cert8.db keeps getting corrupt?
I get this message all the time?
Could not initialize the application's security component. The most likely cause is problems with files in your application's profile directory. Please check that this directory has no read/write restrictions and your hard disk is not full or close to full. It is recommended that you exit the application and fix the problem. If you continue to use this session, you might see incorrect application behaviour when accessing security features.
The only way I have found to fix this is deleting the cert8.db file. This is happening so often that I can no longer use FF anymore. Why is this file getting corrupt? I have plenty of disk space on this machine so that is not an issue.
All Replies (7)
Do you have any security software running on your Mac that might be causing this?
Is this the only file that gets corrupted or does this happen to other files in the profile folder as well?
Create a new profile as a test to check if your current profile is causing the problems.
See "Creating a profile":
- https://support.mozilla.org/kb/profile-manager-create-and-remove-firefox-profiles
- http://kb.mozillazine.org/Standard_diagnostic_-_Firefox#Profile_issues
If the new profile works then you can transfer some files from an existing profile to the new profile, but be careful not to copy corrupted files.
Yes I have seen this information before and that is how I learned how to delete the cert file and get back up and running again. Since that has not helped I thought the next best step might be to post the question here and see what else I can do.
I'm running Avast as a security tool. Has there been any issues with that tool and FF? No, I have not had any other issues with other files/areas of my computer. I'll try your new profile idea and see what happens.
Do you have Cisco VPN software installed, i.e., Cisco AnyConnect Secure Mobility Client?
It appeared to me that this process has a lock on the file. If I move cert8.db to the trash, cisco vpn keeps a handle on that file, but I can start up firefox without the error (creating a fresh new cert8.db).
But as you mention, it does seem to randomly come back after some time.
I do have Cisco VPN installed and running all the time on my laptop so maybe you're onto something? I have to say that after I created a new profile I have not had the issue again but don't understand why that would help? Sadly I have been using Chrome more often because I'm worried about the crash in the middle of a demo but will try to use FF more to see if this situation comes back. Thank you!
Windows 7 64-bit here. I, too, run Avast IS and just deleted the file in question here because Firefox wouldn't run properly while the "Could not initialize the applications's security component..." error appeared. I read the article about this error and I am thankful this worked but I hope that this doesn't become an ongoing problem for me like it has been for op. I scan my HDs frequently and I've never detected a virus on my PC yet. I wonder if Avast and Firefox are conflicting with each other somehow. Thanks.