Update failed something is preventing firefox from updating securely how do I fix this ?
Please can someone help me I have been getting from time to time an update box pop up that reads "Update Failed Something is preventing Firefox from updating securely. Please make sure that you have the latest version of Firefox from http://www.firefox.com", however my Firefox is up to date (I think). I have uninstalled then reinstalled but I'm still getting this error. I have been having this issue on and off for a couple of months and although I have posted before about this I'm still without a solution. I have looked into my programs folder as it tells me to in the help information to look for the active-update.xml, updates.xml and the updates folder and it's contents so I can delete them but I can't seem to find them. I'm definately not a computer whizz so any help anyone wants to offer needs to be in step by step form. Thanks
All Replies (5)
Do you have Norton anti-Virus? This has given errors like this in the past.
Hi Tylerdowner
Thanks for replying to my post in answer to your question no I don't have Norton I have McAfee as my anti-virus. If you like I can add the image of my error box that pops up the next time it shows itself, if it helps.
See also [/questions/919214]
Do a clean reinstall and delete the Firefox program folder before (re)installing a fresh copy of the current Firefox release.
Download a fresh Firefox copy and save the file to the desktop.
- Firefox 20.0.x: http://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/all.html
Uninstall your current Firefox version, if possible, to cleanup the Windows registry and settings in security software.
- Do NOT remove personal data when you uninstall your current Firefox version, because all profile folders will be removed and you will lose all personal data like bookmarks and passwords from profiles of other Firefox versions.
Remove the Firefox program folder before installing that newly downloaded copy of the Firefox installer.
- (32 bit Windows) C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\
- (64 bit Windows) C:\Program Files (x86)\Mozilla Firefox\
- It is important to delete the Firefox program folder to remove all the files and make sure that there are no problems with files that were leftover after uninstalling.
- http://kb.mozillazine.org/Uninstalling_Firefox
Your bookmarks and other personal data are stored in the Firefox profile folder and won't be affected by an uninstall and (re)install, but make sure that "remove personal data" is NOT selected when you uninstall Firefox.
If you keep having problems then also create a new profile.
Modified by cor-el
Hi Cor-el
Thanks for your post but as I've told you before I'm no computer whizz which means I seem to have a problem finding the right folders to delete. I especially don't know which folder the program folder is, as there isn't anything labelled program folder in there. I have already done a uninstall then reinstall before the last time we spoke but it didn't make any difference, unless I had somehow done it wrong (which is quite possible). I was hoping by now there would be an easier way to fix this as it's been going on for months.
You can find the Firefox program folder here:
- (32 bit Windows) C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\
- (64 bit Windows) C:\Program Files (x86)\Mozilla Firefox\