How can I remove profile based Firefox silently?

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1 has this problem
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Last reply by FredMcD

4 years ago

4/5/20 08:08 ಪೂರ್ವಾಹ್ನ

I would like to remove a user based install of Firefox so that I can correctly deploy the computer based installation of Firefox. I know how to install the Firefox MSI from the system account using my deployment tools. I just want to clean up the user based install first.

I have this worked out that I need to call %appdata%\local\Mozilla Firefox\uninstall\helper.exe /s from the logged in user account in order to remove Firefox from the user profile. My problem is that when I run this, it is asking for account elevation. The user can click "Cancel" to the UAC dialog and Firefox is successfully removed. This will generate too many calls... Is there a way - a command option - to prevent helper.exe from requesting elevation? I would just like it to proceed to remove the per user install so that when I install the per computer ESR install of Firefox, there is no confusion between the version we want installed and the version that is in the user's appdata folder.

Is there anyway to keep helper.exe from asking for elevation?

I would like to remove a user based install of Firefox so that I can correctly deploy the computer based installation of Firefox. I know how to install the Firefox MSI from the system account using my deployment tools. I just want to clean up the user based install first. I have this worked out that I need to call %appdata%\local\Mozilla Firefox\uninstall\helper.exe /s from the logged in user account in order to remove Firefox from the user profile. My problem is that when I run this, it is asking for account elevation. The user can click "Cancel" to the UAC dialog and Firefox is successfully removed. This will generate too many calls... Is there a way - a command option - to prevent helper.exe from requesting elevation? I would just like it to proceed to remove the per user install so that when I install the per computer ESR install of Firefox, there is no confusion between the version we want installed and the version that is in the user's appdata folder. Is there anyway to keep helper.exe from asking for elevation?

Chosen solution

Looks like we have a bug.

We've opened

https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=1639613

to fix it.

👍 0

Answer 1 · 2020-05-04 08:08:52

FredMcD

4/5/20 10:26 ಪೂರ್ವಾಹ್ನ

What's your computer system and Firefox version?

Let’s do a full clean re-install;

Note: Firefox comes in three or more folders on all computers. They are;

Maintenance: (Programs Folder) <Windows Only> Firefox itself: (Programs Folder) And two folders in the profile of each user on the computer for each Firefox profile for that user.

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

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) Note: Check Both Folders

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 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Look for, and remove any Mozilla or Firefox program folders. Do not remove the Mozilla Thunderbird folder if there is one.

Do Not remove any profile folders.

After rebooting the computer, run a registry scanner if you have one. Then run the installer. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 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

Answer 2 · 2020-05-04 08:08:52

Todd M Question owner

5/5/20 06:27 ಪೂರ್ವಾಹ್ನ

Sorry I didn't write a very good question. The clients are running Windows 10 v 1809.

The problem I am having is uninstalling the user based install of Firefox silently. It wont work to suggest I remove Firefox and start over - that is what I am trying to do - silently and automated.

So....

On the clients, users without admin privs have downloaded Firefox from the web and installed it into their own user profile. (C:\Users\<uname>AppData\Local\Mozilla Firefox\) I would like to build a process that removes this, and reinstalls our customized Firefiox MSI version that installs into Program Files. I do not need assistance with the install part. I just have a problem with the uninstall part.

I am attempting to do a silent removal of Firefox from the user's profile by running C:\AppData\Local\Mozilla Firefox\uninstall\helper.exe /S

The problem I have is that when I run the command above, the user is prompted for user account elevation. Users don't have adm in rights on the clients so they are unable to elevate. If the user just presses cancel, then Firefox is successfully removed. I am looking for a way to call helper.exe /S in a way that does not ask the user for credentials. - or some other method for uninstalling a user based installation of Firefox.

I need to clean up the incorrect user based install of firefox before deploying our MSI version of Firefox for all users into Program Files.