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start failure after firefox 12.0 Windows XP installation: error message: "configuration is incorrect"

  • 8 replies
  • 6 have this problem
  • 20 views
  • Last reply by philipp

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After clicking on the Firefox icon, I get the error message "This application failed to start because the application configuration is incorrect".

I uninstalled Firefox and deleted all the Mozilla files in my user account in the Documents and Settings file. I installed the latest version of Java. Then I installed Firefox 12.0.

I had this same problem when I updated my Firefox 11 to a later version of Firefox 11. I had not saved the older version of Firefox 11, and I could not find it on the web, so, I had to go back to Firefox 3.6. I am currently running Firefox 3.6.28.

I would appreciate any suggestions on how I might get over this stumbling block.

Details of my system configuration:

Java 6 version 32

OS Name Microsoft Windows XP Professional

Version 5.1.2600 Service Pack 3 Build 2600

System Type X86-based PC

Processor x86 Family 6 Model 15 Stepping 6 GenuineIntel ~1867 Mhz

Total Physical Memory 2,048.00 MB

Available Physical Memory 1.38 GB

Total Virtual Memory 2.00 GB

Available Virtual Memory 1.96 GB

Page File Space 3.84 GB

After clicking on the Firefox icon, I get the error message "This application failed to start because the application configuration is incorrect". I uninstalled Firefox and deleted all the Mozilla files in my user account in the Documents and Settings file. I installed the latest version of Java. Then I installed Firefox 12.0. I had this same problem when I updated my Firefox 11 to a later version of Firefox 11. I had not saved the older version of Firefox 11, and I could not find it on the web, so, I had to go back to Firefox 3.6. I am currently running Firefox 3.6.28. I would appreciate any suggestions on how I might get over this stumbling block. Details of my system configuration: Java 6 version 32 OS Name Microsoft Windows XP Professional Version 5.1.2600 Service Pack 3 Build 2600 System Type X86-based PC Processor x86 Family 6 Model 15 Stepping 6 GenuineIntel ~1867 Mhz Total Physical Memory 2,048.00 MB Available Physical Memory 1.38 GB Total Virtual Memory 2.00 GB Available Virtual Memory 1.96 GB Page File Space 3.84 GB

Modified by DeaconJohn

Chosen solution

can you try to uninstall all "Microsoft Visual C++" entries from the windows control panel and see if the error message goes away.

(in case any other program on your pc depends on the runtime, it will show a dialog box when you start that program and offers you to reinstall it again)

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All Replies (8)

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Thank you, madperson, I will try it.

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Madperson: Updating C++ didn't help. I hope you have another suggestion. Here is what I did:

1) Downloaded, saved to my desktop, and ran the C++ update software. The software took a few minutes to complete. Then re-installed Firefox 12. Still didn't run.

2) Rebooted the machine. Still didn't run.

3) Manually un-installed Firefox 12 (using the control panel) and re-installed it. Still didn't run.

4) Rebooted the machine again. Still didn't run.

5) Re-installed 3.6 so that I could write this post.

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Chosen Solution

can you try to uninstall all "Microsoft Visual C++" entries from the windows control panel and see if the error message goes away.

(in case any other program on your pc depends on the runtime, it will show a dialog box when you start that program and offers you to reinstall it again)

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Tx, I will try that later today.

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also if you upgrade / reinstall firefox use a freshly downloaded version from www.getfirefox.com

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Madperson: Tx so much. That fixed my problem. When installed firefox 12.0 again, after uninstalling all four copies of the Visual C++ runtime system, I used a freshly downloaded version from www.getfirefox.com, like you suggested. Not really sure which was the "clincher", I suspect it was removing the Visual C++ stuff, but, I sure am glad to have 12.0 working.

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glad you could get it sorted! ;-)