Autoupdate not working
For both Firefox and Thunderbird 10 and maybe a few earlier versions, Auto Update downloads and tries to do the update and even continues to try to do the update with each restart but complains that another session of firefox (or thunderbird) is running and it can't apply the update. This is on Windows XP and I've checked the task manager (all users but I'm the only one) and there is no other firefox running. I think this started with the install of McAfee EPE (end-point encryption) but I can't confirm that and corporate policy prevents me from taking it off unless I absolutely have to so I can't really easily fallback and test.
The error is "The update could not be installed. Please make sure there are no other copies of Firefox running on your computer, and then restart Firefox to try again"
Downloading the full package and installing to upgrade works fine.
Thanks.
All Replies (6)
I'm unable to update automatically and I suspect that it has something to to with McAfee Endpoint Encryption. My corporate policy doesn't allow it to be disabled.
Do you have write permission to the Firefox program folder (C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\) ?
In that case try to download the full Firefox version and if necessary delete the Firefox program program folder before installing that full version of Firefox 12.
You can find the latest Firefox release in all languages and for all Operating Systems here:
- Firefox 12.0.x: http://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/all.html
For me, the full installer always works even though the automatic update fails. I guess I could try deleting the directory and doing a completely new install and then try to do an automatic update. I'll use the 11.0.x to do the new install and then try to automatic update to 12.0.x
that did not help. did the uninstall via control panel and then deleted the directories and installed 11.x then tried the ugprade to 12 and it failed. downloaded the full 12.0 installer and that worked fine.
We have seen issues with the Firefox and Thunderbird auto-update if McAfee EEFF ( Endpoint Encryption for Files and Folders) is installed. If this component of McAfee EPE is removed then the auto-update works. If this can't be removed then the other workaround is to shutdown firefox or Thunderbird, rename the exe to for example firefox_old.exe and then startup this renamed exe. This will then complete the autoupdate, shutdown the application and delete the renamed file. It's a workaround and not a fix.
I've just updated to 13.0 using my old workaround of just running the full install so next time there is an update I will will definitely be trying this. Thank you.