Some protection programs don't like the update/install stubs http://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/all/ Download Firefox For All Languages And Systems

Thanks for your input, Fred. I've done that and when I attempted to install, got this little box that said "0% extracting" (noted at the end of my 1st post). It is now 24 hours later and still says "0% extracting". This happens whether I use the newest version or attempt to install an older version. I've not only done a fresh install, but removed all the registry entries I could find. I'm completely baffled.

You should not need to install Firefox or mess with registry entries.

It appears you are using Windows 7 (64 bit) and so you should have no problems with installing the current Firefox Release.

As Fred says security software interfering with the install is the most likely reason for problems. What happens if you try installing whilst in Windows 7 safe mode? does that work ?

• https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/tutorials/how-to-start-windows-in-safe-mode/#windows7

You need to do a clean install when you get an XPCOM error and make sure to remove the Firefox program folder before installing Firefox.

• "C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\" (64 bit Firefox)
• "C:\Program Files (x86)\Mozilla Firefox\" (32 bit Firefox)

Thx to John99 and cor-el for your responses. I ended up taking my computer to a local repair shop this morning. It appears that there was a problem with IE; something in it would not allow me to run any programs directly from the websites - therefore, I was unable to either download FF completely or extract any of the files which I did manage to download. The tech loaded the FF installation program onto a flash drive and installed it from there w/o any difficulties. He said that some people had reported problems w/the last round of FF updates, but I wonder if it's something in the IE browser instead. I have my FF back now. Thanks all for your help!

That was very good work. Well done.

John99 , cor-el Should a bug report be filed?

Thanks for the replies.

Short version

Glad it worked. Sorry I should have noticed mention of XPCOM & then suggested the clean install, and if necessary a non stub installer.

More detail

Some updates are what we refer to as stub installers. It starts with a small file and connects with the internet to get more. The idea being it downloads only what you need, not what may be needed by all users and so should be faster and not need to download quite as much. This sort of principle is most noticeable where you upgrade from one Firefox version to another. The stub installer method has been used for a number of years now and is the standard method for nearly all installs of Firefox desktop now (e.g. see https://quality.mozilla.org/2012/10/stub-installer-in-firefox-nightly-try-it-out-give-feedback-and-test-it/ )

In your particular case I should have noticed earlier on, you mentioned the XPCOM error, This is a very important part of the install process for Firefox. It almost certainly means the install needs to be repeated, and we if we see that sort of error we always recommend what we refer to as a clean reinstall. Deleting the existing Firefox program files and starting again is the method most likely to work.

If there is some bug with IE and stub installs are failing in Windows 7 then it may need fixing by Microsoft, but would be something we would need to be aware of and if necessary had a workaround for. However I would have hoped any such issue would have been seen by thousands of users and be reported here and elsewhere so I don't than at this moment in time we need to file any bug from here.

For anyone else seeing XPCOM errors this is how to do the clean reinstall

Clean Install

Certain Firefox problems can be solved by performing a Clean reinstall. This means you remove your Firefox program files and then reinstall Firefox. This process does not remove your Firefox profile data (such as bookmarks and passwords), since that information is stored in a different location.

To do a clean reinstall of Firefox, please follow these steps: Note: You might want to print these steps or view them in another browser.

1. Download the latest Desktop version of Firefox from mozilla.org (or choose the download for your operating system and language from this page) and save the setup file to your computer.
2. After the download finishes, close all Firefox windows (or open the Firefox menu and click the close button ).
3. Delete the Firefox installation folder, which is located in one of these locations, by default:
   • Windows:
     • C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox
     • C:\Program Files (x86)\Mozilla Firefox
   • Mac: Delete Firefox from the Applications folder.
   • Linux: If you installed Firefox with the distro-based package manager, you should use the same way to uninstall it - see Install Firefox on Linux. If you downloaded and installed the binary package from the Firefox download page, simply remove the folder firefox in your home directory.
4. Now, go ahead and reinstall Firefox:
   1. Double-click the downloaded installation file and go through the steps of the installation wizard.
   2. Once the wizard is finished, choose to directly open Firefox after clicking the Finish button.

More information about reinstalling Firefox can be found here.

WARNING: Do not use a third party uninstaller as part of this process. Doing so could permanently delete your Firefox profile data, including but not limited to, extensions, cache, cookies, bookmarks, personal settings and saved passwords. These cannot be easily recovered unless they have been backed up to an external device! See Back up and restore information in Firefox profiles.

Forum Note

Of course all these months of replies and conversations may well be lost to ordinary users on roll forward to Lithium. No automated migration of data is planned bug136005^{{#c15 )} & bug1365700 _{although a temporary static Kitsune may be available bug1316853} .

Maybe filing a bug report wouldn't be such a bad idea? This may be one of those weird little glitches that occur so infrequently that Microsoft has no idea this is happening, but needs to know so they can correct it. I've never had to do this type of report before, but will be glad to if you'll tell me how to go about doing so. Thank you all again!

Hi and thanks for the reply.

This is all just my opinion it is certainly not any official opinion of Mozilla, but it may be a reasonable summary of the status quo.

Anyone can file a bug report, but what is usually the best course is to first of all discuss any particular problem then decide how important it is likely to be and how many people either by numbers or by specific groupings are likely to be affected.

Many bugs just do not make any progress the ones that do are probably carefully crafted and demonstrate an issue as showing a very important failing affecting a few people or something less critical affecting many people.

Take the specific example of this thread and your problems: What would you say the problem is possibly something along the lines of

• Use a Windows 7 (? What version current?) computer with IE ?X as the default browser.
• Try to install Firefox by using an option from https://www.mozilla.org/firefox/all/

Or maybe you believe the issue is actually only seen by people who have Firefox installed and used as the default browser, and where that browser is functional. (Security software and other factors may mean Firefox can not work see for instance Fix problems connecting to websites after updating Firefox )

I should be able to find and use a Windows 7 computer to test this out, but to be honest I think all that happened is you ran in to some uncommon or random glitch and initially I gave you bad advice, by failing to say try a clean install.

It looks like your problems are solved. I am not sure others will see similar problems. Cor-el picked that up, but not until after you had paid for professional services. Sorry.

Greetings and thx John99. Actually the computer tech fixed it for free (I buy all my computer stuff from them), so I'm not out any $$$. I would agree that if it hasn't really cropped up before this, then maybe I just got lucky (if it's weird, it'll happen to me). Will file this under "Twilight Zone" :) . Thanks again all - am VERY happy to have my FF back. (This same tech suggested that I not use IE at all; he thought that doing so might corrupt FF again, leading back to the same problems). However, I do have one more question - this seemed to start when FF was unable to install updates (see initial post) and wouldn't start w/o doing so. Is there any way to bypass/refuse updates when that happens, or is it even advisable? Thank you!

I tend not to use IE, but that is mainly because since the days of XP I tend not to use Windows !! When I do I must say I am a lot more comfortable on Windows 7 than on the shiny new 10.

I would strongly advise you to keep Firefox, and for that matter all other software up to date. (Windows 7 is of course fully supported and updates on a regular basis)

• Update Firefox to the latest release
• (Do NOT) Install an older version of Firefox

This is more for other readers of the thread

This is NOT official Mozilla or Firefox advice. Consider

• Third party unofficial Firefox Portable.
  It is easy to install on Windows or for Windows users will install as a separate additional browser on a Memory Stick. It may be a useful method of ensuring you have a Firefox browser available.
  • https://portableapps.com/apps/internet/firefox_portable
• Mozilla does not officially support you - this is intended for Enterprise use with their own IT department - or now for those users unable to use the current Firefox because of for instance an unsupported EOL OS
  • ESR: it changes less often but gets critical security fixes back ported
    • https://www.mozilla.org/firefox/organizations/faq/