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Since update message "XML Parsing Error: undefined entity Location: chrome://browser/content/browser.xul Line Number 238, Column 5:" Tried everything - help!

gordonmclellan
gordonmclellan
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Since an automatic update ran I get the message
"XML Parsing Error: undefined entity
Location:chrome://browser/content/browser.xul
Line Number 238, Column 5:
<broadcaster id="devtoolsMenuBroadcaster_ChromeDebugger"----^"<br /> when I try to open Firefox. I have had to go back to using Internet Explorer - Tried everything suggested including deleting then reinstalling Firefox, but still cannot get Firefox to open - help!

Since an automatic update ran I get the message <br /> "XML Parsing Error: undefined entity <br /> Location:chrome://browser/content/browser.xul <br /> Line Number 238, Column 5: <br /> <broadcaster id="devtoolsMenuBroadcaster_ChromeDebugger"----^"<br /> when I try to open Firefox. I have had to go back to using Internet Explorer - Tried everything suggested including deleting then reinstalling Firefox, but still cannot get Firefox to open - help!

Modified by cor-el

Chosen solution

Can you reproduce in Firefox safe mode?

It may be a addon or hardware acceleration affecting this (making the error show up).

Read this answer in context 👍 3

All Replies (6)

kobe
kobe
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Hello,

Certain Firefox problems can be solved by performing a Clean reinstall. This means you remove Firefox program files and then reinstall 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 http://www.mozilla.org and save the setup file to your computer.
  2. After the download finishes, close all Firefox windows (click Exit from the Firefox or File menu).
  3. Delete the Firefox installation folder, which is located in one of these locations, by default (your profile folder with bookmarks etc. WILL NOT BE DELETED):
    • 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.

Please report back to see if this helped you!

Thank you.

gordonmclellan
gordonmclellan Question owner
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Thanks for trying - I deleted and reinstalled exactly as you advised but still get - XML Parsing Error: undefined entity Location: chrome://browser/content/browser.xul Line Number 238, Column 5: <broadcaster id="devtoolsMenuBroadcaster_ChromeDebugger"----^ every time I try to open Firefox. </p>

gordonmclellan
gordonmclellan Question owner
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Sorry the error message does not read correctly when entered - should read XML Parsing Error: undefined entity Location: chrome://browser/content/browser.xul Line Number 238, Column 5: broadcaster id="devtoolsMenuBroadcaster_ChromeDebugger"

kobe
kobe
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Chosen Solution

Can you reproduce in Firefox safe mode?

It may be a addon or hardware acceleration affecting this (making the error show up).

gordonmclellan
gordonmclellan Question owner
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Great! Thanks, managed to start Firefox in safe mode using the shift key, and this worked - then reset Firefox and everything works again. Thanks again.

ChristopherRose
ChristopherRose
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I too am getting this error message

XML Parsing Error: unexpected parser state Location: jar:file:///C:/Program%20Files%20(x86)/Mozilla%20Firefox/omni.ja!/chrome/toolkit/content/global/netError.xhtml Line Number 305, Column 54:
&netTimeout.longDesc;
-----------------------------------------------------^

On several different websites.

It has only happened with the two most recent versions of firefox, 27 and 27.0.1