[waterwild]

I have attempted to download Firefox on my Dell Inspiron E1705 running Vista Home Premium, but get an error message reading (does MS prohbit a cut-and-paste copy of these sometimes complex error messages for a reason?): Error opening file for message. C:Program FilesMozilla Firefixxpiclean.exe Click Retry to try again, or Cancel to stop the installation. It should come as no surpise that clicking "Retry" initiates an endless loop. Is this a conspiracy by Microsoft to prevent installing Firefox as an allternative to MSIE?


Thanks in advance for any help or advice.

[mphenterprises]

Hi WaterWild and welcome to the PCWorld Communities. :D




First, I have changed your Discussion title to give a clearer indication of your question. For future reference, please be as descriptive as possible in both the heading of your Discussion as well as the post itself.

Now, as you can imagine, if Microsoft had code to block Mozilla Firefox from loading on a Windows Vista computer, the technology world would have thrown a fit. That being said, I use Windows Vista and I can personally tell you that Mozilla Firefox does run within Windows Vista.

I have some questions for you:

- From where did you download Mozilla Firefox? Also....were you able to download but not install the application or not download at all?

- Are you running a validate version of Windows Vista or a copy?

- Are you an Administrator of this computer?

[waterwild]

Thanks for the assist on making the topic specific.

1. I downloaded from the Mozilla site.

2. I am running a valid Vista OS that came loaded on the new Dell laptop I purchased about a year ago.

3. I am the administtrator on my laptop.

When I first downloaded it a year ago, everything ran just fine. But one day, it simply crashed, and attempts to open a browser resulted in the same error message. When I deleted the program, and donwloaded a new one, it would not install. Then, just as mysteriously, a few weeks back, it installed just fine. But in the last two weeks, the same progblems (and error message) reappeared.

Not that I would seriously consider MS is somehow blocking Firefox, but something on my laptop surely seems to be. (Sidebar: I am surprised there are no class actions regarding loss of productivity -- and plain fraud in selling a known-to-be-buggy product -- over Vista. (OK. That was a rant! Sorry.)

[rgreen4]

I am running Firefox and use Firefox heavily on all three of my Vista Computers. Whatever is going on, it's not MS or Vista. As MPH has said, if that were the general case you would have seen many other complaints and other actions.

What anti-virus, anti-spyware and firewall programs are you running?

Have you had any problems installing other software?

Have you had problems with any other software?

Have you upgraded to Vista SP-1?

BTW - I am responding with Firefox 2.0.0.14 running under Windows Vista Home Premium on a self built computer, but I also use the same configuration on an HP dv9500t laptop.

[mphenterprises]

waterwild said:

When I deleted the program, and donwloaded a new one, it would not install.........(from previous post) C:Program FilesMozilla Firefix xpiclean.exe

>
>



How exactly did you delete the original installation of Firefox? I would gather to say that the original installation of Firefox was not uninstalled completely. I am making a guess here but the item in bold, xpiclean.exe, is a file that essentially cleans up any previously installed versions of Firefox to successfully install the current version. If the previous installation was not uninstalled properly, coupled with the crash you referenced, could be the reason you cannot install Firefox now.

- Please check the Add/Remove Program utility in the Control Panel and verify that there is no Mozilla Firefox listed.

- Open the Program Files folder and delete any Mozilla or Mozilla Firefox folder

- Download Eusing Free Registry Cleaner and run a scan of your Operating System registry



Once the above steps are done, attempt to reinstall Mozilla Firefox.

[waterwild]

Thanks for the additional information. I am running Vista's firewall and Threatfire anti-virus. Windows Update says the system is up to date as of May 22, 2008, although I do not see a specific reference to SP1 in the update history log.

Until yestereday, I have had no problems installing and running other programs -- but MS Streets and Trips suddenly conked out and refuses to run or reinstall. (I am a message into MS on that one, too.)

[waterwild]

Thanks again for the continued assistance.

1. Neither Mozilla nor Firefox is listed in the Add/Remove Program list.

2. I removed all files the the Program Files/Mozilla Firefox file with the exception of the xpicleanup.exe file, which does not permit deletion.

3. I ran the Free Registry Cleaner, which continues to identify 18 problems, even though it says they have been repaired.

Nine are HKEYLOCALMACHINESoftwareMicrosoftSpeechRecognizersTokensMS-1033-DESKModels1033L1033 (followed by discrete switches)

Seven are HKEYLOCALMACHINESoftwareMicrosoftSpeechRecognizersTokensMS-2057-80-DESKmodels2057L2057 (followed by discrete switches)

One is HKEYLOCALMACHINESoftwareMicrosoftIMEJP10.0directoriesUsrDictPath

One is HKEYLOCALMACHINESoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionIMEChinaimescDirectoriesInstallDir

[SpiritWind]

Hi :



"Threatfire"is NOT an "antivirus" program, but a "HIPS" ( Host-based Intrusion Prevention

System ) program which PC Tools inappropiately misnamed because "antivirus" is more

commonly known than "HIPS" ; it quite possibly MAY be the Source of your problem and

while visiting its Support Forums at www.pctools.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=59

I saw several "Firefox"-related Threads . Suggest you look there . IF I were to put a HIPS

program on my computer, it would NOT be "Threatfire", which used to be known as

"Cyberhawk" .

[waterwild]

Actually, the combination of the last two posts appears to have done the trick! I followed all of the suggestions, then ran the Firefix setup, and it's running just fine. Thanks all for the help!

[mphenterprises]

With Pleasure. :D