If I Delete Firefox And Reload It......

[trt]

Will I lose any information eg, passwords etc?

I ask because, when I was downloading a programme, my screen went mostly black and couldn't any get any web-sites etc., and now I have to use IE, which is slow.

Thanks Ron.

[Buenchico]

Before uninstalling Firefox (and then reinstalling it) try simply resetting it first. (That assumes, of course, that you can actually open it). To do so, start by going to Tools > Add-ons > Extensions and noting down any extensions that you wish to keep (because you'll need to download them again later). Then go to Help > Troubleshooting Information and click on 'Reset Firefox' (at the top right of the page). Lastly reinstall your extensions.

This link explains what is preserved, and what is lost, by clicking that 'Reset' button:
http://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/reset-firefox-easily-fix-most-problems

If that doesn't work, try an 'on top' installation next. (i.e. reinstall Firefox WITHOUT uninstalling it first). That also preserves most of your preferences.

If you get to the stage where you think that you really need to uninstall Firefox (and then reinstall it) you may well find that much of your old data is still preserved but it would be wisest to back-up as much as possible first. (You can back-up your bookmarks via Bookmarks > Show all bookmarks > Import and backup.)

[Alex_Higham]

I go along with Buenchico's advice. However, I would first of all try an 'on-top' installation. It is possible that your Firefox is out-of-date. It should be FF25. Click open Firefox > Help > About Firefox ... then take it from there.

[trt]

Thank Buenchico & Alex,

I didn't do very well as when I followed your instructions things didn't happen as they should have, so I uninstalled FF and reinstalled.

Unfortunately the screen comes up black then blank when I click on a website and have that blue circle at the left top, just going round and round :-(

I still have my FF old data logo, and that's a relief, so do you think its more serious?

[Buenchico]

If I was you, Trt, I'd use System Restore to take the PC's registry back to a time before you downloaded the rogue program.

However you can now expect a howl of protest from Methyl, who will predict death, doom, a plague of locusts and nuclear holocaust if you even think about using System Restore. I'm confident that it's totally safe (and I've used it hundreds of times, on many computer, with no ill effects). Methyl seems to disagree!
;-)

[trt]

Hi Buenchico,

I did a System Restore back to last Saturday and it made no difference to FF.
Went over to IE and that was worse and my wallpaper kept changing automatically and it hardly worked (slow).
I gave up in the end and went to bed thinking, bloody hell what have I done!

Today I tried again and went back to the 7th (Thursday) and its fine, so thanks again :-)

[Alex_Higham]

trt....I am pleased to hear that everything now appears to be back to 'normal' (if there is such a thing with home PC's)

Could be that a nastie got on-board.

Perhaps you should now give a run-through with whatever Anti Virus programme you have in the equipment and then follow it up with a scan of Malwarebytes.

If you haven't got an AV programme or any Malware protection, the following Links are what you need to click:-

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/security-essentials-download

http://www.malwarebytes.org/

[Alex_Higham]

MSE is a free download and so is one edition of Malwarebytes.

DO NOT PAY for anything, when sometimes you can get as good for nothing.

[trt]

Hi Alex,

Thanks for that. I did a malware scan and there were 1011 malicious thingy's that came up, all beginning with PUP, so I have deleted them all, and it seems OK.
..........................................................................................................
methyl,

Hi again. I am on windows 7.

I tend to get mixed up with what Anti-virus software to use, as people tell you this is better than the other etc, and had Avast before it ran out and they wanted me to pay.

I was downloading a site called something like ''ask a question about anything'' when it all went ass-up.

Not sure which version of IE I am on, and don't want to swap over to look while I am typing this.

[trt]

Sorry methyl, yes it was the malawarebytes quick scan I did.

It wasn't "Ask Toolbar", it was a web-site where you can ask any Q and you get the answer.
Wont be going there again!

I have come on IE now and its much faster than it was before , although when I first clicked on A/B, it said, A/B not responding then after 5/10 seconds it came up.

[sir.prize]

trt - you obviously downloaded the Avast trial rather than the FREE version.

[trt]

Thanks methyl & sir.prize,

Will follow your advice and hope I don't get those nasty gremlins again!

[trt]

Thanks to,

methyl
Buenchico
Alex
sir.prize

For all your help and patience, and to say my PC is brilliant now :-)

[oliviabatty]

Go to run type %appdata%

you will see folder name Mozilla

this folder contains all your setting addons passwords etc. Copy it and save somewhere.

Run a complete uni stall of Firefox.

again copy Mozilla folder to same location. and install new firefox. your all data will be safe..

I use same technique whenever I format my PC. You can save settings for Skype, Chrome etc same way