Anyone else always have the Firefox updates refuse to install?

[GoingUp]

With every single version, I always have to uninstall the old version, then reinstall the new one. The updates never work.

Firefox will occasionally download and update, in this case from 3.0.6 to 3.0.7. When I try to start the program, it gets in a loop and I have to kill it via task manager. I get the message that the updates can't be installed and to make sure that no other instances of Firefox are running on my computer even though no firefox windows are open.

Running Win XP Pro.

Any ideas?

Thanks! 🙂

 

[LuDaCriS66]

I think Firefox may need administrative rights to update itself. Do you use a limited or standard user account?

 

[InflatableBuddha]

I do too. I think it has to do with Group Policy or something similar.

On my work PC (Win XP SP3), I have experienced the same thing - Firefox updates are looping and don't finish downloading. I am still on 3.0.4. I do have Administrator rights.

On my home PC (also Win XP SP3), the updates download and install without issue.

 

[GoingUp]

It happens on both my work and home PCs. My home PC, I obviously have admin rights to. It's a PITA.

 

[MadRat]

I've found one of two things can go wrong on the updates.

1. I stopped the install in the task manager and then used chown.exe on the Mozilla directories in my profile. On the next start of Firefox it then finished. I suspect it was a Windows profile issue.

2. The updated firefox.exe was the file I narrowed it down to. Make sure you rename the old firefox.exe and then replace it. It will then load. It seemed to be an issue with the firefox.exe being locked and so the new version could not replace it.

 

[nordloewelabs]

1) make a full uninstall of Firefox. if you want to backup your extensions and themes first, use the FEBE addon. dont manually copy the "user profile" folder because the reason for the update bug could be a setting file inside that folder.

2) search your HD for all "Mozilla" or "Firefox" folders and delete them.

3) re-install Firefox from inside the Admin account or via "r-click > Run As".

4) in the future, when updating, you have 2 options:
a) logon as Admin and use the "Help > Check for Updates".
b) get the updated version from Mozilla (~7Mb) and install with "r-click > Run As".

the bottom line is, you need to start from scratch.

 

[MadRat]

Most of the time its the firefox.exe file is simply locked out and cannot be overwritten. I only had the problem with the profile once.