Can't open or close Firefox; already uninstalled, reinstalled, created new profile, deleted parent lock, etc. tried everything; many reboots, etc. what's left?!
Hi, I hope someone can help! I've tried everything.
I’m using a desktop; Dell; newer. Windows 10; 1903; plenty of speed and space left. No viruses, etc.; have done many scans (malwarebytes, adware, etc.)
For whatever reason (I think I incorrectly shut down Firefox and/or my computer, and that was the beginning of the problem), Firefox is causing lot of issues.
Won’t open or close. followed all the advice on this site.
Found out on this site to try ending Firefox in task manager; when that didn’t work; went in to and deleted parent.lock from the profile.
Then rebooted the computer; still wouldn’t open (or did once, but then had the same problem?) Tried shutting off the computer and restarting rather than rebooting many times during all this process as well.
I followed what someone said about adding the word OLD after places.sqlite. So in the original profile folder I have:
places.sqliteOLD
places.sqlite-shmOLD
places.sqlite-walOLD
that didn’t help things. Then someone said to add OLD to ‘prefs.js’
So I have:
prefs.jsOLD
prefs-1jsOLD
prefs-2.jsOLD
prefs-3.jsOLD
Etc….up to # 9; I have 9 of them
That didn’t help.
I then saved that original profile to the desktop. Uninstalled Firefox; and reinstalled it.
If you go into profile folder, it shows the original profile(‘default’) and a new one I guess it creates when you reinstall Firefox? (called ’default-release’).
I tried opening etc. with that new ‘default-release’ profile. Same issues. Again I went into task manager, to end process (sometimes works for some of the instances; but usually not all?); deleted parent.lock again. Rebooted.
Then I created a brand new profile (without going into Firefox; but following some instructions on how to create a new profile without Firefox being open).
I opened Firefox with that brand new profile (it asks me which of the 3 profiles I want to use when I went to open Firefox). I opened tabs, used it, etc. works ok; …..
BUT it won’t close or reopen! So same issues with the brand new profile!
The ‘default-release’ profile and the brand new one I created were never changed or touched; never added the word OLD to anything in there; made no changes.
So Firefox wouldn’t close; so I had to do all of the above again (try to end task in task manager; delete parent.lock, and reboot).
So now I’m at my wits end!!!
I can’t find anything left to try. : (
I hope someone can help!
Thanks!
All Replies (14)
thanks! And is it possible to just restore 1-2 aspects of a backup? Like if you want to just restore the passwords? or just bookmarks?
thanks
FirefoxHelpPlease said
thanks! And is it possible to just restore 1-2 aspects of a backup? Like if you want to just restore the passwords? or just bookmarks?
The bookmark backup is strictly bookmarks. Logins are saved using a pair of files (logins.json and key4.db) that need to be copied over in place of the empty ones.
Hi Jscher,
thanks again!
I think I'll try importing them from Chrome to be on the safe side. And is it safe to delete all those folders from my desktop now:
6c791e1k.default-release (I think a new 2nd profile created during troubleshooting) ? em5m4n3s.default-1511999024572 (maybe an original profile??) 51bduq8k.10-30-19 (probably a default I created during troubleshooting) ?
and what is "light plugin" in browser extension data folder and what is "screenshots@mozille.org" in browser extension data folder?
thanks
FirefoxHelpPlease said
I had the problem for over a week and spent about 40 hrs on it! Finally uninstalled Kaspersky. Then Firefox ok. BUT if you go to 'settings', 'update security', are you able to do an update? I can't now! and I can create a restore point, but it won't keep. what about others? thanks!
sorry just seen this firefoxhelpplease , yes I am able to go to updates and check and install. no problems.
FirefoxHelpPlease said
And is it safe to delete all those folders from my desktop now:
- 6c791e1k.default-release (I think a new 2nd profile created during troubleshooting) ?
- em5m4n3s.default-1511999024572 (maybe an original profile??)
- 51bduq8k.10-30-19 (probably a default I created during troubleshooting) ?
If you don't need any of their contents, you can remove them, sure.
- what is "light plugin" in browser extension data folder
- what is "screenshots@mozille.org" in browser extension data folder?
I don't know what "light plugin" refers to. The Firefox Screenshot extension must store some data, but most likely you don't need to transfer it -- it wouldn't include the actual screenshots you downloaded, those would be wherever you saved them.
Hi Jscher,
This should be the end of my Firefox questions!
Is the default mozilla download here https://www.mozilla.org/ (not the full installer page) 32 bit or 64 bit?
Can a 64 bit machine use either? What is the difference? does it matter?
Does it matter that in task manager, services: 'mozilla maintenance' says stopped under status. Should it be stopped?
thanks
FirefoxHelpPlease said
Is the default mozilla download here https://www.mozilla.org/ (not the full installer page) 32 bit or 64 bit?
For a 64-bit computer, 64-bit is the default.
Can a 64 bit machine use either? What is the difference? does it matter?
I don't know with modern Firefox.
Does it matter that in task manager, services: 'mozilla maintenance' says stopped under status. Should it be stopped?
I think it's not needed until Firefox detects an update is available, so you don't need it to be running at other times.
Data like "screenshots@mozille.org" you see in the "browser-extension-data" folder is a leftover from older Firefox versions. Current releases store this data in IndexedDB (storage\default) using a specific GUID that you can see in about:debugging.
https://www.ghacks.net/2018/08/06/dont-downgrade-firefox-63/
oh! So you're saying that on the general mozilla download page (not the full installer page)
the ONE download that's there https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/
can tell if you're computer is 32 or 64 bit and it download the correct one?
thx
FirefoxHelpPlease said
oh! So you're saying that on the general mozilla download page (not the full installer page) the ONE download that's there https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/ can tell if you're computer is 32 or 64 bit and it download the correct one? thx
The small program called Firefox Installer.exe that downloads from the https://www.mozilla.org/firefox/new/ page and runs locally will then retrieve the most suitable build of Firefox for your system, which should be 64-bit for 64-bit Windows.
so if the 'small program' not the full installer knows which to install on a 64 bit machine; then why would anyone need or use the 'full installer'? just curious. thanks!
FirefoxHelpPlease said
so if the 'small program' not the full installer knows which to install on a 64 bit machine; then why would anyone need or use the 'full installer'? just curious.
The full installer is useful if:
- your firewall/security software doesn't allow stub installers to download executables (the small installer repeatedly reports an error connecting)
- you want to do a custom install in a different program folder (see: Custom installation of Firefox on Windows)
- you need to put the installer on a USB flash drive to help a friend with a slow connection
oh! thanks so much : )
The full installer is also required if you want to install a different Firefox locale like the en-US locale on a not English Windows version.