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Linux Mint 19.2 firefox doesn't start from desktop or menu.

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I have recently upgraded to mint 19.2 by reinstalling the operating system. Everything seems OK except for firefox and thunderbird mail. Neither of these will start from either the menu or a desktop shortcut. All that happens is the small loading icon appears if i hover over the bottom panel for a short while then dissapears. There doesn't seem to be any crash reports in either the .mozilla or the .thunderbird folders. However, they will start with no problem from a terminal window.

Can anyone give me a clue as to how to sort this?

I have recently upgraded to mint 19.2 by reinstalling the operating system. Everything seems OK except for firefox and thunderbird mail. Neither of these will start from either the menu or a desktop shortcut. All that happens is the small loading icon appears if i hover over the bottom panel for a short while then dissapears. There doesn't seem to be any crash reports in either the .mozilla or the .thunderbird folders. However, they will start with no problem from a terminal window. Can anyone give me a clue as to how to sort this?

Chosen solution

Not sure if the news is good or bad. My pc didn't roll back very well so I have reinstalled Mint 19.2 and reset my home directory so I'm setting up everything from scratch. So far no problems.

Thank you again for your help and the speedy response to my problem.

Read this answer in context 👍 0

All Replies (13)

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How did you install Firefox and Thunderbird?

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Initially they were both installed with the re-installation of Linux Mint 19.2. When they failed to start I uninstalled them using the software manager, used apt-get autoremove to get rid of any hangovers then re-installed them using the software manager.

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Chinese: 你好,我是一名中国大陆的Mozilla志愿者。 请问你的启动器快捷方式能不能用记事本程序打开,让我看看里面的代码? 如果没有快捷方式的话,你能不能在/home/usr/share/applications找到Firefox? English: Hello, I am a Mozilla volunteer in mainland China. Can your startup shortcut be opened with the Notepad program, let me see the code inside? If there is no shortcut, can you find Firefox at /home/usr/share/applications?

Modified by 晶漩焰

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已删除。。

Modified by 晶漩焰

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@ 晶漩焰 :

If at all possible, would you please post in English ?

Use Google Translate maybe ?

https://translate.google.com

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McCoy said

@ 晶漩焰 : If at all possible, would you please post in English ? Use Google Translate maybe ? https://translate.google.com

Chinese: 对不起 其实你懂的,Google.com我们这里无法访问的 我们只能访问 Google.cn English: I am sorry In fact, you know, Google.com is not accessible here. We can only visit Google.cn

Modified by 晶漩焰

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The following is from firefox.desktop. This was placed on the desktop by right clicking firefox in the menu and selecting add to desktop.

[Desktop Entry] Version=1.0 Name=Firefox Web Browser Name[ar]=متصفح الويب فَيَرفُكْس Name[ast]=Restolador web Firefox Name[bn]=ফায়ারফক্স ওয়েব ব্রাউজার Name[ca]=Navegador web Firefox Name[cs]=Firefox Webový prohlížeč Name[da]=Firefox - internetbrowser Name[el]=Περιηγητής Firefox Name[es]=Navegador web Firefox Name[et]=Firefoxi veebibrauser Name[fa]=مرورگر اینترنتی Firefox Name[fi]=Firefox-selain Name[fr]=Navigateur Web Firefox Name[gl]=Navegador web Firefox Name[he]=דפדפן האינטרנט Firefox Name[hr]=Firefox web preglednik Name[hu]=Firefox webböngésző Name[it]=Firefox Browser Web Name[ja]=Firefox ウェブ・ブラウザ Name[ko]=Firefox 웹 브라우저 Name[ku]=Geroka torê Firefox Name[lt]=Firefox interneto naršyklė Name[nb]=Firefox Nettleser Name[nl]=Firefox webbrowser Name[nn]=Firefox Nettlesar Name[no]=Firefox Nettleser Name[pl]=Przeglądarka WWW Firefox Name[pt]=Firefox Navegador Web Name[pt_BR]=Navegador Web Firefox Name[ro]=Firefox – Navigator Internet Name[ru]=Веб-браузер Firefox Name[sk]=Firefox - internetový prehliadač Name[sl]=Firefox spletni brskalnik Name[sv]=Firefox webbläsare Name[tr]=Firefox Web Tarayıcısı Name[ug]=Firefox توركۆرگۈ Name[uk]=Веб-браузер Firefox Name[vi]=Trình duyệt web Firefox Name[zh_CN]=Firefox 网络浏览器 Name[zh_TW]=Firefox 網路瀏覽器 Comment=Browse the World Wide Web Comment[ar]=تصفح الشبكة العنكبوتية العالمية Comment[ast]=Restola pela Rede Comment[bn]=ইন্টারনেট ব্রাউজ করুন Comment[ca]=Navegueu per la web Comment[cs]=Prohlížení stránek World Wide Webu Comment[da]=Surf på internettet Comment[de]=Im Internet surfen Comment[el]=Μπορείτε να περιηγηθείτε στο διαδίκτυο (Web) Comment[es]=Navegue por la web Comment[et]=Lehitse veebi Comment[fa]=صفحات شبکه جهانی اینترنت را مرور نمایید Comment[fi]=Selaa Internetin WWW-sivuja Comment[fr]=Naviguer sur le Web Comment[gl]=Navegar pola rede Comment[he]=גלישה ברחבי האינטרנט Comment[hr]=Pretražite web Comment[hu]=A világháló böngészése Comment[it]=Esplora il web Comment[ja]=ウェブを閲覧します Comment[ko]=웹을 돌아 다닙니다 Comment[ku]=Li torê bigere Comment[lt]=Naršykite internete Comment[nb]=Surf på nettet Comment[nl]=Verken het internet Comment[nn]=Surf på nettet Comment[no]=Surf på nettet Comment[pl]=Przeglądanie stron WWW Comment[pt]=Navegue na Internet Comment[pt_BR]=Navegue na Internet Comment[ro]=Navigați pe Internet Comment[ru]=Доступ в Интернет Comment[sk]=Prehliadanie internetu Comment[sl]=Brskajte po spletu Comment[sv]=Surfa på webben Comment[tr]=İnternet'te Gezinin Comment[ug]=دۇنيادىكى توربەتلەرنى كۆرگىلى بولىدۇ Comment[uk]=Перегляд сторінок Інтернету Comment[vi]=Để duyệt các trang web Comment[zh_CN]=浏览互联网 Comment[zh_TW]=瀏覽網際網路 GenericName=Web Browser GenericName[ar]=متصفح ويب GenericName[ast]=Restolador Web GenericName[bn]=ওয়েব ব্রাউজার GenericName[ca]=Navegador web GenericName[cs]=Webový prohlížeč GenericName[da]=Webbrowser GenericName[el]=Περιηγητής διαδικτύου GenericName[es]=Navegador web GenericName[et]=Veebibrauser GenericName[fa]=مرورگر اینترنتی GenericName[fi]=WWW-selain GenericName[fr]=Navigateur Web GenericName[gl]=Navegador Web GenericName[he]=דפדפן אינטרנט GenericName[hr]=Web preglednik GenericName[hu]=Webböngésző GenericName[it]=Browser web GenericName[ja]=ウェブ・ブラウザ GenericName[ko]=웹 브라우저 GenericName[ku]=Geroka torê GenericName[lt]=Interneto naršyklė GenericName[nb]=Nettleser GenericName[nl]=Webbrowser GenericName[nn]=Nettlesar GenericName[no]=Nettleser GenericName[pl]=Przeglądarka WWW GenericName[pt]=Navegador Web GenericName[pt_BR]=Navegador Web GenericName[ro]=Navigator Internet GenericName[ru]=Веб-браузер GenericName[sk]=Internetový prehliadač GenericName[sl]=Spletni brskalnik GenericName[sv]=Webbläsare GenericName[tr]=Web Tarayıcı GenericName[ug]=توركۆرگۈ GenericName[uk]=Веб-браузер GenericName[vi]=Trình duyệt Web GenericName[zh_CN]=网络浏览器 GenericName[zh_TW]=網路瀏覽器 Keywords=Internet;WWW;Browser;Web;Explorer Keywords[ar]=انترنت;إنترنت;متصفح;ويب;وب Keywords[ast]=Internet;WWW;Restolador;Web;Esplorador Keywords[ca]=Internet;WWW;Navegador;Web;Explorador;Explorer Keywords[cs]=Internet;WWW;Prohlížeč;Web;Explorer Keywords[da]=Internet;Internettet;WWW;Browser;Browse;Web;Surf;Nettet Keywords[de]=Internet;WWW;Browser;Web;Explorer;Webseite;Site;surfen;online;browsen Keywords[el]=Internet;WWW;Browser;Web;Explorer;Διαδίκτυο;Περιηγητής;Firefox;Φιρεφοχ;Ιντερνετ Keywords[es]=Explorador;Internet;WWW Keywords[fi]=Internet;WWW;Browser;Web;Explorer;selain;Internet-selain;internetselain;verkkoselain;netti;surffaa Keywords[fr]=Internet;WWW;Browser;Web;Explorer;Fureteur;Surfer;Navigateur Keywords[he]=דפדפן;אינטרנט;רשת;אתרים;אתר;פיירפוקס;מוזילה; Keywords[hr]=Internet;WWW;preglednik;Web Keywords[hu]=Internet;WWW;Böngésző;Web;Háló;Net;Explorer Keywords[it]=Internet;WWW;Browser;Web;Navigatore Keywords[is]=Internet;WWW;Vafri;Vefur;Netvafri;Flakk Keywords[ja]=Internet;WWW;Web;インターネット;ブラウザ;ウェブ;エクスプローラ Keywords[nb]=Internett;WWW;Nettleser;Explorer;Web;Browser;Nettside Keywords[nl]=Internet;WWW;Browser;Web;Explorer;Verkenner;Website;Surfen;Online Keywords[pt]=Internet;WWW;Browser;Web;Explorador;Navegador Keywords[pt_BR]=Internet;WWW;Browser;Web;Explorador;Navegador Keywords[ru]=Internet;WWW;Browser;Web;Explorer;интернет;браузер;веб;файрфокс;огнелис Keywords[sk]=Internet;WWW;Prehliadač;Web;Explorer Keywords[sl]=Internet;WWW;Browser;Web;Explorer;Brskalnik;Splet Keywords[tr]=İnternet;WWW;Tarayıcı;Web;Gezgin;Web sitesi;Site;sörf;çevrimiçi;tara Keywords[uk]=Internet;WWW;Browser;Web;Explorer;Інтернет;мережа;переглядач;оглядач;браузер;веб;файрфокс;вогнелис;перегляд Keywords[vi]=Internet;WWW;Browser;Web;Explorer;Trình duyệt;Trang web Keywords[zh_CN]=Internet;WWW;Browser;Web;Explorer;网页;浏览;上网;火狐;Firefox;ff;互联网;网站; Keywords[zh_TW]=Internet;WWW;Browser;Web;Explorer;網際網路;網路;瀏覽器;上網;網頁;火狐 Exec=firefox %u Terminal=false X-MultipleArgs=false Type=Application Icon=firefox Categories=GNOME;GTK;Network;WebBrowser; MimeType=text/html;text/xml;application/xhtml+xml;application/xml;application/rss+xml;application/rdf+xml;image/gif;image/jpeg;image/png;x-scheme-handler/http;x-scheme-handler/https;x-scheme-handler/ftp;x-scheme-handler/chrome;video/webm;application/x-xpinstall; StartupNotify=true Actions=new-window;new-private-window;

[Desktop Action new-window] Name=Open a New Window Name[ar]=افتح نافذة جديدة Name[ast]=Abrir una ventana nueva Name[bn]=Abrir una ventana nueva Name[ca]=Obre una finestra nova Name[cs]=Otevřít nové okno Name[da]=Åbn et nyt vindue Name[de]=Ein neues Fenster öffnen Name[el]=Νέο παράθυρο Name[es]=Abrir una ventana nueva Name[fi]=Avaa uusi ikkuna Name[fr]=Ouvrir une nouvelle fenêtre Name[gl]=Abrir unha nova xanela Name[he]=פתיחת חלון חדש Name[hr]=Otvori novi prozor Name[hu]=Új ablak nyitása Name[it]=Apri una nuova finestra Name[ja]=新しいウィンドウを開く Name[ko]=새 창 열기 Name[ku]=Paceyeke nû veke Name[lt]=Atverti naują langą Name[nb]=Åpne et nytt vindu Name[nl]=Nieuw venster openen Name[pt]=Abrir nova janela Name[pt_BR]=Abrir nova janela Name[ro]=Deschide o fereastră nouă Name[ru]=Новое окно Name[sk]=Otvoriť nové okno Name[sl]=Odpri novo okno Name[sv]=Öppna ett nytt fönster Name[tr]=Yeni pencere aç Name[ug]=يېڭى كۆزنەك ئېچىش Name[uk]=Відкрити нове вікно Name[vi]=Mở cửa sổ mới Name[zh_CN]=新建窗口 Name[zh_TW]=開啟新視窗 Exec=firefox -new-window

[Desktop Action new-private-window] Name=Open a New Private Window Name[ar]=افتح نافذة جديدة للتصفح الخاص Name[ca]=Obre una finestra nova en mode d'incògnit Name[cs]=Otevřít nové anonymní okno Name[de]=Ein neues privates Fenster öffnen Name[el]=Νέο ιδιωτικό παράθυρο Name[es]=Abrir una ventana privada nueva Name[fi]=Avaa uusi yksityinen ikkuna Name[fr]=Ouvrir une nouvelle fenêtre de navigation privée Name[he]=פתיחת חלון גלישה פרטית חדש Name[hu]=Új privát ablak nyitása Name[it]=Apri una nuova finestra anonima Name[nb]=Åpne et nytt privat vindu Name[ru]=Новое приватное окно Name[sl]=Odpri novo okno zasebnega brskanja Name[sv]=Öppna ett nytt privat fönster Name[tr]=Yeni bir pencere aç Name[uk]=Відкрити нове вікно у потайливому режимі Name[zh_TW]=開啟新隱私瀏覽視窗 Exec=firefox -private-window

In addition, if I open a terminal and enter (firefox &) && exit I can get firefox to start from the terminal and dismiss the terminal window. Once firefox starts it seems to run without any problems.

Thankyou for your help so far Douglas

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I have been doing a bit more experimenting and it turns out that other programs are not starting up correctly. I think the problem is with Mint so I am going to roll back my system to version 19.1. Thank you for the assistance so far and I will let you know what happens. Douglas

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douglas.webster2107 said

I have been doing a bit more experimenting and it turns out that other programs are not starting up correctly. I think the problem is with Mint so I am going to roll back my system to version 19.1. Thank you for the assistance so far and I will let you know what happens. Douglas

Chinese: 好的,我等你的好消息 English: Ok, I am waiting for your good news.

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Chosen Solution

Not sure if the news is good or bad. My pc didn't roll back very well so I have reinstalled Mint 19.2 and reset my home directory so I'm setting up everything from scratch. So far no problems.

Thank you again for your help and the speedy response to my problem.

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douglas.webster2107 said

Not sure if the news is good or bad. My pc didn't roll back very well so I have reinstalled Mint 19.2 and reset my home directory so I'm setting up everything from scratch. So far no problems. Thank you again for your help and the speedy response to my problem.

Chinese: 好的,听到你可以正常使用,我非常高兴。 English: Ok, I am very happy to hear that you can use it normally.

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Try to start Firefox via a terminal window to check for possible error messages. cd <path-to-firefox> ./firefox

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cor-el said

Try to start Firefox via a terminal window to check for possible error messages. cd <path-to-firefox> ./firefox

I have 'solved!' the problem by reinstalling Mint plus a fresh /home directory and everything is working fine so far.

Prior to that I could start Firefox from the command line with no problem and with no error messages. As I mentioned above, I think it was a problem caused by upgrading Mint but keeping my original /home directory settings so that some things would start and some wouldn't.

Thank you anyway for your offer of help.

Douglas