[SOLVED] [7SP1 x86] - Firefox update caused FF and Opera to stop working, both can't be removed or repaired

ezekiel2517 · Mar 15, 2020

Dear all,
Firefox tried to update this morning and something went wrong. FF froze, even stopping via Task Manager did not fully stop all FF handles.
I had to reboot the computer, afterwards I noticed that Opera also no longer worked.
I tried to uninstall FF as well as Opera several times. Firefox supposedly worked, Opera did not.
Reinstallation of either program freezes the installation program. Again, only a restart fixes that issue.
Windows recovery setpoints also seem not to work. Tried two different setpoints, also with my antivirus program turned off. Additionally, a lot of programs no longer seem to be loading at startup.
I orginally thought there was an issue with a dll that both browsers might use but not so sure any longer.

I would be grategul for any hints...

Sysnative Windows Update · Mar 15, 2020

Hi!

Let's check your drive:

GSmartControl
Follow the instructions below to check your SMART status with GSmartControl:

Download the portable version of GSmartControl and save it on your Desktop;
Extract the zip file to your Desktop. Open the folder gsmartcontrol-1.1.3-win32 which should be located on your Desktop and double-click gsmartcontrol.exe to launch the program.
Identify your drive in the list (if recognized by the tool), and hover your mouse over it.
You should see something called: SMART status. It will either read: Enabled, in which case you should do the following:
Double-click on it to bring up its window (usually you'll find your drive by its size or its brand name);
Go to the Self-Tests tab, then select Extended Self-test in the Test type drop-down list and click on Execute (this test can take a few hours to complete);
Once the test is over, the results will be displayed at the bottom of the window. Please copy and paste these results in your next reply or take a screenshot;
Also, go in the Attributes tab and if you have any entries highlighted in red or pink, take a screenshot of the GSmartControl window and attach it in your next reply;
Please note: If the SMART Status reads: Unsupported, stop and let me know.

ezekiel2517 · Mar 15, 2020

I let it run and it showed no errors. The HD is old but ok.

ezekiel2517 · Mar 17, 2020

Hi,
do you have any suggestions what else I should check with my browser issues?
Since system restore did not work and it seems the pc is VERY slow and not a lot of programs are running at startup, I think the issue goes beyond only the browsers.

xilolee · Mar 18, 2020

1) Open an elevated command prompt

Read More:

2) Type the following command in the command prompt, just opened: sfc /scannow
3) Wait and post the final result of the command here (it usually lasts 20-50 minutes)

ezekiel2517 · Mar 19, 2020

I was able to reset the system using safe mode.
Afterwards I installed the same packages which led to some issues. Seems to work fine now but my virus scanner is still not loading its tray at startup and Windows notification center claims at every startup that there is no firewall??

Sfc gave no integrity breach.

Sysnative Windows Update · Mar 19, 2020

Have you tried removing them with Revo?

ezekiel2517 · Mar 19, 2020

Which programs? The antivirus program or FF and Opera?
Since I could reset the system to a restore point I have not had to remove either. But if the antivirus program and others continue not to show up in the tray, I might do so, and reinstall them.

Sysnative Windows Update · Mar 19, 2020

Any that don't install/work properly.

plodr · Mar 19, 2020

I was able to reset the system using safe mode.

explain what you mean by "reset the system". Your resetting might have created additional problems.

Thankfully, I make images about every 4 - 6 weeks and if something seems off, I restore the newest image then I go to my notes and start doing updates that have been done since the image was made.

ezekiel2517 · Mar 20, 2020

I meant that in safe mode I was able to return to a previous system restore point and any subsequent update so far have not impacted the usability of both Firefox or Opera.
However, what is still not working properly are the Firewall, which seems to reset itself during each startup as well as the firewall tray.
I am currently backing up my system with Acronis. Once this is done I wanted to selectively remove both my firewall as well as my antivirus software and reinstall them. That should be done this afternoon I hope.

On top of that, I am not sure whether the system itself is lacking some key components. Since the service for Windows 7 has discontinued, there will of course no longer be any updates. But could you please advise what would be neccessary to check if something systemwise is not functioning the way it should.
I had an update issue 2 years ago and you guys helped me a lot to fix that. I remember that I scanned my system e.g. using SURT.

ezekiel2517 · Mar 20, 2020

That seems to have worked. I uninstalled using Revo and reinstalled both programs.
The only question remaining is whether all programs are now running that were loaded at startup previously. I only noticed the firewall and antivirus being gone from the systems tray.
Any suggestions what I could do to scan the current state of my operating system?

Sysnative Windows Update · Mar 20, 2020

There were obviously remnants present on the system that were blocking the installation progress.

You can't scan the system like that. Just use it normally and if a program does not work, uninstall it with Revo and then reinstall it.

ezekiel2517 · Mar 20, 2020

Okay, thanks for the support.
I would consider the issue solved then.

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[SOLVED] [7SP1 x86] - Firefox update caused FF and Opera to stop working, both can't be removed or repaired

ezekiel2517

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Sysnative Windows Update

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ezekiel2517

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ezekiel2517

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xilolee

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Sysnative Windows Update

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ezekiel2517

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Sysnative Windows Update

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plodr

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ezekiel2517

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ezekiel2517

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Sysnative Windows Update

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ezekiel2517

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