I think you're the only one to experience this. I haven't seen anyone else with this problems since the launch last week

Try to download the full install package as opposed to the way you're doing it.

• ftp://ftp.mozilla.org/pub/firefox/releases/29.0/win32/en-US/
  • Download the Firefox Setup 29.0.exe

Hi Moses I have done as you said and downloaded the full version (28Mb?) from your link, however after installing it I had the same problem of the other user's desktop/start screen not being available and Windows providing a stripped-down version as a 'temporary' substitute, with no saved emails in Thunderbird and no bookmarks in Firefox. Immediately before installation I had created a system restore point and so was able to turn the clock back to that. Any thoughts?

What error message displays AFTER installing Firefox and trying to launch it?

If possible, Can you give me a screenshot so I know what you're seeing? Please see How do I create a screenshot of my problem? to create a screenshot
Once you've done this, attach the saved screenshot file to your forum post by clicking the Browse... button below the Post your reply box. This will help us to visualize the problem.

Firefox 29.0 works fine after it's installed, complete with all my bookmarks, that's not the problem. When I sign out of my desktop and try to access my wife's desktop by clicking on her account image (at the screen which displays the images of those with accounts on the computer - just me, her and 'guest') it goes to the screen which has her account image, the word 'welcome' and the rotating circle of dots, but instead of going from that to opening up to her desktop, the word 'welcome' changes to a phrase something like 'trying to configure windows' at which it hangs for quite a while as the dots rotate, then instead of going to her own desktop it shows a temporary one, with very few apps and a basic background image. There is a message to say it is a temporary desktop and the correct one might be displayed if I sign out and back in again, but it never does display. The only cure is returning the system to a pre installation time. The point where there is something irregular is after the welcome screen, but as that is a no-man's land between the two desktops there is no way i can do a screenshot of it. Sorry, but that is all there is to it, I hope this helps.

I still need help with this problem please! I decided to stop ignoring the prompts to update Firefox and had a go at installing 29.0.1, hoping whatever it was that was causing my problem when updating to v 29.0 had been dealt with, but sadly it hasn't, the same thing is occurring. The new version of refox works fine when installed on my desktop, all my bookmarks are there, but when we try to switch to the desktop of the other user, by signing me out and signing that user in by clicking on their avatar, instead of going to that person's desktop the avatar stays on the screen alongside the rotating circle of dots and there is the message 'preparing windows'. This hangs for about a minute and a half before being taken to a temporary desktop which has none of the shortcuts to apps that person has on their regular desktop. The start screen is a very stripped-down version too, with hardly any apps. I tried starting Thunderbird from there, which worked ok but it acted as if the user was trying it for the first time. I had created a restore point before the update and have had to go back to that to gain access to the other desktop/start screen.

Is your wife's desktop an administrator account as well? Can you try the download from there instead, then see if yours still, works?

Also there are ways to do a screen shot on her User Account, save it, copy it to a flash drive, then go back to your desktop to add it to this thread as requested earlier by Moses.

It works!! Why didn't I think of doing that? Thank you so much Tony, you're a hero. I had prepared to do a screen shot, and made a restore point from her desktop, but updating it from there is the solution. I'll leave you to work out why it works that way round and not the other!

by the way, it's 19:52 here

Thanks for the update. that makes you 5 hours ahead of me, so I guess UK time-zone.

Glad your problem was resolved.

I have just updated to v 30 and the same problem has occurred, only this time I updated from my wife's desktop and cannot access mine any more. I tried reverting back to v 29 which did not work and then to v 28, but I still cannot access my desktop, I get signed in with a temporary one so have no access to any of my files or emails, which I use every day for my work. Help!

An hour later: I have managed to get my desktop back by doing a system restore which failed the first time, but successful the second time to the same restore point), however in my attempts to get there I have ended up with v28 of Firefox. How do I get back to v29.0.1, the last one to work properly for me? This is all very frustrating, I bought a pc to work for me, not to spend hour after hour on a good sunny Sunday afternoon trying to coax it into doing what it was designed for. I am completely fed up with Firefox. It was updating it which caused all these problems, what is the matter with it? Am I stuck with v 28 forever now, what is the solution, use Chrome, or IE...  ?

Not sure why Firefox is triggering this but you seem to be experiencing a Windows problem. Can you confirm by posting the full details of any related Error Message as requested by Moses the Forum Moderator earlier?

You could also Google "you've been signed in with a temporary profile" to find some helpful links.

First off, using System Restore is known for causing a variety of problems with Firefox, especially with missing user data and problems with user settings.

I think that you need the help of a Windows support forum. See if thos helps you. http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/38817-you-ve-been-signed-temporary-profile-fix.html

I agree that you shoud ask for help on a Windows forum such as http://www.eightforums.com or http://www.windowsbbs.com

I would also suggest backing up your Windows user data for the affected user account before taking any action, as suggested in the above link given by the-edmeister for the Windows notification message, You've been signed in with a temporary profile. (Note: If your message is different, please supply the EXACT message when you ask for help.)

For example, if the affected user account name is peterthepainter then You should copy all of the folders under C:\Users\peterthepainter to another location. This is explained at the end of this YouTube video which is for Windows 7 but also applies to Windows 8:

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KN8Y0vv6P4E You have been logged on with a temporary profile fix

If you just want to back up your Firefox user data, then, if your Windows log-in username is peterthepainter then you should back up the folder C:\Users\peterthepainter\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\ Ref: http://kb.mozillazine.org/Profile_folder_-_Firefox#Navigating_to_the_profile_folder