I can't run Firefox from my single user(only from a super user)

nightrider · 10-22-2006, 10:19 AM

When I type the command:

sh usr/local/firefox/firefox

from my user(wich isn't a super user) I receive a text box showing the following message:

"Firefox is already running, but is not responding. To open a new window, you must first close the existing Firefox process, or restart your system."

I click OK and type the command ps -e. I can't find any process from mozilla or firefox. Can you? (this is the trouble you help me solve).

Greetings from Sao Paulo - Brazil

Ricardo

=======================================================

Below and snapshot of the screen after the ps -e command:

[ricardo@c9511efb ~]$ clear
[ricardo@c9511efb ~]$ sh /usr/local/firefox/firefox &
[2] 4230
[ricardo@c9511efb ~]$ ps -e
PID TTY TIME CMD
1 ? 00:00:01 init
2 ? 00:00:00 ksoftirqd/0
3 ? 00:00:00 events/0
4 ? 00:00:00 khelper
5 ? 00:00:00 kthread
7 ? 00:00:00 kacpid
67 ? 00:00:00 kblockd/0
99 ? 00:00:00 pdflush
100 ? 00:00:00 pdflush
102 ? 00:00:00 aio/0
101 ? 00:00:00 kswapd0
691 ? 00:00:00 kseriod
906 ? 00:00:00 udevd
1045 ? 00:00:00 khubd
2335 ? 00:00:00 ifplugd
2419 ? 00:00:00 syslogd
2448 ? 00:00:00 klogd
2501 ? 00:00:00 acpid
2604 ? 00:00:00 cupsd
2665 ? 00:00:00 dhclient
2803 ? 00:00:00 kgameportd
2976 ? 00:00:00 xfs
3001 ? 00:00:00 dbus-daemon-1
3026 ? 00:00:01 hald
3243 ? 00:00:00 kdm
3244 ? 00:00:00 nifd
3272 tty7 00:01:46 X
3284 ? 00:00:00 kdm
3355 ? 00:00:00 mDNSResponder
3384 ? 00:00:00 atd
3434 ? 00:00:00 xinetd
3534 ? 00:00:00 freshclam
3559 ? 00:00:00 crond
3579 ? 00:00:00 startkde
3645 ? 00:00:00 lisa
3736 tty1 00:00:00 mingetty
3737 tty2 00:00:00 mingetty
3738 tty3 00:00:00 mingetty
3739 tty4 00:00:00 mingetty
3740 tty5 00:00:00 mingetty
3741 tty6 00:00:00 mingetty
3795 ? 00:00:04 mdkapplet
3821 ? 00:00:03 net_applet
3834 ? 00:00:00 s2u
3851 ? 00:00:00 startkde
3852 ? 00:00:00 gnome-volume-ma
3871 ? 00:00:00 gconfd-2
3872 ? 00:00:00 kdeinit
3875 ? 00:00:00 dcopserver
3877 ? 00:00:00 klauncher
3881 ? 00:01:28 kded
3884 ? 00:00:00 gam_server
3888 ? 00:00:00 knotify
3897 ? 00:00:05 artsd
3899 ? 00:00:00 kaccess
3909 ? 00:00:00 kwrapper
3912 ? 00:00:00 ksmserver
3913 ? 00:00:03 kwin
3916 ? 00:00:03 kdesktop
3919 ? 00:00:06 kicker
3921 ? 00:00:00 kio_file
3923 ? 00:00:00 xsettings-kde
3925 ? 00:00:01 kmix
3927 ? 00:00:01 korgac
3928 ? 00:00:00 krandrtray
3929 ? 00:01:13 opera
4093 ? 00:00:08 konsole
4094 pts/1 00:00:00 bash
4157 pts/1 00:00:00 man
4160 pts/1 00:00:00 sh
4161 pts/1 00:00:00 sh
4166 pts/1 00:00:00 less
4242 pts/1 00:00:00 ps
[2]- Done sh /usr/local/firefox/firefox
[ricardo@c9511efb ~]$

diilbert · 10-22-2006, 10:53 AM

I have had this problem with ff before and it was because one of my extensions was hanging up ff when I closed it.

Try running:

Code:

ps -ef | grep firefox

As a user or as root if you don't see anything. There will probably be more then one process so be sure to kill them both. Now uninstall all your extensions and give it another try.

PTrenholme · 10-22-2006, 10:54 AM

That message is displayed wheneever firefox can't load its executable for any reason. The "Is already running" is the most common reason, but it can be missleading if it's not the real reason. Because you can run as "root," your problem is more likely to be a "permissions" problem than the problem displayed in the "pop-up" box.

Check your permissions on the firefox entries in /usr/lib You should have something like this:

Code:

$ ls -l /usr/lib/firefox-1.5.0.7/fire*
-rwxr-xr-x 1 root root   5247 Sep 13 17:27 /usr/lib/firefox-1.5.0.7/firefox
-rwxr-xr-x 1 root root 113320 Sep 13 17:40 /usr/lib/firefox-1.5.0.7/firefox-bin
-rwxr-xr-x 1 root root    464 Sep 13 17:28 /usr/lib/firefox-1.5.0.7/firefox-xremote-client

If the permissions are not set correctly, use the chmod command (as "root") to correct the problem.

nightrider · 10-22-2006, 11:23 AM

Firefox is in the /usr/local here in my machine.

Would this be the problem?

Look below:

[ricardo@c9511efb firefox]$ pwd
/usr/local/firefox
[ricardo@c9511efb firefox]$ ls -al fire*
-rwxr-xr-x 1 root root 5247 Set 14 22:23 firefox*
-rwxr-xr-x 1 root root 9963100 Set 14 22:23 firefox-bin*
[ricardo@c9511efb firefox]$

diilbert · 10-22-2006, 12:22 PM

It would be the /usr/lib/ permissions.. not the executables. If you are referring to PTrenholme's post.

JimBass · 10-22-2006, 01:03 PM

Another thing to check, is firefox puts a lock file in a subdirectory of your home, and if it crashes or shutsdown uncleanly, it will leave the lock file in place, and it might lead to the error you are seeing. The location of the lock file on my machine is

Code:

/home/jim/.mozilla/firefox/234i8fys.default/lock

Obviously the string after .mozilla/firefox/ is some random chars, but you'll find it easily enough. If the lock file is there, and you don't have firefox running, you can rm it.

This used to occur often, and I thought it had been fixed a few versions ago, but it certainly could continue to happen.

The fact that you are launching from /usr/local won't make any difference, it still places files in the .mozilla/firefox under your home.

Peace,
JimBass

nightrider · 10-22-2006, 03:28 PM

Mr. Dilbert:

There are no references of firefox in /usr/bin. I suppose that the entries showed int the /usr/local in my previous post refer to firefox binary. The konsole commands showed bellow doessn't show any entry in /usr/bin.
=================================================================
[ricardo@c9511efb música]$ cd ~
[ricardo@c9511efb ~]$ ls
coolgen/ documentos/ lixo/ plugin_stack.trace testeslazarus/ vídeo/
Desktop/ download/ mp3/ RealPlayer/ tmp/
doc/ fotos/ música/ testesfpc/ tmpxOWlMa.wav.part
[ricardo@c9511efb ~]$ cd .mozilla
[ricardo@c9511efb .mozilla]$ ls
firefox/ mozver.dat plugins/
[ricardo@c9511efb .mozilla]$ cd firefox
[ricardo@c9511efb firefox]$ ls
pluginreg.dat profiles.ini
[ricardo@c9511efb firefox]$ su
Password:
[root@c9511efb firefox]# updatedb
[root@c9511efb firefox]# exit
exit
[ricardo@c9511efb firefox]$ locate firefox

To Mr. Jim Bass:

No, there are no locks in the path you suggested.

Someone have new suggestions? Please?

Ricardo

diilbert · 10-22-2006, 04:35 PM

Did you try what I suggested in my first post ?

nightrider · 10-22-2006, 08:22 PM

I decide to read with more accuracy. lets go:

first part:
"I have had this problem with ff before and it was because one of my extensions was hanging up ff when I closed it."

What is the meaning of "my extensions"? And "my extensions was hanging up ff"?

====

second part:
"As a user or as root if you don't see anything. There will probably be more then one process so be sure to kill them both. Now uninstall all your extensions and give it another try."

I try the command as root and as non super user and result was:
[root@c9511efb ricardo]# ps -ef | grep firefox
root 4458 4145 0 23:14 pts/1 00:00:00 grep firefox
[root@c9511efb ricardo]# exit
exit
[1]+ Done sh /usr/local/firefox/firefox
[ricardo@c9511efb ~]$ ps -ef | grep firefox
ricardo 4460 4092 0 23:14 pts/1 00:00:00 grep firefox
[ricardo@c9511efb ~]$

Again I can't understand your words. As you can see in the snapshot above there are process to kill.

Please explain "Now uninstall all your extensions and give it another try." better. I have no idea what is the meaning of extensions in this context. I'm a newbie.

Excuse me if I don't give correct attention to your first post before.

Greetings

Ricardo

PTrenholme · 10-23-2006, 09:27 AM

Ricardo, how did you install firefox? Normally, you log in as root and extract everything into /usr/lib/firefox and then create a symbolic link /bin/firefox pointing to /usr/lib/firefox/firefox with "x" permissions for everyone.

If you do it that way, the permissions on the firefox files will be set correctly, and you can start firefox with a simple firefox command. (Note that the extraction needs to be done as "root" so the permissions can be set correctly.)

Even easier is to check the repositories for your distribution to see if there's a firefox package available, and to install it if you can find it. Depending on your distribution, an apt-get install firefox or yum install firefox will often do the trick for you.

I'd suggest that you re-install firefox (as described above) and then see if you still have the problem.

diilbert · 10-23-2006, 10:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nightrider

I decide to read with more accuracy. lets go:

first part:
"I have had this problem with ff before and it was because one of my extensions was hanging up ff when I closed it."

What is the meaning of "my extensions"? And "my extensions was hanging up ff"?

I keep forgetting most people's first language is not english.

"Extensions" are located in Firefox under the Tools --> Extensions menu. But this step only works if can one Firefox (FF for short).

And I would do what PTrenholme suggested since that seems to part of the problem you are having (not installed correctly)

nightrider · 10-23-2006, 12:09 PM

Now, I remember that someone powered off my machine with linux open. Then, as I had terrible problems with java plugin, I don't re-install FF. I recreate a link.

Since this day, FF runs only when called via /usr/local/firefox/firefox and I must be logged as root.

Master PTrenholme points to the probably trouble, I suppose...

Re-install Firefox... Here comes a big pain. Flash pligin, Java plugin... Lots of plugins... I'm dead!

How do I uninstall these whole sheet now?

Must I give a "locate firefox" and manually remove all entries in each directory? I would like to remove all garbage before re-install it.

It would be so easy if FF was furnished as rpm file... If I remember correctly it is distributed as a "tar" or "tar.gz" and I must "untar" it and run a binary.Is this right?

When I run this last binary I must be logged as super user(normally root)?

My distro is: Mandriva 2006.

Thank you guys

Ricardo

PTrenholme · 10-24-2006, 12:28 PM

The plug-ins should be in /usr/lib/mozilla/plugins, and they should automatically recognized (and used) by a new firefox installation. Sometimes the plug-ins are in /usr/lib/firefox/plugins or, in your case, perhaps in your home directory somewhere.

In any case, all you need to do is to save the plug-in files, re-install firefox, and then move the saved files to either the /usr/lib/mozilla/plugins/ or the /usr/lib/firefox/plugins/ directory.

firefox automatically checks those directories when it starts and loads any plug-ins if finds in them. So you shouldn't need to download any of them again. (Unless, of course, they don't work with a newer firefox version. But that's a problem that all firefox users have when they install a newer release.)

So, locate your plug-ins, copy them to a safe place (I'd use /tmp/plugins, but anywhere would do), reinstall firefox and copy the plug-ins to their correct location.

If you install firefox from a repository, the location under /usr/lib may be firefox-1.5.0.7 (i.e., with the version number appended).

nightrider · 10-24-2006, 12:36 PM

I pretend to follow your instructions mr. PTrenholme. But would you tell me, please, the best way of clean my hard disk from the present Firefox files?

Thanks a lot

Ricardo

PTrenholme · 10-24-2006, 08:35 PM

Unless your current installation is in /usr/lib/firefox/, you don't really need to clean out your old files. Just install as I described above, and verify that you can run the newly installed firefox. (Note that you should not change anything in your ~/.mozilla or ~/.firefox folders. Those contain your user-specific settings and data, and they should work with the new installation.

Once everything is working you can rm everything in your old installation directory whenever you want to do so.