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I can't access firefox, nor can I uninstall it, I have tried all you suggestions, nothing works

  • 3 replies
  • 1 has this problem
  • 4 views
  • Last reply by ideato

nickparkin
nickparkin
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My computer crashed. It would turn on, but every time I tried to download Windows update or run a scan, it would start, then crash. I restored the computer to a previous date setting, still crashed, as above. I left it a few days, then opened it with internet turned off. It stayed on. I played a few hands of Hearts and Spider Solitaire, it stayed on. After a while I tried turning on internet, it stayed on. I downloaded Windows update, it stayed on. I ran a scan, it stayed on. I tried to use Firefox, but it wouldn't open, I opened Chrome, it worked, I connected to the internet. I thought I would try uninstalling Firefox, nothing happens. I checked your website and tried to do it manually. Helper would not open. I tried to run helper, it displayed a message "Error. Can't initialize plug-ins directory. Please try later". I did try later, same result. I scanned the Firefox program files with McAfee. it found no problems. I am running Windows XP2000, home edition. Everything else works fine now, except Firefox. How can I uninstall it? Can I use McAfee to shred it?

My computer crashed. It would turn on, but every time I tried to download Windows update or run a scan, it would start, then crash. I restored the computer to a previous date setting, still crashed, as above. I left it a few days, then opened it with internet turned off. It stayed on. I played a few hands of Hearts and Spider Solitaire, it stayed on. After a while I tried turning on internet, it stayed on. I downloaded Windows update, it stayed on. I ran a scan, it stayed on. I tried to use Firefox, but it wouldn't open, I opened Chrome, it worked, I connected to the internet. I thought I would try uninstalling Firefox, nothing happens. I checked your website and tried to do it manually. Helper would not open. I tried to run helper, it displayed a message "Error. Can't initialize plug-ins directory. Please try later". I did try later, same result. I scanned the Firefox program files with McAfee. it found no problems. I am running Windows XP2000, home edition. Everything else works fine now, except Firefox. How can I uninstall it? Can I use McAfee to shred it?

All Replies (3)

ideato
ideato
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Hello nickparkin, sorry but the latest firefox version for your Windows XP2000 OS is Firefox 12 ! from 13 and above you need Windows XP SP2 and above.


thank you

nickparkin
nickparkin Question owner
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I have had service pack 2 for many years, ever since it became available, so that is not the problem. Firefox had been working fine for many years, up until this latest episode

ideato
ideato
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If you have xp with sp2 then go for a clean re-install, this means you remove Firefox program files and then reinstall Firefox. Please follow these steps:

Note: You might want to print these steps or view them in another browser.

  1. Download the latest Desktop version of Firefox from http://www.mozilla.org and save the setup file to your computer.
  2. After the download finishes, close all Firefox windows (click Exit from the Firefox or File menu).
  3. Delete the Firefox installation folder, which is located in one of these locations, by default:
    • Windows:
      • C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox
      • C:\Program Files (x86)\Mozilla Firefox
  4. Now, go ahead and reinstall Firefox:
    1. Double-click the downloaded installation file and go through the steps of the installation wizard.
    2. Once the wizard is finished, choose to directly open Firefox after clicking the Finish button.

More information about reinstalling Firefox can be found here.

WARNING: Do not run Firefox's uninstaller or use a third party remover as part of this process, because that could permanently delete your Firefox data, including but not limited to, extensions, cache, cookies, bookmarks, personal settings and saved passwords. These cannot be recovered unless they have been backed up to an external device!

Please report back to see if this helped you!

Thank you.