Firefox was working, today did not start with error message the the version of this file is not compatible with the version of windows you're running.
Computer has Windows 7 Ultimate 64bit. Firefox has run fine for over a year on this computer. Nothing was changed or updated except Windows update shows that it installed updates on Aug 19. I had computer off for week before because out of town, came back and started on Aug 18, but Firefox worked on that day. Did not use FF again till today. Today on Aug 22nd, firefox will not start, shortcut icon has changed to program not there. Exe in folder when clicked brings up error message say the version of this file is not compatible with version of Windows I am running. Firefox exe shows created Aug 20. I suspect update, either Windows or FF but lean towards windows, happened that broke things. I notice IE 10 updates, .NET framework updates and malicious software removal tool updates were installed. I have tried restarting computer, did not fix. Tried to run as admin, didn't work. I do not want to uninstall FF unless have to because of all the stuff I have in there, bookmarks, last pass passwords, etc.
Chosen solution
Hello,
Certain Firefox problems can be solved by performing a Clean reinstall. This means you remove Firefox program files (not the profile folder where the bookmarks are stored) and then reinstall Firefox. Please follow these steps:
Note: You might want to print these steps or view them in another browser.
- Download the latest Desktop version of Firefox from http://www.mozilla.org and save the setup file to your computer.
- After the download finishes, close all Firefox windows (click Exit from the Firefox or File menu).
- Delete the Firefox installation folder, which is located in one of these locations, by default:
- Windows:
- C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox
- C:\Program Files (x86)\Mozilla Firefox
- Mac: Delete Firefox from the Applications folder.
- Linux: If you installed Firefox with the distro-based package manager, you should use the same way to uninstall it - see Install Firefox on Linux. If you downloaded and installed the binary package from the Firefox download page, simply remove the folder firefox in your home directory.
- Windows:
- Now, go ahead and reinstall Firefox:
- Double-click the downloaded installation file and go through the steps of the installation wizard.
- Once the wizard is finished, choose to directly open Firefox after clicking the Finish button.
Please report back to see if this helped you!
Thank you.
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Chosen Solution
Hello,
Certain Firefox problems can be solved by performing a Clean reinstall. This means you remove Firefox program files (not the profile folder where the bookmarks are stored) and then reinstall Firefox. Please follow these steps:
Note: You might want to print these steps or view them in another browser.
- Download the latest Desktop version of Firefox from http://www.mozilla.org and save the setup file to your computer.
- After the download finishes, close all Firefox windows (click Exit from the Firefox or File menu).
- Delete the Firefox installation folder, which is located in one of these locations, by default:
- Windows:
- C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox
- C:\Program Files (x86)\Mozilla Firefox
- Mac: Delete Firefox from the Applications folder.
- Linux: If you installed Firefox with the distro-based package manager, you should use the same way to uninstall it - see Install Firefox on Linux. If you downloaded and installed the binary package from the Firefox download page, simply remove the folder firefox in your home directory.
- Windows:
- Now, go ahead and reinstall Firefox:
- Double-click the downloaded installation file and go through the steps of the installation wizard.
- Once the wizard is finished, choose to directly open Firefox after clicking the Finish button.
Please report back to see if this helped you!
Thank you.
I have to use IE 10 right now, as said above, FF does not work, at all, no FF, no browser, not even the icon, just a little screwy placeholder. I will try your steps and see what happens, thank you for your prompt response. Please see attached screen prints for what's happening.
Ok, which folder is install folder? I have Mozilla Firefox main folder in Program Files, under is folders: browser defaults dictionaries jsloader jssubloader uninstall webapprt And a bunch of files under main Firefox folder.
Never mind, I guess it's the whole darn thing. Moving on.
Ok, that did it, thanks for the timely and accurate help. BTW, any ideas on what might have caused that? It has been a while since that was installed, your installation procedure was something I had not seen in FF before. But it was updated on my comp, I do try to keep up with the newest version. Anyway, thanks again, looks like everything came back too, tabs, bookmarks, etc.
It may be a antivirus etc. corrupting files during a scan or i just dont know, but it helped (if its XPCOM the only resolution is a reinstall).
Did you check the Compatibility tab in the Firefox desktop shortcut to make sure that no boxes had a tick and that Firefox wasn't set to run in compatibility mode?