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Fresh install, no profile found and Cannot create profile

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  • 1 has this problem
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  • Last reply by cor-el

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Running Win7 home. Computer crashed a bit ago, used Dell system restore and am back up and running.

CANNOT get Firefox to work. Download and install - then it prompts me for a User Profile (no profile at current time). When I click "Create Profile," screen flashes, nothing happens and I'm back at Create Profile.

When trying to simply select "Start Firefox," get a error - please select a profile to begin Firefox. Have followed all instructions to "create a profile" and nothing works

ANyone have ideas? TY

Running Win7 home. Computer crashed a bit ago, used Dell system restore and am back up and running. CANNOT get Firefox to work. Download and install - then it prompts me for a User Profile (no profile at current time). When I click "Create Profile," screen flashes, nothing happens and I'm back at Create Profile. When trying to simply select "Start Firefox," get a error - please select a profile to begin Firefox. Have followed all instructions to "create a profile" and nothing works ANyone have ideas? TY

All Replies (1)

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You need to locate the profiles.ini file and delete this file or use the Profile Manager to create a new profile.

See:


This issue is caused by a problem with the profiles.ini file or with permissions/ownership of involved folders/files.

You can use one of these to make Firefox create a new default profile or recover an existing profile:

  • Delete the profiles.ini file to make Firefox create a new (default) profile
  • Use the Profile Manager to create a new profile
    If you still have an existing profile then click "Choose Folder" in the Profile Manager and browse to the location of a lost profile to recover this profile
    https://support.mozilla.org/kb/Managing+profiles

You should find the profiles.ini file in this hidden location:

  • Windows: %AppData%\Mozilla\Firefox\
    *C:\Users\<user>\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\
  • Mac: *~/Library/Application Support/Firefox/
  • Linux: *~/.mozilla/firefox/

If clearing the profiles.ini file isn't working then also check the location of the cache files.

  • Windows: *C:\Users\<user>\AppData\Local\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\<profile>\
  • Mac: *~/Library/Caches/Firefox/Profiles/
  • Linux:*~/.cache/mozilla/firefox/

You can also try to rename/delete the Mozilla\Firefox\ folder in both above mentioned locations (main, cache).