This site will have limited functionality while we undergo maintenance to improve your experience. If an article doesn't solve your issue and you want to ask a question, we have our support community waiting to help you at @FirefoxSupport on Twitter and/r/firefox on Reddit.

Avatar for Username

Search Support

Avoid support scams. We will never ask you to call or text a phone number or share personal information. Please report suspicious activity using the “Report Abuse” option.

Learn More

This thread was archived. Please ask a new question if you need help.

Couldn't save preferrences, now FF won't start at all?

  • 5 replies
  • 1 has this problem
  • 12 views
  • Last reply by FredMcD

flashfletch
flashfletch
more options

About a week ago, FF updated to 33.1.1. Since then it started with being always welcomed to the new version of FF. I then could not change my preferences. I have done complete uninstalls (using Revo) and fresh installs with no success - FF continues to open with all my bookmarks, etc intact. I have backed up all my settings, etc using FEBE.

Then this morning, FF will not open at all. I have tried to open the Profile Manager using the full path but it will not open either.

I have run out of ideas, and can find nothing extra on the net. I love FF, but may have to move to Chrome (or ...) if this can't be fixed.

As FF isn't running, I can't seem to run the Troubleshooting utility to give you more info ... :(

Malcolm

About a week ago, FF updated to 33.1.1. Since then it started with being always welcomed to the new version of FF. I then could not change my preferences. I have done complete uninstalls (using Revo) and fresh installs with no success - FF continues to open with all my bookmarks, etc intact. I have backed up all my settings, etc using FEBE. Then this morning, FF will not open at all. I have tried to open the Profile Manager using the full path but it will not open either. I have run out of ideas, and can find nothing extra on the net. I love FF, but may have to move to Chrome (or ...) if this can't be fixed. As FF isn't running, I can't seem to run the Troubleshooting utility to give you more info ... :( Malcolm

All Replies (5)

flashfletch
flashfletch Question owner
more options

I have managed to get FF running again. I found out that my profile is stored in a location that is not cleared when FF is deep uninstalled. I renamed that folder and then reinstalled FF. I was able to restore bookmarks as I had imported them into Chrome.

However, I STILL can't change some preferences - the wake up page settings specifically - I change them, close and restart and FF still thinks I have a new install/update and opens to the welcome page and the What's new page ... :(

The prefs.js file is not locked so that's not the problem.

Any other ideas?

flashfletch

flashfletch
flashfletch Question owner
more options

It appears that I don't have administrator rights on my own computer! And I can't modify prefs.js because of that. Mine is the only account on the computer and I am listed as having Administrator priviledges.

I have tried running FF as Administrator from the Start menu, but I still cannot change prefs.js ...

Suggestions please?

FredMcD
FredMcD
more options

https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/how-to-fix-preferences-wont-save

flashfletch
flashfletch Question owner
more options

Thanks Fred, but I've tried ALL that already.

I THINK I might have found the problem - the Profiles folder has been locked by inherited properties from the levels above. I have had to go all the way up to my User folder and reset ALL the properties from there down to be unlocked so that I could remove the prefs.js file so that it could be recreated on the next launch of FF. Exactly why my User folder is locked in such a way as to stop me/FF making changes when I have been able to alter preferences at will in the past, I don't know ...

So far, so good. I have since done a complete shutdown and when I restarted this morning, FF seems to be behaving itself ...

flashfletch

FredMcD
FredMcD
more options

It might be that one of your protection programs did that. Check all of them. As you know, many programs create temp or perm files / folders. If they become locked, those programs may not work properly.