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Getting Error message couldn't open XPCOM and can't open ANY pages

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  • 25 have this problem
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  • Last reply by cor-el

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After load of updates were completed, I keep getting this Error 'COULDN'T OPEN XCOM' I can't open any programs or emails, Firefox won't open or IE. Have tried System Restore a number of times without any luck, even that doesn't complete successfully, starting to tear my hair out now.

After load of updates were completed, I keep getting this Error 'COULDN'T OPEN XCOM' I can't open any programs or emails, Firefox won't open or IE. Have tried System Restore a number of times without any luck, even that doesn't complete successfully, starting to tear my hair out now.

Chosen solution

You shouldn't have a need to use the Windows set up disks.

You would only need to delete the Firefox program folder to make sure that all files are removed before installig a freshly downloaded version of the Firefox installer.

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This is usually a problem with a failed update that caused a corrupted installation that still has older files.


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

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 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.


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Thanks for your quick response, however this doesn't help as I don't have the original discs, everything was already in place when I purchased my laptop, I decided in the end (around 2 this morning!) that I would download Google Chrome and got around it that way, I now have another problem, I can't delete Firefox from my laptop, have tried in Progs/Features etc all to no avail so if anyone has a solution to that I would be most grateful. Thanks.

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Seçilmiş Həll

You shouldn't have a need to use the Windows set up disks.

You would only need to delete the Firefox program folder to make sure that all files are removed before installig a freshly downloaded version of the Firefox installer.