See:

• https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/Firefox%20is%20already%20running%20but%20is%20not%20responding
• http://kb.mozillazine.org/Profile_in_use

Hi Swarnava:

Thanks for response

Unfortunately, neither of those links are pertinent to my issue here. I am able to launch Firefox and I do not get the alert:

"Firefox is already running but is not responding"

What fails is the update to the next version Specifically the alert reads:

The update could not be installed. Please make sure there are no other copies of Firefox running on your computer, and then restart Firefox to try again."'

Restarting the pc doesn't help. I keep going around in circles. Eventually Firefox does upgrade, but it a long painstaking process

See http://kb.mozillazine.org/Software_Update (Software Update not working properly)
Remove the files in the updates and updates\0 folder:
XP: C:\Documents and Settings\<user>\Local Settings\Application Data\Mozilla\Firefox\Mozilla Firefox\updates%USERPROFILE%\Local Settings\Application Data\Mozilla\Firefox\Mozilla Firefox\updatesC:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\updates
Vista/Windows7: C:\Users\<user>\AppData\Local\Mozilla\Firefox\Mozilla Firefox\updates%LOCALAPPDATA%\Mozilla\Firefox\Mozilla Firefox\updatesC:\Users\<user>\AppData\Local\VirtualStore\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\updates

If there are problems with updating then best is to download the full version and uninstall the currently installed version and delete the Firefox program folder to remove any leftover files.

Download a fresh Firefox copy and save the file to the desktop.

• Firefox 10.0.x: http://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/all.html

Uninstall your current Firefox version, if possible.

• Do NOT remove personal data when you uninstall the current version or you lose your bookmarks and other data because all profile folders will be removed.

Remove the Firefox program folder before installing that newly downloaded copy of the Firefox installer.

• It is important to delete the Firefox program folder to remove all the files and make sure that there are no problems with files that were leftover after uninstalling.
• http://kb.mozillazine.org/Uninstalling_Firefox

Your bookmarks and other profile data are stored elsewhere in the Firefox Profile Folder and won't be affected by a reinstall, but make sure that you do not select to remove personal data if you uninstall Firefox.

• http://kb.mozillazine.org/Profile_folder_-_Firefox
• http://kb.mozillazine.org/Profile_backup

• http://kb.mozillazine.org/Standard_diagnostic_-_Firefox#Clean_reinstall

Thanks cor-el:

Perhaps I'll try this when the next Firefox update comes along. Which shouldn't be too long from now..

Question:

Would it make sense to download the full version and simply install it directly over the Firefox program I now have? And if that doesn't work to do the uninstall then install as you recommended? Or would this be an exercise in futility if I don't uninstall first and then reinstall?

In case of problems it is best to remove the entire Firefox program folder (C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\) to be sure that there aren't any leftover files that may be in use by other (security) software.

Your personal data is stored in your user account (C:\Documents and Settings\<user>\) and won't be affected.

• C:\Documents and Settings\<user>\Application Data\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\<profile>\

The "Application Data" folder in XP/Win2K and the "AppData" folder in Vista/Windows 7 are hidden folders.

• http://kb.mozillazine.org/Show_hidden_files_and_folders