Restoring search engines in Firefox...

[alexpgp]

The desktop BSODed upon exiting Word (but with Firefox running... I know, I'm probably reaching here, but I figure some kind of virtual memory shuffle might have occurred when Word exited), so upon reboot, I deleted Firefox, used IE to download a fresh version, and relaunched Firefox.

Despite having been warned that Firefox and all components would be deleted, I was pleased to see my extensions and bookmarks were preserved. The search engine feature, however, was still dead.

A search of the Web indicated that the way to force a reset in Firefox was to run it in "safe mode." The following command line was suggested upon clicking on Start|Run...:

C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe -safe-mode

However, the Run dialog box apparently didn't like the space after "Program," so I rewrote the command line as:

C:\Progra~1\Mozill~1\firefox.exe -safe-mode

The '~1' (which can also be '~2', '~3', etc.) is apparently some kind of throwback to the days of DOS, where all files and directories were restricted to 8-character names and 3-character extensions. A directory such as "Program Files" (13 characters, with an embedded space) has the "alternate name" of "Progra~1" (the first six characters + '~' + 'digit'). (If you were to create a directory called "Program Music" in the same directory as "Program Files," its alternate name would be "Progra~2," dig it?)

Anyway, upon executing the rewritten command, Firefox popped a dialog box asking, among other options, if I wanted to reset the program. I did so and 'pop!' my search engines are back.

It would appear I cannot work without a browser running, so I'll just have to save files often until it becomes clear if this reinstallation has helped.

Cheers...

Comments

[eastexpert.livejournal.com]

"C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe" -safe-mode

With quotes round the file name would do the trick.
Forget the bloody DOS. :)

[alexpgp.livejournal.com]

Actually, the original command line (and the one I used first) did have the quotes where you have 'em, but for some reason - undoubtedly operator error on my part - my attempt to use the copied command line failed with an error.

I just tried it again (with quotes), and it works! Thanks.

Cheers...