Firefox: screwed up profile, now Firefox won't load, despite reinstall

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  1. Posts : 1,750
    Windows 10 Pro
       #1

    Firefox: screwed up profile, now Firefox won't load, despite reinstall


    I need some way to force-create a working profile for Firefox.

    I was trying to set up the Firefox on my laptop (Windows 10 Pro 64), to use the same profile on my desktop, when I did "something wrong," and now I get this error message:

    I wanted to RTFM (but there was no "friendly" manual to read), and I did a complete uninstall using Revo Pro (I am a paying customer). I also did an Ultrasearch search (much better than Windows Explorer search), which turned up some Firefox files in \Windows\Prefetch. I deleted those files. And I rebooted.

    Despite these steps, when I did a Firefox install again, I got a message saying that Firefox had been installed previously. I checked the box to restore defaults, etc. But I still get this error message about an inaccessible profile.

    What do I have to do to get Firefox working again? I really don't want to use EDGE. And I don't want to do a fresh install of Windows just to be able to get Firefox working again.
      My Computers


  2. Posts : 23,012
    Win 10 Home ♦♦♦19045.4239 (x64) [22H2]
       #2

    x509 said:
    I need some way to force-create a working profile for Firefox.

    I was trying to set up the Firefox on my laptop (Windows 10 Pro 64), to use the same profile on my desktop, when I did "something wrong," and now I get this error message:

    I wanted to RTFM (but there was no "friendly" manual to read), and I did a complete uninstall using Revo Pro (I am a paying customer). I also did an Ultrasearch search (much better than Windows Explorer search), which turned up some Firefox files in \Windows\Prefetch. I deleted those files. And I rebooted.

    Despite these steps, when I did a Firefox install again, I got a message saying that Firefox had been installed previously. I checked the box to restore defaults, etc. But I still get this error message about an inaccessible profile.

    What do I have to do to get Firefox working again? I really don't want to use EDGE. And I don't want to do a fresh install of Windows just to be able to get Firefox working again.



    Uninstall Firefox with REVO and do the scan for leftovers. Delete all the leftovers found.

    The profile is located here... make sure this is gone as well.
    C:\Users\<user name>\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\xxxxxxxx.default-release
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 6,788
    22H2 64 Bit Pro
       #3

    After uninstall check for folders mentioned in the link below and delete. Then reboot. Only then install a fresh copy.

    Firefox Browser

    Also if you've backed up your firefox profile anywhere on your PC then move the backed up profile to an external drive and disconnect it before clean installing firefox.
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 31,459
    10 Home x64 (22H2) (10 Pro on 2nd pc)
       #4

    x509 said:
    I need some way to force-create a working profile for Firefox.
    Start the Firefox Profile Manager. From the WinKey+R Run box, or a command prompt type:

    "C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe" -p

    Here you can create a new profile.

    Firefox: screwed up profile, now Firefox won't load, despite reinstall-image.png
      My Computers


  5. Posts : 1,750
    Windows 10 Pro
    Thread Starter
       #5

    Ghot said:
    Uninstall Firefox with REVO and do the scan for leftovers. Delete all the leftovers found.
    Done.
    The profile is located here... make sure this is gone as well.
    C:\Users\<user name>\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\xxxxxxxx.default-release
    Also done. Also used JAM Software to search out all remaining Firefox files. Found a few and deleted those.

    Despite these steps, the Firefox installer still detects that Firefox was installed previously AND retains old settings. One of those settings is my missing profile.
      My Computers


  6. Posts : 23,012
    Win 10 Home ♦♦♦19045.4239 (x64) [22H2]
       #6

    x509 said:
    Done.


    Also done. Also used JAM Software to search out all remaining Firefox files. Found a few and deleted those.

    Despite these steps, the Firefox installer still detects that Firefox was installed previously AND retains old settings. One of those settings is my missing profile.



    In the past, I've also searched the C: drive for Mozilla and for Firefox and deleted everything "except" any entries in the WinSxS folder. Leave those alone or you'll break Windows.

    I have succeeded at completely uninstalling FF before, so it should be possible.
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 23,012
    Win 10 Home ♦♦♦19045.4239 (x64) [22H2]
       #7

    @x509


    I just had another thought.
    When REVO scans for leftovers, it removes a ton of Registry entries.

    You might have to reboot for all those removals to be applied?
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 1,750
    Windows 10 Pro
    Thread Starter
       #8

    Ghot said:
    In the past, I've also searched the C: drive for Mozilla and for Firefox and deleted everything "except" any entries in the WinSxS folder. Leave those alone or you'll break Windows.

    I have succeeded at completely uninstalling FF before, so it should be possible.
    @Ghot

    Once again you are super-helpful.

    Thanks for the encouragement. I'm going to follow your suggestions.
      My Computers


  9. Posts : 23,012
    Win 10 Home ♦♦♦19045.4239 (x64) [22H2]
       #9

    I don't use OneDrive. If you do, I can't be sure there aren't remnants located there as well.
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 2,123
    Windows 11 Pro (latest update ... forever anal)
       #10

    x509 said:
    Despite these steps, the Firefox installer still detects that Firefox was installed previously AND retains old settings. One of those settings is my missing profile.
    There shouldn't be any profile left for those settings to be in. Did you delete the complete folder(s) ?
      My Computers


 

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