Search Support

Avoid support scams. We will never ask you to call or text a phone number or share personal information. Please report suspicious activity using the “Report Abuse” option.

Learn More

Software Update not connecting to the update server

  • 12 cavab
  • 124 have this problem
  • 1 view
  • Last reply by wiedmann

more options

I have Firefox 4.0, and it is trying to automatically update to the latest version; however, the Software Update cannot connect to the update server. I have left it running for many minutes on multiple occasions, but it never connects or fails. I still have a web connection and am able to use Firefox while this problem is happening (like right now). I am using Windows Vista. Any help would be appreciated.

Thank you Isaac

I have Firefox 4.0, and it is trying to automatically update to the latest version; however, the Software Update cannot connect to the update server. I have left it running for many minutes on multiple occasions, but it never connects or fails. I still have a web connection and am able to use Firefox while this problem is happening (like right now). I am using Windows Vista. Any help would be appreciated. Thank you Isaac

All Replies (12)

more options

Since there were no replies to this problem, I just reinstalled Firefox from scratch so that I could get version 4.0.1.

I don't know if this will fix the problem for future updates.

I also added an image of the problem.

more options

I would suspect that Google Update plugin that you have installed caused that problem. Either that or something else probably changed the sub-domain for the server used for Firefox 4 updates - app.update.url . Firefox 3.6 used https://aus2.mozilla.org/update/.../update.xml , where Firefox 4 uses https://aus3.mozilla.org/update/.../update.xml .

I read a Bug about that issue late last night, but I don't know if that pref was changed in about:config or prefs.js, or if that incorrect sub-domain is used outside of Firefox by the plugin. Most of the discussion in that Bug report was above my level of comprehension.

more options

Thanks for the reply the-edmeister.

I checked the app.update.url using the instructions given in http://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/AUS%20Update%20XML%20File%20Malformed%20200 and it was the correct https://aus3.mozilla.org/update/.../update.xml, but I'm not sure if this changed after I reinstalled Firefox.

However, if I understand you correctly there may be another url path in the Google Update plugin that is overriding this one, and you don't know how to check that one?

more options

Sorry, I don't know how to check that. I'm not even sure what installs the Google Update plugin for Firefox. I had Chromium installed last year and got rid of it because I got tired of seeing the google-update.exe running all the time (I don't like automatic updates for any program, including Firefox - I turn then all off, and when I can't I get rid of the program), but I didn't have that Google Update plugin installed in any of my Firefox versions.

Whatever is causing that problem, there have been like 30 reports of it in this forum in the last 3 weeks or so.

Installing Firefox 4.0.1 from scratch probably fixed that issue for you.

more options

See:

Remove the files in the updates and updates\0 folder. You may need to delete active-update.xml and updates.xml as well if present.

Vista:

C:\Users\<user>\AppData\Local\Mozilla\Firefox\Mozilla Firefox\updates
(%LOCALAPPDATA%\Mozilla\Firefox\Mozilla Firefox)
more options

Thanks for the reply cor-el.

I do not have the folder C:\Users\<user>\AppData\Local\Mozilla\Firefox\Mozilla Firefox, which I am guessing is because I reinstalled Firefox from scratch and have not updated since then.

To those people who also have this problem:

Could you test cor-el's solution and post if it worked? Then I can set this issue to solved.

Thanks

more options

The "Application Data" folder in XP/Win2K and the "AppData" folder in Vista/Windows 7 are hidden folders.

  • Go to: Control Panel > Folder Options > "View" tab, and under "Hidden files and folders", select "Show hidden files and folders"
  • To see the file extensions of all files uncheck the box "Hide extensions for known file types"

Modified by cor-el

more options

Yes cor-el, I understand that the folders are hidden; I have my folder settings to show hidden files and folders. I had no problem getting in the folder C:\Users\<user>\AppData\Local\Mozilla\Firefox, but I do not have a folder titled "Mozilla Firefox".

Thanks

more options

Did you ever remove that folder manually yourself?

The Firefox cache should also be there if you have a Firefox profile folder. You can also check the location of the Firefox cache via the about:cache page and navigate back.

You can also check these locations for files:

C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\updates
C:\Users\<user>\AppData\Local\VirtualStore\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\updates
more options

No, I have never manually messed with any Firefox folders or files.

I do have a "profiles" folder, and according to the about:cache page the cache is located in the "profiles" folder.

I previously checked the path C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox, and I do not have the folder "updates", but I do have the three files "update.locale", "updater.exe", and "updater.ini".

In the path C:\Users\<user>\AppData\Local\VirtualStore\Program Files I do not have a "Mozilla Firefox" folder.

So you don't think that it is possible that the reason I don't have these folders is that I reinstalled Firefox and have not updated since the installation?

more options

Hello, i have the same problem that was described erlier only I stay on Linux (Ubuntu 2.6) and I can not update my firefox brws.. it never connects for an update.. I dont know much about Linux, so, I would be thanlful to you if you could help me with that problem. My version of browser is 5.0.1

Modified by octav2204

more options

I think your best bet (which is what I did) is to manually download the latest version of Firefox. Uninstall your version, and then install the new version.

If that does not work, then I can't help you.

Good luck!