" when you uninstall your current Firefox version, because this will remove all profile folders and you lose personal data like bookmarks and passwords including data in profiles created by other Firefox versions.
Remove the Firefox program folder before installing that newly downloaded copy of the Firefox installer.
- (32 bit Windows) "C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\"
- (64 bit Windows) "C:\Program Files (x86)\Mozilla Firefox\"
- It is important to delete the Firefox program folder to remove all the files and make sure that there are no problems with files that were leftover after uninstalling.
- http://kb.mozillazine.org/Uninstalling_Firefox
Your bookmarks and other personal data are stored in the Firefox profile folder and won't be affected by an uninstall and (re)install, but make sure NOT to remove personal data when you uninstall Firefox as that will remove all Firefox profile folders and you lose your personal data.