Error message: can't install update, firefox is already running, but it is not

second request
an auto update failed a few days ago and now everytime I open FF I get an error message that says can't install update, firefox is already running, but it is not!
the parent.lock file is not open when FF is closed
in addition to this message, a box opens asking looking for a file
Help!

hi
I had the same problem (update failed for normal user, update worked for administrator, but then normal user still got asked about installing the update even though it was already done).
Following the advice on http://kb.mozillazine.org/Software_update#Software_Update_not_working_properly worked for me, in particular to remove the update-related xml files.
good luck
kris

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When I attempt to open firefox an error message appears telling me that firefox is already running, but I can't find it running. How do I do so or in any case close the already running Firefox process?

When I attempt to open Firefox instead of Firefox opening, an error message appears saying "Firefox is already running but isn't responding. To open another window please close the existing Firefox process or restart the system.", but I can't find that process of Firefox in order to kill it, and after restarting the system there is still the problem. I have found an emergency fix to at least get online, and that is to use"Firefox_Profile_Manager" in the start menu's "run" start menu, but the
Firefox that then opens is that one doesn't carry over what I had in my bookmarks but starts bookmarks anew.

Sounds like it is hanging when you exit and later try to restart Firefox.
* How to stop the running Firefox process
** In Task Manager, does firefox.exe show in the '''Processes''' tab?
** See: http://kb.mozillazine.org/Kill_application
**Windows 7 users: http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/window-on-windows/reap-the-benefits-of-windows-7s-task-manager/2576
* What may cause Firefox to hang at exit
**Windows 7 Task Manager: http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/window-on-windows/reap-the-benefits-of-windows-7s-task-manager/2576
** http://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/Firefox+hangs
** http://kb.mozillazine.org/Firefox_hangs
** https://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/Firefox+is+already+running+but+is+not+responding
* You may need to try Firefox Safe Mode
** You may need to use '''Safe Mode''' to locate the problem: ***See: http://kb.mozillazine.org/Safe_Mode
***Firefox 4 users, hold the Shift key while clicking the Firefox 4 desktop icon to enter Safe Mode.
***Firefox Safe Mode is a diagnostic mode that disables Extensions and some other features of Firefox.
****In Firefox 4, Safe Mode also disables Plugins and Hardware Acceleration.
****If you are using a theme, switch to the DEFAULT theme: Tools > Add-ons > Themes '''before''' starting Safe Mode (In Firefox 4, Tools > Add-ons > Appearance). See: http://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/Using%20themes%20with%20Firefox#w_managing-themes-and-personas
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****Test to see if the problem you are experiencing is corrected.
*** If the problem does not occur in Safe-mode then disable all of your Extensions and Plug-ins and then try to find which is causing it
***#by enabling '''one at a time''' until the problem reappears.
***#You can also enable a few at a time (3-5), keeping track of what you just re-enabled to see if the problem re-occurs; this will help narrow down the possibilities if you have a large number of add-ons.
***#'''You MUST close and restart Firefox after EACH change''' via File > Restart Firefox (on Mac: Firefox > Quit).
***#You can use "Disable all add-ons" on the Safe Mode start window.
**See the following for more information
*** http://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/Troubleshooting+extensions+and+themes
*** http://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/Troubleshooting+plugins
*** http://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/Basic+Troubleshooting
 
 
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*Adobe PDF Plug-In For Firefox and Netscape "9.3.2"
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#*Download and SAVE to your Desktop so you can find the installer later
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#*Download site: http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/java/javase/downloads/index.html (Java Platform: Download JRE)
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I have also uninstalled and reinstalled the application.
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See also:
*http://kb.mozillazine.org/Profile_in_use
Note that in Firefox 13+ (expected to be released June 5) the parent.lock file is no longer deleted after closing Firefox to make it possible to check for startup crashes, so the presence of that file will in the future no longer indicate a problem.
Create a new profile as a test to check if your current profile is causing the problems.
See "Basic Troubleshooting: Make a new profile":
*https://support.mozilla.org/kb/Basic+Troubleshooting#w_8-make-a-new-profile
There may be extensions and plugins installed by default in a new profile, so check that in "Tools > Add-ons > Extensions & Plugins" in case there are still problems.
If the new profile works then you can transfer some files from the old profile to that new profile, but be careful not to copy corrupted files.
See:
*http://kb.mozillazine.org/Transferring_data_to_a_new_profile_-_Firefox

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See also [[Firefox is already running but is not responding]]

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I run Firefox on 4 Windows machines and this is the only machine that I have this problem on.
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I have installed Google Chrome to fix this problem but now I find that several of the websites and companies I do business with are not compatible with Chrome.
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For possible causes see [[Firefox is already running but is not responding]].

Doesn't start when starting as administrator. Error 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.

Update firefox, it asked me to update flash, I tried to update flash but it said I had to close firefox. A box came up and said the Flash install would continue when I closed firefox. I closed all firefox windows and no update of flash occurred. I tried relaunching firefox but got the "Doesn't start when starting as administrator. Error 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." message. I rebooted the system, no improvement. I tried to run firefox as administrator and got the same message. Either I find a fix or I won't be able to use firefox and will have to go back to ie.

-> press '''CTRL''' + '''SHIFT''' + '''ESC''' to Open Task Manager -> Processes tab -> right-click '''firefox.exe''' and click '''End Process Tree''' -> close Task Manager
Troubleshooting extensions and themes
* https://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/Troubleshooting%20extensions%20and%20themes
Troubleshooting plugins
* https://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/Troubleshooting%20plugins
Check and tell if its working.

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I used to get this same error on some of the older Firefox versions but it was only once in a while. With the new 29.0.1 it is literally EVERY TIME I TRY TO RUN FIREFOX!!!!
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'''https://support.mozilla.org/questions/997866?esab=a&s=&r=1&as=s'''. 
This is not a cure but will make it easier if Firefox locks up.

Everytime I try to open firefox i keep getting this message "Firefox is already running, but is not responding. To open a new window, you must first close the existing Firefox process, or restart your computer"

i have restarted my computer and i have uninstalled firefox and re-installed it but i still get the same message i have also tried safe mode and it still has not worked, and i have recently gotten rid of a trojan virus

Do you still have a [http://kb.mozillazine.org/Profile_folder_-_Firefox Firefox Profile Folder] ?
* [[Firefox is already running but is not responding]]
* http://kb.mozillazine.org/Profile_in_use

Error message: can't install update, firefox is already running, but it is not

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