onDvine
Premium
join:2005-01-29
So. CA, USA
clubs:
 ·Verizon Online DSL
| [FireFox] Might a repair installation be successful?
Am trying to figure out if there's a "kinder, gentler way" to get out of this mess by reinstalling over the currently installed version. I still have a copy in my downloads folder of the same version I installed last April.
Will appreciate any input, positive or negative.
--
Be content with your lot; one cannot be first in everything. ▪Aesop |
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ZPurpleHippo
join:2009-05-28 | try creating a test profile first |
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onDvine
Premium
join:2005-01-29
So. CA, USA
clubs:
·Verizon Online DSL
1 edit | Thanks for the idea.  By the time I read/understand how to do that and exactly what a "test profile" is used for, it will be as complex (for me) as the clean installation last April was.
Am not one of DSLR's more tech-savvy members.  |
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ZPurpleHippo
join:2009-05-28
| reply to onDvine
Then you should know this. All your settings, prefs, bookmarks, cookies, addons, etc, are stored in an area called the profile. This profile is separate from the program directory. When you uninstall the program, the profile is not touched. When you reinstall, the program picks up the last used profile and starts using that. Your problem is withim the profile. So . . .
I'm going to assume you're using windows. If so, then close FF, then click on the windows start button, then run and enter:
firefox.exe -p
this will bring up the FF profile manager. Create a test profile and see if the problem continues in that. If it does continue, then you'll know the problem is with the program. If it doesn't continue, then we can look at your profile and go from there. |
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onDvine
Premium
join:2005-01-29
So. CA, USA
clubs:
·Verizon Online DSL
| Thank you. Will evaluate the situation tomorrow when my mind is fresh and decide how to proceed from there. Don't know how to use a test profile after it's created...or even what to name it. |
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ZPurpleHippo
join:2009-05-28
| reply to onDvine
name it test and what it does is gives you a very plain looking Firefox. It contains no addons, no themes, and no "tweaks." A plain profile can tell us many things, like is the problem with the program itself, or something within the profile, like an addon you installed, or perhaps a setting you made. We just need to know how the plain profile works or not. |
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Unknown_Poster
@verizon.net
 from:
onDvine 
| reply to onDvine
This link may help you:
»kb.mozillazine.org/Creating_a_ne···_Windows |
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onDvine
Premium
join:2005-01-29
So. CA, USA
clubs:
·Verizon Online DSL
1 edit | Thanks, Unknown_Poster. At this point, I have Firefox 3.5 installed (was using 3.0.11) and it seems to be working fine.
Wish the RedShift theme was compatible, but other than that will be happy once I get used to the differences. and figure out why the bookmarks-2009-07-13.json file seems not to be recognized. It's no biggie: my bookmarks were never organized and I haven't used them since upgrading to FF v.3* rendered AM-Deadlink useless. There are shortcuts to the sites I care about in folders.
Hopefully one of these days I'll learn not to try to fix it if it ain't broken in the first place.  |
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Unknown_Poster
@verizon.net
| said by onDvine :Hopefully one of these days I'll learn not to try to fix it if it ain't broken in the first place. I hope not.
Tinkering is what Firefox is all about.
Sounds like the only thing you need to learn is how to make Acronis images before fooling around.  |
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onDvine
Premium
join:2005-01-29
So. CA, USA
clubs:
·Verizon Online DSL
| said by Unknown_Poster :
... Tinkering is what Firefox is all about. ... (laughing) Maybe for those who know what they're doing and enjoy it. I just want it to work.
... the only thing you need to learn is how to make Acronis images before fooling around.  |
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Unknown_Poster
@verizon.net
from:
onDvine
| said by onDvine :said by Unknown_Poster :... the only thing you need to learn is how to make Acronis images before fooling around. Couldn't hurt, huh? Imagine it takes some tinkering to learn about making Acronis images, too. Nah.
Point 'n click. A couple of personal preference decisions to make, that's about it.
Keep your eyes peeled for freebies. Paragon, Acronis, and others run special give-aways once in a while.
One of the most important things for your machine is to have a proper back-up solution.
Most certainly as far as your personal data and files are concerned.
The OS or apps you can always completely reinstall, though that can be a pain that something like an Acronis image might alleviate.
But your personal data-- if not backed up, there's no recovering it. Not easily or inexpensively, at any rate.
The nice thing about something like Acronis is that it can cover all bases at once.
____________________________
*And in fact, it appears this download link is still active:
»www.computeractive.co.uk/partiti···er/index
Paragon Partition Manager (which is fine and valuable software in its own right) includes disc imaging software, I do believe.
DSLR threads re: above linked software:
»[Free] Partition manager full
»[Free] Paragon Hard Disk Manager 8.5 Special Edition |
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onDvine
Premium
join:2005-01-29
So. CA, USA
clubs:
·Verizon Online DSL
| It was and I did. Surprising since the offer supposedly expired in September, 2007. Saved in a folder until we discuss WTF I'll do with it. |
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Unknown_Poster
@verizon.net
from:
onDvine
| said by onDvine :It was and I did. Surprising since the offer supposedly expired in September, 2007. Saved in a folder until we discuss WTF I'll do with it. Expiration, schmexpiration.
What you'll do is install it and USE it!
(The disc imaging part of it, anyway.)
Not, of course, that it's going to change anything as far as your current issue is concerned.
But once you have your machine back up to snuff, it'll be time to create an image. Then create a new one every month or so, or whatever. Also whenever you're getting ready to change something that could have unwanted consequences.
That way, whenever something bad or undesired happens, you simply restore your most recent image.
And with disc imaging (unlike System Restore and some other solutions), you get your machine back exactly the way it was when the image was created.
It's like magic or voodoo, except even better! |
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onDvine
Premium
join:2005-01-29
So. CA, USA
clubs: | said by Unknown_Poster :
... once you have your machine back up to snuff ... That's been achieved. |
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