Firefox not in appearing in Windows task menu (after 66.0.5 64-bit)
Hello Mozillians!
I recently downloaded and ran the Firefox installer, to fix the Add-on problem.
Since then, Windows 10 start menu shows a ghost or phantom "Firefox Desktop app" when I open it and start to type "f i r e . . ."
Before, A single "f" would bring up the live application, and I'd be on my way. Now even the full "firefox" fails to find the actual application.
It still shows as a "new" app, and I can access it that way, but I'd like to fix this. (I expect "new" will soon fade, and then it'll be gone.)
(Also, a sub problem: image upload in this form says "Uploading ..." but the spinning wheel hasn't stopped.)
Thanks!
-BC
All Replies (7)
Hi BC, Would you mind sending us a screenshot of what you're seeing? For instructions, see How do I create a screenshot of my problem?.
Hi Chris,
Thanks for taking a look!
Happily, image upload is now working. This is what it looks like before typing (grey) and after typing "f", and after the full "firefox".
Let me know how I can help you help me ;-).
Thanks again,
-BC
It looks like the Windows icon cache has not been refreshed. If you reboot your PC, that should force Windows to refresh the icons.
Hi Chris,
Thanks for your suggestions! They launched me on a bit of an adventure, which is still not over: FireFox still does not appear in the start menu.
1. Google gave me a command to "reset icon cache":
> ie4uinit -show
But, even with two reboots, no change.
2. Next: "Completely Rebuild the Icon Cache"
As Administrator, I deleted all files in:
C:\Users\BC\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer
which had ~30 files: thumbcache_xxx & iconcache_xxx
Reboot once (wonky behavior; lost MS Word and the Task Manager showed no icons in its processes list).
Reboot twice (normal behavior), but still no luck with the icons/search function in the start menu.
(I found those steps here: https://www.wikihow.com/Completely-Rebuild-the-Icon-Cache-in-Windows-8.1-and-10 )
3. Upshot: Start menu acts just as it did before. (Same as the images I sent earlier.)
Any other ideas of where/how I can reset this?
BTW: Program icons on my desktop were, and are, fine.
Thanks again!
-BC
Hi again,
If it's any use, here's an image of my icons directory, which now look all nice and refreshed. (Before, there were quite a few dated 2018.)
Thanks!
-BC
Those clear icons would indicate a bad install. I did a search and got the firefox icon not a clear icon. I think your A/V is blocking the complete install from finishing.
Hi WestEnd,
Thanks for your suggestion. It got me 3/7ths of the way there!
I turned off Eset Nod32 antivirus and reinstalled.
Now, typing "f" or "fi" brings up the undead ghost generic "application" icon. But, with "fir" (3/7ths of the full "firefox"), it finds the installed application. So, (partial) success! (See attached.)
Thing is, I'm a keystroke fanatic. The start menu used to find Firefox with just a single "f".
Any ideas how I might finish this off, and get back to a single keystroke search?
Thanks again, to both of you!
-BC