Acer Aspire One - Browser not opening

Tonyator · 26 Jan 2011 at 01:20

I said I'd have a look at a mates Netbook (Acer Aspire One ZG5) as Firefox isn't working, you click it and nothing happens, it loads for a few seconds then nothing. If I click the browser button a few times it comes up with this;

"Firefox is already running, but is not responding. To open a new window, you must first close the existing Firefox process, or restart your system."

Even though I can't see it in the running processes.

I tried updating FF (from the Acer site) but it has the latest version already so that didn't help.

I had a Google but can't seem to find an answer, on suggestion is that there is a problem with the profile folder or it's location, but I can't seem get to the profile.ini to check.

I thought about uninstalling it and reinstalling, but I can't seem to figure out how to do that either

It's been a while since I've used Linux properly, so that doesn't help me... So I'm hoping one of the lovely people at ocUK can help

Staffy · 26 Jan 2011 at 01:55

Did he update Firefox or add a plugin/extension before it stopped working?

I had this on the kids PC a month or so ago after much scratching of the head found it to be this.

Tonyator · 26 Jan 2011 at 02:31

I don't think so, just after working fine one day the next it didn't.

Essexraptor · 26 Jan 2011 at 07:41

To reinstall it (non terminal way Ubuntu 10.4/10.10)

Adminstration>Synaptic Package Manager>enter firefox in search box> select installed version from search results>right click>mark for reinstallation>click apply in top menu bar

May be a broken installation?

EDIT

Also had this problem on a previous installation on my lappy. Found that the touchpad/left click button was a bit sensitive. I would tap/click on the Firefox icon etc and assume nowt was happening and click again. Would then get the same message as you posted earlier. Firefox would refuse to open until I right clicked on one of the Firefox tabs in the bottom panel and selected close. Then Firefox would continue

brendan · 26 Jan 2011 at 09:03

Maybe it's hidden in a desktop you can't see. Do a `killall firefox` wait a few seconds and try again. If that doesn't work your config is probably broken.

do a `mv ~/.mozilla/firefox ~/.mozilla/firefox.bck` and launch again. You'll loose all your settings but you can get most of them back by having a look in the folder ~/.mozilla/firefox.bck and copying the important parts.

Tonyator · 26 Jan 2011 at 14:52

brendan said:
do a `mv ~/.mozilla/firefox ~/.mozilla/firefox.bck` and launch again. You'll loose all your settings but you can get most of them back by having a look in the folder ~/.mozilla/firefox.bck and copying the important parts.

Thanks that did it