Solved FF Won't Start

[ColColt]

We had a brief power interruption(maybe 20 seconds) awhile ago and now Firefox won't open. Any ideas as to a fix? I tried several times after the weather knocked out the computer, rebooted but it won't open.

 

[MoxieMomma]

Hi:

First, check the Windows task manager to see if it is running there. If it is, kill the process. Then try again.

If that doesn't work, I would start with the advice here:

Firefox Won't Start Up

Firefox won't start - find solutions

Please let us know how it goes.

Thanks,

MM

 

[ColColt]

What I did while waiting on a suggestion was to go into IE last night and download a fresh copy of the latest version and install right over the existing one-it worked. This morning FF started right up.

Strange that happened as on my Vista computer, and both were on, that didn't happen-only on W7.

 

[MoxieMomma]

Hi:

Yep.
Most of the time, corruption occurs in the user profile, not in the program itself.
But the power outage may have corrupted the program data/program files.

I'm glad the on-top reinstall fixed the issue for you.

For the record, it's a good idea to perform periodic profile backups (especially bookmarks) , so that you are prepared for this sort of unexpected problem. There are many ways to accomplish this. Let us know if you need some tips.

Thanks for taking the time to post your follow-up.

Cheers,

 

[ColColt]

I wasn't sure what I did would work but it did. That was a first-never had that happen before with FF. I had it happen with Windows Live Mail a couple times but just high lighted wlmail.exe and End Process and opened again and it started as usual.

Thanks for letting me know about the periodic backups. I never thought of doing that. The bookmarks aren't that important but the profile may be...I'll keep this in mind.

 

[MoxieMomma]

Hi:

Here are some suggestions about profile backup:

Firefox Profile Backup
Backing up and restoring bookmarks - Firefox

Back up and restore information in Firefox profiles
Export Firefox bookmarks to an HTML file to back up or transfer bookmarks


For me, reinstalling extensions and tweaking settings would be a pain, but losing 15+ years' worth of bookmarks would be a catastrophe.
But "your mileage may vary", of course.

Cheers,

 

[ColColt]

My biggest worry is loosing years of saved email folders. That would be catastrophic.

 

[MoxieMomma]

My biggest worry is loosing years of saved email folders. That would be catastrophic.

Same here, of course.

But I thought that this thread pertained to Firefox, the browser???

(Same principles of routine backup would also apply to one's email client & email messages, data, documents, files, etc...)

Cheers,

 

[ColColt]

It is about or was about FF but the bookmarks aren't as important as the emails.

 

[MoxieMomma]

It is about or was about FF but the bookmarks aren't as important as the emails.

True 'dat.
I agree that it would s*ck to lose one's email folders/messages.
And yes, it's important to back-up one's email folders/messages for that reason.

But my Geritol levels must be low today, or something.
I'm not sure how one's Firefox browser profile has anything to do with one's email folders/messages?

If one uses a webmail service, the email folders & messages would be stored on the provider's servers, not locally in one's Firefox profile. In order to save those messages on the computer locally, one would need an email client of some kind.
Ditto for an email client (such as Outlook or Thunderbird) with an IMAP set-up for ISP type accounts. Messages are stored on the server.
If one uses an email client (such as Outlook or Thunderbird) with a POP set-up, then the email folders & downloaded messages are stored locally in that email client, not in Firefox.

So this sort of seems like "apples and oranges"?????
Or else I am missing some crucial connection and someone will correct me.
<just asking>

Ennywho, Cheers!

 

[ColColt]

You're really caught up with this aren't you. Why make a big deal out of that statement? Bookmarks have nothing to do with starting Firefox either. Maybe you do need a big swig of Geritol.

 

[MoxieMomma]

Hi:

LOL.
Too funny.

I was merely trying to assist you with restoring your Firefox to working order, along with providing some friendly suggestions about how to mitigate the effects of a potential data loss in your browser profile due to power outage or other catastrophe.
Bookmarks are -- for most users -- an important part of the browser profile and would be the hardest piece to recreate from scratch.
Perhaps that's not the case for you.

When the conversation switched mid-stream to backing up/restoring email folders, that was jarring.
And it could be confusing to a casual reader of this thread about Firefox -- a basic computer user might wrongly assume that one's emails are somehow stored in one's browser profile.

I regret having wasted your time.
In any event, I'm glad you were able to resolve your issue.
I hope that your browser profile, emails and all your other data will be safe from loss, through backup/imaging strategies, an uninterruptible power supply, syncing to the cloud, and/or other means.

Take care,

MM

 

[Layback Bear]

Just some suggestions.

Loosing power seldom does harm. Your computer looses power every time you shut it down and turn off the power to it. It's the restart after a power loss that causes the damage.
If one is with the computer when the power goes out just unplug the computer and wait for the power to come back on and be steady, and then plug things in and boot.
Some times when the power comes back on you will have a few power on/power off/power on flickers, these can cause damage if the computer is set to start after power loss.

Check your bios. Some will have a setting for what the computer should do after power loss.
Select do nothing not restart.You should do this manually after the power situation is over.