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"Firefox is already running but not responding" - have tried all the usual solutions.

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  • 26 have this problem
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  • Last reply by talle3

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The message I'm getting is the standard: "Firefox is already running, but is not responding." I'm using a PC with Windows 7.

I've tried: - Opening task manager and manually ending the process. This didn't work because the process is not listed in applications, processes, or services.

- Deleting the parent/lock file. This didn't work because the file is not in any of the firefox folders. I've checked APPDATA/Local/Firefox as well as APPDATA/Roaming/Firefox, and the original install folder just to be thorough. It's not a hidden file either - I have those set to display.

- Creating a new profile and importing settings from the old one. I can't import settings because the old profile is still running.

- Restarting before and after each of these potential solutions, including restarting in safe mode, shutting off the computer and waiting a bit before restarting, etc.

All I really want back are my bookmarks, which I've spent quite a while creating. Unfortunately, there is no file I can find for the default profile that has the bookmarks stored. When I created a new profile, a folder appeared with its name in the APPDATA/Roaming/Firefox folder, with all of the bookmarks, etc. There is no such folder for the default profile though - which is the one I want. I've even tried switching to Chrome and importing bookmarks, but that doesn't work because the bookmarks can't be imported while Firefox is still running.

The message I'm getting is the standard: "Firefox is already running, but is not responding." I'm using a PC with Windows 7. I've tried: - Opening task manager and manually ending the process. This didn't work because the process is not listed in applications, processes, or services. - Deleting the parent/lock file. This didn't work because the file is not in any of the firefox folders. I've checked APPDATA/Local/Firefox as well as APPDATA/Roaming/Firefox, and the original install folder just to be thorough. It's not a hidden file either - I have those set to display. - Creating a new profile and importing settings from the old one. I can't import settings because the old profile is still running. - Restarting before and after each of these potential solutions, including restarting in safe mode, shutting off the computer and waiting a bit before restarting, etc. All I really want back are my bookmarks, which I've spent quite a while creating. Unfortunately, there is no file I can find for the default profile that has the bookmarks stored. When I created a new profile, a folder appeared with its name in the APPDATA/Roaming/Firefox folder, with all of the bookmarks, etc. There is no such folder for the default profile though - which is the one I want. I've even tried switching to Chrome and importing bookmarks, but that doesn't work because the bookmarks can't be imported while Firefox is still running.

Modified by talle3

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Does a new profile work?

If there is no profile present then you also get that error about "Firefox is already running but not responding"

If you uninstalled Firefox at any time in the past and removed your personal data or deleted that profile folder yourself then you no longer have a profile to start with or restore files from.

See:

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Like I stated in the first post, I've been able to create a new profile. However, the new profile is completely blank (as it should be), and what I want are the bookmarks and settings from the old profile. I can't import or copy over those settings because the old profile is still running, somehow.

I also haven't uninstalled Firefox, or removed the personal data - so I'm at a loss for why the data isn't there.

Also, I've tried all of the solutions suggested in those links, with no success.

Modified by talle3