# Why isn't Firefox working? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 4, 2006, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-isnt-firefox-working/347002 "2006-03-04T02:42:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![cosmosdan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a6a055/32.png) [@cosmosdan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cosmosdan)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2006, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-isnt-firefox-working/347002/1 "2006-03-04T02:42:34Z")
Many months ago when I was having a IE problem with a hijacker I dpwnloaded and started useing Firefox. I found it to be a good browser and use it almost exclusively. Then a few days ago when I clicked on it it wouldn’t start. I decided to reinstall. I deleted the program and downloeaded a newer version to install but the program won’t install. I deleted that exe file and tried again from another download site. Same exact error. It begins to load and then I get and error and can’t continue. I’m beginning to wonder if this is a windows/microsoft/IE problem. Anyone have any experience with this type of problem? Any ideas or possible solutions? ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2006, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-isnt-firefox-working/347002/2 "2006-03-04T02:53:32Z")
It would probably help if you said exactly what error message you’re getting. ---
**Author:** ![Dragwyr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dragwyr/32/2855_2.png) [@Dragwyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dragwyr)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2006, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-isnt-firefox-working/347002/3 "2006-03-04T03:51:48Z")
There could be any number of reasons why Firefox refuses to work or install. Do any other programs behave the same way? If I were to troubleshoot this, I would start by checking free space on your hard drive and removing unnecessary programs from startup, do a virus and spyware scan. ---
**Author:** ![cosmosdan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a6a055/32.png) [@cosmosdan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cosmosdan)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2006, 12:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-isnt-firefox-working/347002/4 "2006-03-04T12:15:56Z")
> [@Smeghead](#): > > It would probably help if you said exactly what error message you’re getting. I get past accepting the agreement , and which folder to install it in, It begins to install and almost immediately it says **Error 202 access denied.** It almost seems like something is specifically targeting Firefox. ---
**Author:** ![Bewildebeest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/779978/32.png) [@Bewildebeest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bewildebeest)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2006, 12:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-isnt-firefox-working/347002/5 "2006-03-04T12:26:25Z")
Are you logged in to a user account that doesn’t have sufficient privilege to install new software? Will it install if you are “Administrator”? ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2006, 12:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-isnt-firefox-working/347002/6 "2006-03-04T12:37:29Z")
That’s what I got when I tried to install it on a work computer where I wasn’t an administrator. The good news about Firefox is you can install it elsewhere. I made a second Program Files folder on my C drive called ProgramFiles and installed it there with no problems. Alternatively, try downloading [portable firefox](http://portableapps.com/apps/internet/browsers/portable_firefox) and running that from wherever you like. ---
**Author:** ![cosmosdan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a6a055/32.png) [@cosmosdan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cosmosdan)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2006, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-isnt-firefox-working/347002/7 "2006-03-05T01:32:54Z")
Thanks for the feedback. I finally wised up and googled the error message and found a solution. Even though I had uninstalled the old version the file folder abd files remained?? Once I deleted those I could reinstall no problems.