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profile missing - can't create new one - uninstalled FF - reverted W8.1 to earlier - says already running when trying to re-install FF - many reboots VIPRE IS

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  • Last reply by cabin306

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original error message was "FF already running" - not showing in task manager - could not close - rebooted several times - same results - uninstalled FF and tried downloading & installing again - same "already running" message. Reverted W8.1 by about 3 weeks (3 updates) - same result when installing FF = "already running". After the "already running" message is always that profile is missing or inaccessible.

Getting the same stuff with TB BTW. Using the latest version of VIPRE internet security on auto update. Nothing similar on a W7 and an XP machine on same LAN. Is there a virus out there corrupting FF? VIPRE scan says nothing found on the 8.1 machine..

original error message was "FF already running" - not showing in task manager - could not close - rebooted several times - same results - uninstalled FF and tried downloading & installing again - same "already running" message. Reverted W8.1 by about 3 weeks (3 updates) - same result when installing FF = "already running". After the "already running" message is always that profile is missing or inaccessible. Getting the same stuff with TB BTW. Using the latest version of VIPRE internet security on auto update. Nothing similar on a W7 and an XP machine on same LAN. Is there a virus out there corrupting FF? VIPRE scan says nothing found on the 8.1 machine..

Chosen solution

See:

This is usually caused by a problem with the profiles.ini file and the profile marked as Default=1 in this file is no longer present on the hard drive.

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

You can use one of these to make Firefox create/use a new default profile:

  • Delete the profiles.ini file to force Firefox to create a new default profile
  • Use the Profile Manager to create a new profile
  • Use "Choose Folder" when you create a new profile to select the location of a lost profile and recover this profile
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Chosen Solution

See:

This is usually caused by a problem with the profiles.ini file and the profile marked as Default=1 in this file is no longer present on the hard drive.

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

You can use one of these to make Firefox create/use a new default profile:

  • Delete the profiles.ini file to force Firefox to create a new default profile
  • Use the Profile Manager to create a new profile
  • Use "Choose Folder" when you create a new profile to select the location of a lost profile and recover this profile
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thanks very much!