Avatar for Username

Search Support

Avoid support scams. We will never ask you to call or text a phone number or share personal information. Please report suspicious activity using the “Report Abuse” option.

Learn More

This thread was archived. Please ask a new question if you need help.

Something is blocking my Firefox 4.0.1 updates and I am not able to update

  • 2 replies
  • 8 have this problem
  • 4 views
  • Last reply by cor-el

8non3
8non3
more options

Every time Firefox tries to update, a screen pops up and tells me that something is blocking the updates and that the updates have failed. I have uninstalled and reinstalled several times and I have allowed it through my firewall, but I am still having the same problem. At first, the window said that something was trying to trick the updates to a different location, now it says that something is blocking the updates.

Every time Firefox tries to update, a screen pops up and tells me that something is blocking the updates and that the updates have failed. I have uninstalled and reinstalled several times and I have allowed it through my firewall, but I am still having the same problem. At first, the window said that something was trying to trick the updates to a different location, now it says that something is blocking the updates.

Modified by 8non3

All Replies (2)

kerframil
kerframil
more options

Some of the issues you describe are mentioned here:

http://kb.mozillazine.org/Software_update#Software_Update_not_working_properly

To begin with, try cleaning the slate by going through the following process:-


  1. Ensure that Firefox is closed
  2. Open an Explorer (file manager) window
  3. Click on the address bar and enter the following: %localappdata%
  4. Open the Mozilla folder that is now visible, followed by the Firefox folder within then, finally, the Mozilla Firefox folder
  5. Delete any visible files/folders bearing the name updates or active-update
  6. Load Firefox again
cor-el
cor-el
  • Moderator
  • Top 10 Contributor
more options

This issue can be caused by the presence of leftover files in the Firefox program folder (defaults\pref) like a file firefox.js that overrides the update URL with a wrong link.

See my post here and do a clean reinstall and be sure to remove the Firefox program folder.

Download a fresh Firefox copy and save the file to the desktop.

  • Uninstall your current Firefox version and remove the Firefox program folder before installing that copy of the Firefox installer.
  • Do not remove personal data if you uninstall the current version.
  • 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.

Your bookmarks and other profile data are stored elsewhere in the Firefox Profile Folder and won't be affected by a reinstall, but make sure that you do not select to remove personal data if you uninstall Firefox.