Hi db, you might have multiple Firefox profiles. Each profile has a separate folder of settings/data files. In addition, you might have multiple Firefox installations. Let's investigate.

Could you take a look at the Troubleshooting Information information page. Either:

• "3-bar" menu button > "?" Help > Troubleshooting Information
• (menu bar) Help > Troubleshooting Information
• type or paste about:support in the address bar and press Enter

The first table on the page should list three points of interest:

• Version: current is 82.0.2 so if you have that, Firefox shouldn't want to update
• Application Binary: this is where the running Firefox is installed
• Profile Folder: make a note of the last part of the path for future reference

A dual install situation usually involves Firefox being in BOTH of these places:

• 64-bit programs folder: C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox
• 32-bit programs folder: C:\Program Files (x86)\Mozilla Firefox -- legacy install location

Could you check on disk and see whether you have multiple installations? If so, we should solve that first.

Many thanks for an UNDERSTANDABLE reply.

My version 82.0 Application Binary c:program files\Mozilla Firefox\Firefox.exe Profile Folder: c:\Users\93n3ralD3m0\App Data\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\58ygrgg1.default-release-1603730962628

It is a 64 bit program: list shows Firefox as an application only once. also shows firefox.exe.sig and Firefox VisualElementsManifest (probably irrelevent)

the 32bit programs folder was not found

When I had the deletion problem I seemed to get the profiles; two columns with three letter/number combinations in each, total six. Doubt if I could find that again

db

Just an aside following earlier problem and to avoid repeat; is there a way of copying my logins and passwords so I could print them?

db

Hi db, your reply seems to have tripped the "phone number filter" so it is currently in moderation. It should appear here soon.

By the way, that number starting with 1603 (after default-release-) indicates that a Firefox Refresh was performed on the profile on Monday. In that case, your older profile would normally be in an "Old Firefox Data" folder on your desktop. If you have that folder, hang onto it for another week or so in case you end up needing any files from it.

Okay, so only one install. To check your profile situation:

Profile Manager Page

Inside Firefox, type or paste about:profiles in the address bar and press Enter/Return to load it.

This page should list at least one profile and could list many. (Each profile has two folders and one or more buttons. Do not use any Remove buttons!)

The profile that Firefox is currently using will have this:

This is the profile in use and it cannot be deleted.

Assuming this is your preferred profile, does it have a Set as default profile button below the two folder paths? If so, click that. This will ensure that external links launch Firefox in your preferred profile.

If it already is your default profile, hmm, I don't know why Firefox would be launching in a different one. ???

Just an aside following earlier problem and to avoid repeat; is there a way of copying my logins and passwords so I could print them?

An Export function was recently added. See the "Exporting login data" section of this article: Password Manager - Remember, delete and edit logins and passwords in Firefox.

If you have Excel, that would be a convenient place to open the .csv file and print from.

Thanks for the password answer. Got it in another program and will have to edit

Have yet to check Profile Manager and will revert

db

OK Profile Manager top one IS marked ."...in use and cannot be deleted"

Below it is Default and below that Default Release 1.

They are all different.

Profile in use pair only allows "rename" The other two have various options including "rename", "remove" "set as default profile", "launch profile in new browser"

I have not touched anything and had no previous knowledge of profiles

You wrote: "If it already is your default profile, hmm, I don't know why Firefox would be launching in a different one. ???" My concern was/is that the upgrade resulted in the apparent blanking out of all passwords etc and looking through the "help" papers this seemed to be a standard problem and I simply could not understand the technical instructions. that night there was another upgrade and all went back to normal (I was on automatic upgrade). Then I got a request for permission to upgrade yet again, hence my raising the query.

A bit of history. Many years ago I had problems and had to use my emergency disks to reload everything. After that on the home page was "Old Firefox Data". I have never looked in it nor tried to delete. This could be a red herring.

Hi db, an Old Firefox Data folder is created by a Firefox Refresh. It contains your actual old profile folder. Of possible historical interest -- what were you reading back then? -- but otherwise unlikely to be useful.

If your Firefox works correctly now with the current default profile, I think all is well. I don't know why the other profiles exist but I suggest just letting them be for now. If Firefox starts up in an unfamiliar state, before exiting and restarting Firefox, you can open about:profiles in that window and see which one is shown as being in use, and whether your preferred profile needs to be set as default again.

Very many thanks for your patience