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Mozilla Run-Time Error after restoring computer to previous date,

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  • Last reply by elromo

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I recently had to restore my computer back to a previous date. In doing so, Firefox went from 38.0.1 to 37.0.2. I am now getting the "Could not find the Mozilla runtime" error. I am at wits end trying to find a way to fix it. I have quite a few bookmarks which I would prefer not losing. I thought I could import them to Internet Explorer but had no luck with that either. Does any one have any solutions? Thank you. I am posting this on a different computer from where the problem is. That computer is running Windows 8.1.

I recently had to restore my computer back to a previous date. In doing so, Firefox went from 38.0.1 to 37.0.2. I am now getting the "Could not find the Mozilla runtime" error. I am at wits end trying to find a way to fix it. I have quite a few bookmarks which I would prefer not losing. I thought I could import them to Internet Explorer but had no luck with that either. Does any one have any solutions? Thank you. I am posting this on a different computer from where the problem is. That computer is running Windows 8.1.

Chosen solution

Using System Restore can cause your Firefox installation to get corrupted because only white-listed files are restored, so always be cautious with using System Restore.

  • You may lose data in the Firefox profile folder like .js and .ini files
  • You may need to reinstall affected software

Do a clean reinstall and delete the Firefox program folder before (re)installing a fresh copy of the current Firefox release.

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\"

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.


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Chosen Solution

Using System Restore can cause your Firefox installation to get corrupted because only white-listed files are restored, so always be cautious with using System Restore.

  • You may lose data in the Firefox profile folder like .js and .ini files
  • You may need to reinstall affected software

Do a clean reinstall and delete the Firefox program folder before (re)installing a fresh copy of the current Firefox release.

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\"

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.


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Thank you cor-el. I followed the instructions & it worked!!