How do I uninstall (& reinstall) Firefox when WinXP won't let me?

Question

Using Win XP. I want to uninstall and reinstall Firefox because of an unwanted search engine app. I first uninstalled Firefox maintenance. Now XP won't let me uninstall Firefox. The control panel quickly flashes a screen but won't proceed with the uninstall. I tried instantiating maintenance from within the folder on my C drive but no response. I suspect by removing the "maintenance" app I've tied my own hands. Thanks for your help.

Answer 1

Hi marvinglen, <br/>sorry that you are having problems sorting-out Firefox.
I am not sure that ''Firefox Maintenance'' has much of an effect on Windows XP
* see [[What is the Mozilla Maintenance Service?]]
Uninstalling and reinstalling Firefox may be ineffective in removing an unwanted search engine app. It depends rather on what it is you have that you are now trying to remove. Some of these search helpers etc install globally within Windows and will need to be removed from the Windows control panel once you identify them.
Whatever you do I strongly suggest you do NOT use any option from Windows or Firefox that offers to remove personal settings, because that is likely to destroy settings including bookmarks and passwords. (If you see the ResetFirefox option also do not use that, without first taking note of what it removes - all your extensions, and some settings)
Once any rogue software is uninstalled you will need to reset any Firefox settings that have been messed up, but there is an add-on that is often capable of accomplishing that easily.
* see [[Remove a toolbar that has taken over your Firefox search or home page]]
** and consider use of https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/searchreset/
Please read the linked articles and post back with how you get on, and say specifically what it is you have found and are trying to remove.