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The firefox browser application disappered after restarting, app extns etc still there, can I re-install and recover sttngs,bkmrks,pwrs? Wndws7Pro

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  • Last reply by FredMcD

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The application disappeared after a sequence of restarts/shutdowns. firefox was updated followed by a restart. windows updates were applied followed by a restart. Two hard shutdowns were done due to processing slowdown. Shortcuts to firefox reported missing file. Examined Mozilla directories - app extensions were present but app launch executable was missing. Can I re-install and keep the prior settings, bookmarks and passwords?

The application disappeared after a sequence of restarts/shutdowns. firefox was updated followed by a restart. windows updates were applied followed by a restart. Two hard shutdowns were done due to processing slowdown. Shortcuts to firefox reported missing file. Examined Mozilla directories - app extensions were present but app launch executable was missing. Can I re-install and keep the prior settings, bookmarks and passwords?

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Firefox comes in two or more folders on all computers. They are;

Maintenance: (Programs Folder) <Windows Only> Firefox itself: (Programs Folder) And at least one folder in the profile of each user on the computer.

If you remove the Firefox folder, the user folders would not be affected.


Let’s do a full clean re-install; Download Firefox For All languages And Systems {web link}

Save the file. Then Close Firefox.

Using your file browser, open the Programs Folder on your computer.

Windows: C:\Program Files C:\Program Files (x86)

Mac: Open the "Applications" folder. https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/how-download-and-install-firefox-mac

Linux: Check your user manual. If you installed Firefox with the distro-based package manager, you should use the same way to uninstall it. See Install Firefox on Linux; https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/install-firefox-linux

If you downloaded and installed the binary package from the Firefox download page, simply remove the folder Firefox in your home directory. http://www.mozilla.org/firefox#desktop ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Do Not remove the profiles folder.

Look for, and rename any Mozilla or Firefox program folders by adding .old to them. Do not rename the Mozilla Thunderbird folder if there is one.

After rebooting the computer, run a registry scanner if you have one. Then run the installer. If all goes well, remove the OLD folders when you are done. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++ If there is a problem, start your Computer in safe mode and try again.

http://encyclopedia2.thefreedictionary.com/Linux+Safe+Mode This shows how to Start all Computers in Safe Mode; Free Online Encyclopedia