Tech. Can't use Firefox now?

Subject: Tech. Can't use Firefox now?
From: GUEST,Andy
Date: 19 Jul 07 - 09:11 AM

Can any of you technical minded bods out there help me with this little problem which began yesterday?
I have been connecting to the net through Mozilla Firefox for about three years now, mainly through reading something on the 'cat, that it was more secure than Internet Explorer, which had/has some known security 'holes' in it. I also use AVG free edition, the free version of Kerio firewall and Spybot. I am running MS professional XP.
All has been well so far but yesterday whilst trying to connect to the net, a message flashed up for a second or two, which said Firefox would update itself. This quickly disappeared and I was left looking at my normal desktop.
When I tried to connect through Firefox again, a few seconds later, I was faced with a message panel which said 'Firefox has encountered a problem and needs to close'. This also included the instruction to tell Microsoft about it by clicking a button to send a report.
Since then the same message comes up when I try to connect via Firefox. No joy!
Does anyone have an answer to why this may have happened? I am currently connected via Int.Explorer. Also, if I could crave your indulgence a while longer, is it still true that Int.Explorer is less secure than Firefox?
Any advice much appreciated, but dont get too technical please, I'm a real novice with this computer malarkey!
Regards
Andy

Subject: RE: Tech. Can't use Firefox now?
From: RogerTCB
Date: 19 Jul 07 - 09:28 AM

Firefox has the ability to detect new versions of itself. It will then download this, run the update install then then prompt you, asking if you want to restart it now or later.

It sounds like this download failed for some reason and now its in a loop. NB This process has already worked fine on all three of the PCs I regularly use so I don't think its a general problem.

If you are using a work pc, they may have changed a policy so it now blocks software from being downloaded, in which case you'll have to copy the install to your pc using a CD or pen drive - I had to do this for a colleague only this morning. Go to the Firefox Homepage on another pc & download a fresh copy to install.

Alternatively it could be a blockage from your AV software - I'm not familiar with it so its difficult to say. Again go to the Firefox Homepage using IE & download a fresh copy to install.

If that doesn't work then uninstall the current Firefox & install the fresh one from scratch. You shouldn't loose any settings in the process.

Subject: RE: Tech. Can't use Firefox now?
From: treewind
Date: 19 Jul 07 - 09:34 AM

My Firefox updated itself quite happily yesterday.
Yes, it usually is safer than IE and still tends to be more standards-compliant.

I'd recommend removing it with the "Add/remove Programs" tool, then re-installing from the mozilla site.

Anahata

Subject: RE: Tech. Can't use Firefox now?
From: Susan of DT
Date: 19 Jul 07 - 09:49 AM

AVG free does not block Firefox - mine updated yesterday. I don't know about that firewall, but I would not expect a problem there.

Subject: RE: Tech. Can't use Firefox now?
From: Sorcha
Date: 19 Jul 07 - 09:57 AM

Try a re boot first, then what treewind said.

Subject: RE: Tech. Can't use Firefox now?
From: katlaughing
Date: 19 Jul 07 - 10:06 AM

Yes, mine updated yesterday also with no problems.

Just in case you aren't sure of where to do all of the above on your PC:

In the lower left of your screen you should see START. Click on that, then on CONTROL PANEL. From there follow Treewind's instructions. That should get you sorted.

Good luck!

Subject: RE: Tech. Can't use Firefox now?
From: Jeri
Date: 19 Jul 07 - 10:46 AM

My Firefox updated fine as well. If something interfered with the update, it might have caused a problem, and it sounds like something DID interfere. If AVG had blocked the download or prevented access to Firefox by their site, I'd think you would have received a message.

You said,

"All has been well so far but yesterday whilst trying to connect to the net, a message flashed up for a second or two, which said Firefox would update itself. This quickly disappeared and I was left looking at my normal desktop.
When I tried to connect through Firefox again, a few seconds later, "

It's possible you interrupted the update. If I recall correctly, Firefox downloaded the update then shut itself down to install it. Maybe you interrupted the install and tried to open Firefox before it was complete?

I'd go the less invasive route first, because when you uninstall Firefox, you lose your bookmarks, history and all the other user-defined stuff.

I'm cautious, and I'd try the following (including some things people have already recommended) until something solved the problem.

I'd just try re-booting first
Then I'd try to re-install
Then I'd try downloading the latest Firefox and installing over the inoperative version
Then I'd try a clean install (uninstall, then install the new, downloaded one)

Subject: RE: Tech. Can't use Firefox now?
From: GUEST,Andy
Date: 19 Jul 07 - 10:55 AM

Thanks guys, for the prompt responses. I did what Anahata suggested, uninstalled Firefox and then re-installed it. Only took a couple of minutes and it looks like I'm back to normal. (I hope!).
Once again the wonderful world of Mudcat comes up trumps!
Thanks again to all contributors.
Regards
Andy

Subject: RE: Tech. Can't use Firefox now?
From: GUEST,Andy
Date: 19 Jul 07 - 10:59 AM

As a ps. to the above, I've still got all my original bookmarks,so I appear to have lost nothing.

Ta very much.
Andy

Subject: RE: Tech. Can't use Firefox now?
From: Jeri
Date: 19 Jul 07 - 11:12 AM

Thanks for that information. I didn't know Firefox would keep them.

Subject: RE: Tech. Can't use Firefox now?
From: RogerTCB
Date: 19 Jul 07 - 11:23 AM

Good result - I hadn't thought of the user-interrupted upgrade scenario.

I expected FF would keep the settings - only this morning a colleague uninstalled his v old FF1.0 then installed the latest & was gobsmacked to see all his old stuff still there.

Subject: RE: Tech. Can't use Firefox now?
From: Jim Lad
Date: 19 Jul 07 - 11:51 AM

I just went through the same scenario with Netscape.
It took several days to upgrade itself and showed a box, similar to the one you described for Firefox.
I restarted the computer at some point and later that day it upgraded all on its own.

Subject: RE: Tech. Can't use Firefox now?
From: treewind
Date: 19 Jul 07 - 02:07 PM

In case any IE users didn't know, when you install FF for the first time it will also import all your IE settings (bookmarks,favourites etc) into the Firefox equivalent.

Anahata