Re: Firefox can't start -- thinks it's Internet Exporer

On Sun, 23 Jan 2005 21:19:54 UTC, Roland <[email protected]> opined:

> On 23-1-2005 19:20, Stan Goodman wrote:
> 
> > On Sun, 23 Jan 2005 16:08:13 UTC, Roland <[email protected]> opined:
> > 
> > 
> >>On 23-1-2005 16:44, Stan Goodman wrote:

-----snip-----

> > The fix reads as follows:
> > =====
> > To manually remove the User agent switcher plugin (on win32) and restore 
> > functionality to firefox (if you dont have that plugin, skip 3 steps) 
> > 
> > 1.locate firefox's temporary files for you windows logon account (on winXP :
> > (assuming drive C) C:\Documents and Settings\Username\Local 
> > Settings\Application Data\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\) 
> > 
> > 2.for each foler in there, in \extensions , delete the directory 
> > "{e968fc70-8f95-4ab9-9e79-304de2a71ee1}" if it is there (I am assuming this 
> > will be a constant regardless of OS) 
> > 
> > 3.back up a couple of level to profiles BEFORE DOING THIS, BACK UP YOUR 
> > PREFS.JS FILE (to something like backupprefs.txt) and restore it if anything
> > goes wrong 
> > 
> > 4. in each of the folders in there, edit the prefs.js file to remove any 
> > lines beginning with user_pref("useragentswitcher 
> > 
> > 5. locate a line like user_pref("general.useragent.override", "Mozilla/4.0 
> > (compatible; MSIE 6.0; Windows NT 5.1)"); and delete it.
> > =====
> > 
> > Step 1 is no problem. I can CD down to \Documents and 
> > Settings\<username>\Application Data\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles. DIR shows 
> > that the only thing in that folder is a single directory, 
> > <gibberish>.default. An attempt to CD into it gets the retort "Path not 
> > found". ATTRIB */s gets "File not found". I am not allowed in there, or to 
> > know what is there. Thus Step 2 of the instructions above is stymied.
> > 
> > Firefox is not running. I am the only user of this system and of this 
> > machine. What do I have to do to get into The Forbidden Directory? I would 
> > not be averse to just making a new profile, and letting the current blocked 
> > on just sit there an ferment; how do I do that?
> > 
> > 
> > 
> Try enclosing name of dir in quotes:
>     cd "gibberish.default"

It has no spaces; why quotes?

> On my system attrib */s also responds with "File not found". But
>     attrib /s
> did show all items in the subdirectories (note: no *).

Ah. But you've already seen that I am not familiar with the peculiarities of
Windows.

> Another way is to go there with the file Explorer. The "Application 
> Data" is a hidden folder, so you won't see it until you make it visible. 
> To make it visible, start Explorer (just click on the My Computer icon 
> on your desktop) and select File >  Tools > Folder Options.... Click the 
> View tab and select "Show hidden files and folders". Then click OK to 
> close the "Folder Options" dialog.


Thank you again. I'll do as you suggest tomorrow, when I fire that machine 
up again.

-- 
Stan Goodman
Qiryat Tiv'on
Israel

All those who believe that the best physicians in France, given two weeks, 
can't diagnose what ails a patient - please stand up.