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firefox wont install

  • 4 replies
  • 1 has this problem
  • 15 views
  • Last reply by FredMcD

roybman
roybman
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I've used firefox for about 20 years and never encountered an issue like this. The browser initially became "invisible", meaning when I opened it, it showed as running but the window was not visible. Tried reboots and anything I could think of, but nothing changed. Firefox is the only app giving me this problem. I used Chrome to download a new installer figuring I would run an install, without having done an uninstall. After running the installer the app files, executable, everything, are gone. I've tried running the install multiple times. I never get an error but the app never installs. I'm at a loss on why. I'm running Windows 7 and have a Core-i5 processor. Any help is greatly appreciated.

I've used firefox for about 20 years and never encountered an issue like this. The browser initially became "invisible", meaning when I opened it, it showed as running but the window was not visible. Tried reboots and anything I could think of, but nothing changed. Firefox is the only app giving me this problem. I used Chrome to download a new installer figuring I would run an install, without having done an uninstall. After running the installer the app files, executable, everything, are gone. I've tried running the install multiple times. I never get an error but the app never installs. I'm at a loss on why. I'm running Windows 7 and have a Core-i5 processor. Any help is greatly appreciated.

All Replies (4)

FredMcD
FredMcD
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It might be that the Firefox window is opening outside where you can see it.

https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/changes-toolbars-and-window-sizes-are-not-saved You may have corrupt xulstore.json or Localstore.rdf files.

Close Firefox. Open your file browser to this hidden location:

  • Mac: *~/Library/Application Support/Firefox/Profiles
  • Linux: *~/.mozilla/firefox/Profiles
  • Windows: %AppData%\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles
  • *C:\Users\<user>\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles
  • Windows XP: C:\Documents and Settings\<user>\Application Data
    \Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\

Search for the above files. Then rename or delete them. edit: Do not delete your Profiles without backing them up first. Restart Firefox.

Modified by James

roybman
roybman Question owner
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The larger issue is I can't restart Firefox since Firefox has disappeared from my computer. The Firefox folder that should contain the installation is basically empty. As I mentioned, I downloaded the current "Firefox Installer.exe" using Chrome. But after running the installer, Firefox is still not installed, and there are no error messages indicating there was an issue. So before I can get back to resolving the missing window, I need to be able to reinstall Firefox. But it won't install. My question is why would the installation not work?

roybman
roybman Question owner
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I deleted the empty application folders and tried the installation again. This time it installed. Unfortunately whatever caused the issue also wiped the profile data from the computer. So I've lost all bookmarks and all saved profile info. Just as an fyi, this all started while Firefox was open and sitting idle. I'm not happy, as I've lost a lot of data.

FredMcD
FredMcD
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Look on your desktop. Do you see a folder called; Old Firefox?

https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/recovering-important-data-from-an-old-profile

https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/back-and-restore-information-firefox-profiles

https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/how-run-firefox-when-profile-missing-inaccessible