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.

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

Firefox locked in update cycle

  • 5 majibu
  • 1 ana tatizo hili
  • 4 views
  • Last reply by cor-el

more options

I have an XP machine with two user accounts. I was trying to update to 10.0.1 and now when I try to start or remove Firefox, it says the machine must be rebooted. Have tried several times from both accounts and it seems to want to update before it reboots before it updates before.....

I have an XP machine with two user accounts. I was trying to update to 10.0.1 and now when I try to start or remove Firefox, it says the machine must be rebooted. Have tried several times from both accounts and it seems to want to update before it reboots before it updates before.....

All Replies (5)

more options

Hi,

Please try deleting the updates.xml file and the updates folder in the Firefox installation folder. If the second account is a normal account you may also have to check for these in the My Computer ?:\Documents and Settings\otherusername\Local Settings\Application Data\Mozilla\Firefox\Mozilla Firefox of the normal user. Please also see this.

Modified by Vivek

more options

I can't find any of those files or directories. can't even find local settings.

more options

If files already have been downloaded then remove the files in the updates and updates\0 folder.

You can also delete active-update.xml and possibly updates.xml (stores the update history).

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.

more options

Still no joy. Found and deleted activeupdates.xml and updates.xml from each of three user accounts.

Can not find the updates folder anywhere.

Still cannot remove firefox or update from web. Both actions resulte in prompt to restart to complete pending update.

more options

There still seems to be an updates folder somewhere with files in it, so you need to look for that folder.

You can also check the Firefox program folder (C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\) or do a search (be sure to search hidden files and folders).