You should check for malware as that could be a cause of your problems. Spybot Search and Destroy, Malwarebytes Anti-Malware, Hitman Pro, AdwCleaner, Eset Online Scanner, TDSS Killer, SuperAntiSpyware Portable.

Colbabomb -

Thanks for your message.

I tried to read a novel on-line yesterday and in the process I got installed two file downloaders I didn't want. I assumed they were causing the problem. I deleted them and still had the problem.

I then ran Malabytes Malware, as you suggested, but that did not find the problem.

So I then thought I would just delete Firefox and re-install it. But I couldn't even delete it from my desktop, I still keep getting the message, "The last version etc:. . . "

So I finally did a search and delete on Mozilla files, and reinstalled it and it is now running fine. The only headache is, I lost all my Favorites in Firefox and I'm not sure I can remember them all.

Thanks for your advice.

- Dann

Hi Dann, did you delete to the Recycle Bin, or did you do a more drastic permanent delete (e.g., Shift+Delete) or empty the Recycle Bin?

If you think it might be in the Recycle Bin:

First, make sure hidden folders are viewable. You can do that using Windows Explorer or My Computer > Tools > Folder Options > View tab. Look for the radio buttons to show or not to show hidden files and folders.

Now look for C:\Documents and Settings\username\Application Data\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles or some part of that path, or your actual profile folder, which would have had a semi-random name, typically ending with default, or the bookmarkbackups folder, which is the ultimate prize.

If it's not in the Recycle Bin:

To recover your old Firefox settings folder (profile folder), try using a utility like Piriform's Recuva:

http://www.piriform.com/recuva

That needs to run ASAP before deleted files are overwritten.

The folder you're looking for would have had a semi-random name, but be located here:

C:\Documents and Settings\username\Application Data\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles

By default, that folder is hidden. Make sure hidden folders are viewable. You can do that using Windows Explorer or My Computer > Tools > Folder Options > View tab. Look for the radio buttons to show or not to show hidden files and folders.

In particular, a bookmarkbackups folder would be a wonderful thing to be able to recover.

Hopefully one of these methods will work for you.

By the way, the files you are looking for have this naming convention (the date naturally will vary):

bookmarks-2013-06-12.json

And this article describes the process for restoring one of them to your current Firefox profile: Restore bookmarks from backup or move them to another computer.

If files already have been downloaded then remove the files in the updates and updates\0 folder.

You can also delete active-update.xml and possibly updates.xml (this will clear the update history).

• http://kb.mozillazine.org/Updates_reported_when_running_newest_version
• http://kb.mozillazine.org/Software_Update (Software Update not working properly)

C:\Documents and Settings\<user>\Local Settings\Application Data\Mozilla\Firefox\Mozilla Firefox\updates
(%USERPROFILE%\Local Settings\Application Data\Mozilla\Firefox\Mozilla Firefox)

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

• Firefox 21.0: http://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/all.html

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 that "remove personal data" is NOT selected when you uninstall Firefox.