See:

• http://kb.mozillazine.org/Software_Update (Software Update not working properly)

Do a clean (re-)install instead:

• Download a fresh Firefox copy and save the file to the desktop.
• Firefox 4.0.x: http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/all.html

• Uninstall your current Firefox version and remove the Firefox program folder before installing that copy of the Firefox installer.
• Do not remove personal data if you uninstall the current version.
• 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.

Your bookmarks and other profile data are stored elsewhere (not in the Firefox program folder) and won't be affected by a reinstall, but make sure that you do not select to remove personal data if you uninstall Firefox.

my update just wont go away, used to have the same problem of the update taking forever, then one time it worked i thought great..now ive downloaded it 4 times..and it still pops up every time i start my computer..this is turning out to be a huge pain in the butt..

See:

• http://kb.mozillazine.org/Software_Update (Software Update not working properly)

Remove the files in the updates and updates\0 folder.
You may need to delete active-update.xml and updates.xml as well if present.

C:\Documents and Settings\<user>\Local Settings\Application Data\Mozilla\Firefox\Mozilla Firefox\updates
(%USERPROFILE%\Local Settings\Application Data\Mozilla\Firefox\Mozilla Firefox)

The "Application Data" folder in XP/Win2K and the "AppData" folder in Vista/Windows 7 are hidden folders.

• http://kb.mozillazine.org/Show_hidden_files_and_folders