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Firefox will not start

  • 4 replies
  • 1 has this problem
  • 1 view
  • Last reply by Nfm127

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Hello, thanks for taking the time to help me with my question.

I have an older computer, an HP with Windows XP on it. When ever i try to load firefox, the little Time Glass pops up for a quarter of a second then goes away (Normally it will continue loading (Time Glass) until the browser pops up.) It has been like this for a while now and every other browser will work, at least the ones that i've tried. Google Chrome and Internet Explorer. If i rapidly click on firefox to get it to open i will get a message saying there is no disk in the drive.

I have uninstalled Firefox multiple times, it will always start up on the first launch from installation, but as soon as i close the browser it will never be opened again unless i uninstall it and reinstall it.

I have uninstalled with user settings removed also, and uninstalled without removing the user settings. This is very annoying to me, because i can't stand Google Chrome, and Internet explorer takes 3 years to load google. Please help me!

Hello, thanks for taking the time to help me with my question. I have an older computer, an HP with Windows XP on it. When ever i try to load firefox, the little Time Glass pops up for a quarter of a second then goes away (Normally it will continue loading (Time Glass) until the browser pops up.) It has been like this for a while now and every other browser will work, at least the ones that i've tried. Google Chrome and Internet Explorer. If i rapidly click on firefox to get it to open i will get a message saying there is no disk in the drive. I have uninstalled Firefox multiple times, it will always start up on the first launch from installation, but as soon as i close the browser it will never be opened again unless i uninstall it and reinstall it. I have uninstalled with user settings removed also, and uninstalled without removing the user settings. This is very annoying to me, because i can't stand Google Chrome, and Internet explorer takes 3 years to load google. Please help me!

All Replies (4)

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It is possible that your security software (firewall, anti-virus) blocks or restricts Firefox or the plugin-container process without informing you, possibly after detecting changes (update) to the Firefox program.

Remove all rules for Firefox and the plugin-container from the permissions list in the firewall and let your firewall ask again for permission to get full, unrestricted, access to internet for Firefox and the plugin-container process and the updater process.

See:

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Didn't seem to work, it actually wasn't listed in exceptions so i was sure that was the problem and was to dumb to think of it. Haha, but it still has that problem.

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Does that computer have at least XP service pack 2 or 3 installed?


Do a clean reinstall and delete the Firefox program folder before (re)installing a fresh copy of the current Firefox release.

Download a fresh Firefox copy and save the file to the desktop.

If possible uninstall your current Firefox version to cleanup the Windows registry and settings in security software.

  • Do NOT remove "personal data" when you uninstall your current Firefox version, because this will remove all profile folders and you lose personal data like bookmarks and passwords including data in profiles created by other Firefox versions.

Remove the Firefox program folder before installing that newly downloaded copy of the Firefox installer.

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

Your bookmarks and other personal data are stored in the Firefox profile folder and won't be affected by an uninstall and (re)install, but make sure that "remove personal data" is NOT selected when you uninstall Firefox.

If you keep having problems then also create a new profile.


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Ill try that in a bit, I am on a 32 bit, and Service Pack 3 IS installed. But i think i might reinstall Sp3, i have a hunch i know what it is now.