I'm Worried I May Have Deleted A Crucial Run File, Help!

Help, help, I'm being repressed! I can't run Firefox!

A few weeks ago I got a little trigger-happy while cleaning out bloatware (who needs THREE e-readers?!) when I think I may have inadvertently mis-clicked on an important file.

Upon restarting the computer after this Uninstall-fest, Firefox would not open. I uninstalled it, then reinstalled Version 10. Every time I tried to open it, it would ask me 'Do you want to allow this program to make changes to your hard drive?' I would click 'OK', Firefox would run, everything was good. Except all the text in my browser was now in Italics! I did manage to repair that by copying the Arial font back to my fonts folder.

I made some adjustment in my security settings (I thought I gave myself Administrator permissions) and now Firefox will not open. This is the primary issue for me. It appears as a process in Task Manager, but the browser window itself never opens. I have been using Explorer, but I'm so much happier using Firefox!

Additional side issues include a serious overall slow down of all computer operations, Explorer hanging intolerably, and a few things having to be 'reminded' where they open. Such as the shortcut from my HP Games Panel to 'Plants Vs. Zombies'.

I am not a torrenter, I do not access p2p fileshares, all the software on my computer is legally acquired and installed. Usually I'm pretty self-sufficient at managing issues like this, but I'm at my wit's end with worry that I've severely crippled my PC.

Please help! Thank you!

 

First, welcome to Computer Help Forums!
Have you tried to do a system restore to a date prior to your house cleaning escapade?? Also have you tried running Firefox in Firefox safemode (not windows safemode) that will temporarily disable all addons that may be effecting how Firefox performs.

 

Hi ERider83, welcome to CHF..

One thing you could try is a System Restore to a time before you had the problems. In Windows 7 once you have entered SR, and have chosen a date/time, there are options to scan for any programs that may be effected by running System Restore.


Edit: Sorry Barry, you must have posted while I was typing...Oops!

 

Thank you for the welcome!

Yes, to both. I have attempted a System Restore, and I have tried to open Firefox in safe mode by holding the 'Shift' key while double-clicking the icon. No dice!

 

If all other advice fails try the following:

Download Revo Uninstaller from here: [scroll down - you want the free version]
http://www.revouninstaller.com/revo_uninstaller_free_download.html

Then re-install F_F if you had uninstalled it.

Run Revo.
It lists all software.
Select F_F then "Uninstall" from the toolbar.
When prompted select "Advanced" - this will remove all trace of F_F

Download a new version of F_F and install.

 

When I tried the command prompt route, it replied 'You must be an administrator running a console session in order to use the sfc utility.' How can I not be the administrator of my own computer????

I am going to try Revo. I will report back afterwards.

Thanks again!

 

Okay. Tried Revo, and after re-installing Firefox I get the 'We're sorry, something has happened that caused Firefox to crash. Would you like to submit a report?'

I read that you can right-click on the command prompt window and click 'Run as Administrator' so I did and am running the System File Check right now.

Again, I will report back when complete.

 

In windows 7 you must open an elevated command box in order to run sfc /scannow. It can be opened by going to your start menu and selecting command prompt. Right click and select "Run as Administrator." When the box opens you will note that it now refers to system 32 instead of user.

Please be sure to note the space between sfc and the / .

 

Okay. Ran sfc, and it found no problems. Tried Firefox (without restarting) and it crashed again. I will restart the computer and try Firefox, then un-install with Revo and try installing yet again.

Will report back when complete.

 

Uninstalled and re-installed Firefox, now I just keep getting 'We're sorry, there was a problem which has caused Firefox to crash.'

 

I just tried by holding shift and double-clicking on the Firefox icon that I most recently installed and I still got the crash notification.

 

If you hold down the Shift Key, while clicking on the Firefox Icon - you'll get several choices to experiment with:



Doubtless you've noticed that Waterfox is mentioned above. It's a 64-bit version of Firefox and uses the same Profile (if you were to have both installed).
Might be worth trying to install Waterfox (?). Or you could create a new Profile, using Mozilla tools.

Incidentally, Files and Folders are located as follows:

Profile (both): C:\Users\Your ID\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\Your Random Key.default

Firefox Program Files: C:\Program Files (x86)\Mozilla Firefox

Waterfox Program Files: C:\Program Files\Waterfox


It is a good idea to run the Task Manager before re-installing (etc.) to make sure that firefox.exe has actually been closed.

Also, re-installing does not touch the Profile folder (if I remember correctly). You can delete the firefox folder - making sure it has really gone, or change the Profile folder name so that installing will actually create a new Profile. The last approach has the advantage of retaining data files that you may want to copy over to the new folder.

Keep your file manager open to the Profile location so that you can be sure what is actually happening.

And, most of all, Do Have Good Luck!!


oops. I think Cindy beat me to the punch as regards to FF safe mode.

 

I don't know if I'm doing something wrong when I try it, but I cannot get Firefox to start in Safe Mode. I've seen screen shots of that window before, but again when I held the Shift key and clicked the Firefox icon, the computer ran for about thirty seconds, and then I got the 'We're sorry, something has caused Firefox to crash.'

 

I have posted the information to Firefox, we will see if they are able to help.

Thank you!

 

The only response I got when I posted to Firefox Help was 'You have indicated this problem occurred with Firefox 10.0.1. Have you tried installing Firefox 10.0.2?'

So I uninstalled Firefox 10.0.1 with Revo and installed Firefox 10.0.2. STILL crashing! I posted this result to Firefox Help, and have received no further response.

I'm beginning to feel like my last resort is a complete System Restore to factory settings. Any other last suggestions?

 

Hi ERider,

I believe Klickkatt offered advice to the only other possible solution at post 14, which would be to delete the Firefox folder from Program Files, it doesn't look like you did that in all the trial and error.

If you uninstall Firefox once more, then navigate to your C: drive > Program Files (x86) assuming you have 64bit Windows otherwise it will just be Program Files.

And delete the folders named 'Mozilla Firefox' and 'Mozilla Maintenance Service' and also delete them from the Recycle Bin as well.

On top of this you'll need to delete the User data for Firefox which is in C: > Users > 'Your_Username' (mine would be Woodyblade) > AppData > Local/Roaming > Mozilla

And then delete the 'Mozilla' folder in both the 'Local' and 'Roaming' folders, you'll also need to delete these from the Recycle Bin as well.

That will delete all data related to Firefox as I'm not sure if Revo Uninstaller will delete the data from the AppData folder, so probably why uninstalling hasn't worked so far because as Klickkatt says your Firefox profile sounds like it is corrupt.

Hopefully this works for you.