I log in to my computer today, to try to find a refill for my pen (redundant). I want to use Firefox, so I click on my little Quick Launch button (running Windows XP) and get this lovely error box thing:

Okay, I say, so I open up Task Manager and find that Firefox only shows up as an application when the error box is up:

And when I close the error box, it also disappears from the processes tab:

 

Since it suggested to restart your system, I did and had the same issues. How can I fix this without having to uninstall it? I don't know why it's happening either, which is not helpful.

I can't offer you any adivce on what to do, but let me tell you you are not alone on this issue. I too get this problem from time to time. Usually it goes away when I press Ok on the Pop Up Box...

I think I know what's going on here. :blink:

 

It sounds like FireFox left behind a rather stupid '0 KB' file named "parent.lock", which you'll find in "C:\Documents and Settings\<user name>\Application Data\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\<user number>.default" ... If that file exists, wipe only that "parent.lock" file out while you find no "firefox(dot)exe" (don't mind my filter dodge) processes running on your computer. That should unstick your issue with FireFox stupidly (and confusingly) thinking it can't launch. :thumbsup:

 

If this is not the issue that you're having, then please tell us and disregard this post. :anxious:

 

~D. V. "I hate a stuck FireFox." Devnull

I copied my profile folder from another computer and I don't think it let me copy that file. Then I just replaced the folder and deleted the old profile. So now Firefox is lacking that parent.lock file... I'll see if I can copy it later today and fix it.

I copied my profile folder from another computer and I don't think it let me copy that file. Then I just replaced the folder and deleted the old profile. So now Firefox is lacking that parent.lock file... I'll see if I can copy it later today and fix it.

If you don't have that file right now in your profile directory, then don't put it there. As I noted before, Firefox only creates that file while it is running, and normally wipes it after it is done. Also, as I said before, if you didn't have that file there, then my instructions were completely null and void, because they predicate on the presence of that file. :(

 

~D. V. "Argh, why does no one listen to me properly?" Devnull

Well either way I didn't have that file there and I didn't put it there. I used the Profile Manager (run firefox[Caution: Executable File] -ProfileManager), made a new profile, got rid of the nonworking one, and copied all my junk into that one. Firefox works fine now. :thumbsup:

 

This thread can be locked.

Locking thread at OP's request.

 

In future, you can just leave the thread to die once you're done with it. Once you've got your answer you shouldn't get any more posts really :thumbup: