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Lolu chungechunge lwabekwa kunqolobane. Uyacelwa ubuze umbuzo omusha uma udinga usizo.

Firefox won't load because of an old .dll file(s)

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I tried to load this request but nothing happened and my details were already taken.

Latest version of Firefox on latest version of Windows 10.

After many many years suddenly my Firefox would not appear on screen. Tried various suggested remedies and learned that important data is held away from Firefox - thank goodness!

Tried reloading Firefox from Mozilla but it wouldn't work because Firefox was "already running"! Therefore I uninstalled old Firefox but the new one still refused to load because Firefox was "already running". Several times I turned the laptop completely off for several hours but still the same. Went into Windows and started deleting the Firefox files until I got to the .dll files. These couldn't be deleted because they were / are "already running".

I have a separate hard disk which an older version of favourites but really want to keep latest data. I do have original USB backups but they would delete everything over past 3 years so wish to avoid that

Ideas gratefully received by a computer ignoramous

I tried to load this request but nothing happened and my details were already taken. Latest version of Firefox on latest version of Windows 10. After many many years suddenly my Firefox would not appear on screen. Tried various suggested remedies and learned that important data is held away from Firefox - thank goodness! Tried reloading Firefox from Mozilla but it wouldn't work because Firefox was "already running"! Therefore I uninstalled old Firefox but the new one still refused to load because Firefox was "already running". Several times I turned the laptop completely off for several hours but still the same. Went into Windows and started deleting the Firefox files until I got to the .dll files. These couldn't be deleted because they were / are "already running". I have a separate hard disk which an older version of favourites but really want to keep latest data. I do have original USB backups but they would delete everything over past 3 years so wish to avoid that Ideas gratefully received by a computer ignoramous

Isisombululo esikhethiwe

Hi dontsayno, important data like bookmarks is stored under

C:\Users\username\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles

Since AppData is a hidden folder, most likely you didn't delete anything in there accidentally. If you think you might have, please go to the Recycle Bin and restore it before it disappears.

Next, could you check the Windows Task Manager. You can call that up using the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+Shift+Esc.

The Task Manager has several tabs. Under Processes, you may find Firefox, or firefox.exe (the program file which is Firefox). You can forcibly terminate a running program using this tab, right-click firefox.exe and click End Process.

I don't know whether you will be able to run Firefox immediately after that or whether you will need to reinstall due to the files you deleted. You could try running it and if it doesn't work, reinstall.

You can download a full installer for Firefox 62 here:

https://www.mozilla.org/firefox/all/

Any progress so far?

Funda le mpendulo ngokuhambisana nalesi sihloko 👍 1

All Replies (4)

jscher2000 - Support Volunteer
jscher2000 - Support Volunteer
  • Top 10 Contributor
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Isisombululo Esikhethiwe

Hi dontsayno, important data like bookmarks is stored under

C:\Users\username\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles

Since AppData is a hidden folder, most likely you didn't delete anything in there accidentally. If you think you might have, please go to the Recycle Bin and restore it before it disappears.

Next, could you check the Windows Task Manager. You can call that up using the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+Shift+Esc.

The Task Manager has several tabs. Under Processes, you may find Firefox, or firefox.exe (the program file which is Firefox). You can forcibly terminate a running program using this tab, right-click firefox.exe and click End Process.

I don't know whether you will be able to run Firefox immediately after that or whether you will need to reinstall due to the files you deleted. You could try running it and if it doesn't work, reinstall.

You can download a full installer for Firefox 62 here:

https://www.mozilla.org/firefox/all/

Any progress so far?

cor-el
cor-el
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Boot the computer in Windows Safe mode with network support to see if that has effect in case other software is causing problems.

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jscher2000 said

Hi dontsayno, important data like bookmarks is stored under C:\Users\username\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles <my edit>

Eureka. For the benefit of others I detail below my mistake in following your instructions

I used this of the two replies first because to a simpleton it looked easier. Under Task Manager there was no "processes" but a button bottom left listed the various programs including Firefox which I deleted. Firefox would not then work. I made the mistake of reloading Firefox at this stage which didn't really help. Back to Task Manger and delete 2 versions of Firefox. Delete Firefox program in normal manner. Into list of downloaded programs and activated one of those I had already downloaded.

Eureka! worked a treat with favourites, passwords etc. Many many thanks

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cor-el said

Please see my reply to jscher2000. His answer LOOKED easier and free of possible slipups so I tried that first and it worked

Many thanks for the work put into your reply