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Firefox will not update saying I have another copy running which I do not .After the warning it starts normally. I am running Windows 7

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  • Last reply by diamondj

diamondj
diamondj
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I downloaded the latest update. I closed firefox and then restarted it. It gave me the error message that it couldn't update and indicated I had another copy running It then started normally. I tried rebooting the computer with the same error. I checked what is running a program called process explorer and ther where no other copies running. i am using Windows 7

I downloaded the latest update. I closed firefox and then restarted it. It gave me the error message that it couldn't update and indicated I had another copy running It then started normally. I tried rebooting the computer with the same error. I checked what is running a program called process explorer and ther where no other copies running. i am using Windows 7

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David McRitchie
David McRitchie
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I don't know what process explorer is you want to be in the Windows Task Manager and on the "Processes" Tab. With Windows 7 you can get there quickly with "Ctrl+Shift+Esc" and select "Processes" tab. That choice will stick for the next time you go there. Those using older versions of windows would start from "Ctrl+Alt+Del" and then choose the "Task Manager" then the "Processes" tab. Either way you would be looking to terminate "firefox.exc" if it will not close.


The following may not completely eliminate having to terminate Firefox through the Windows Task Manager but it will come very close.

Plug-in and tasks started by Firefox may continue after attempting to close Firefox The "X" in the upper right-hand corner closes the Window (same as Ctrl+Shift+W) but even if it is the last Firefox window, it does not necessarily close Firefox .

The only proper way to exit Firefox is to use Exit through the File menu, not the "X" in the upper right corner of last Firefox window. In the Beta that would be Alt+F then X

Use the Windows Task Manger to remove all running firefox.exe in the "Processes" tab of the Windows Task Manager, then restart Firefox.

If Firefox will still not start, remove the parent.lock file from the profile which is created each time Firefox is started to prevent other Firefox tasks from running, see
http://kb.mozillazine.org/Profile_in_use#Remove_the_profile_lock_file

Avoiding Problems with close/restart choose either extension

Use to close and restart Firefox after enabling or disabling an extension, switching to a new theme, or modifying configuration files, then you don't have to worry about delay or have to look in the Task Manager to see if Firefox is closed yet.

Both extensions use the same keyboard shortcut "Ctrl+Alt+R" or a file menu option.

  • "Restartless Restart" extension for Firefox 4.0+ only (2 KB download )
diamondj
diamondj Question owner
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I tried using windows task manager. I then restarted firefox and got the same error message and it again restarted. Any other suggestions ?