Could A Firefox Update Bork WindowsXP?

DepotDepot The ModFather Join Date: 2002-11-09 Member: 7956Members
in Off-Topic
<div class="IPBDescription">...yup, got to format after restart</div>After attempting to restart my computer a bit ago, error dialogue appeared on a black screen saying some Windows/System32/config (or something similar) was missing, and to insert the setup CD and attempt a repair.

The repair effort was in vain, so I had to format C drive (hope all of my music survives on D).

Anyway, Firefox self-downloaded an update yesterday and I opted to update on restart (later). When I restarted is when I had the problem.

Could the Firefox update have caused this Windows issue?
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Comments

  • JimmehJimmeh Join Date: 2003-08-24 Member: 20173Members, Constellation
    I'm going to say "no".
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  • puzlpuzl The Old Firm Join Date: 2003-02-26 Member: 14029Retired Developer, NS1 Playtester, Forum Moderators, Constellation
    I'd seriously doubt it, but anything is possible. firefox is self contained in the install folder. It doesn't need to touch the system files, except via the registry for the 'set default browser' feature.
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  • DepotDepot The ModFather Join Date: 2002-11-09 Member: 7956Members
    Thanks Jimmeh, everyone's agreeing with you so far. I just want something to blame it on, meh.

    Yeah puzl, that makes sense.
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  • JimmehJimmeh Join Date: 2003-08-24 Member: 20173Members, Constellation
    Did you download/install anything else recently?
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  • DepotDepot The ModFather Join Date: 2002-11-09 Member: 7956Members
    Negative, my last install was an HLDS and Steam, a few weeks back. No other new proggys or anything.

    Oh, AVG updates daily, if that counts.
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  • JimmehJimmeh Join Date: 2003-08-24 Member: 20173Members, Constellation
    <!--quoteo(post=1616288:date=Mar 22 2007, 05:16 PM:name=Depot)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Depot @ Mar 22 2007, 05:16 PM) [snapback]1616288[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->
    Negative, my last install was an HLDS and Steam, a few weeks back. No other new proggys or anything.

    Oh, AVG updates daily, if that counts.
    <!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    Sounds fine. Download anything dodgy at all? Or visit some dodgy websites? Could have downloaded a virus or somethin' that AVG might not have picked up.

    Or Windows could have just fudged itself since it seems to do that a lot.
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  • DepotDepot The ModFather Join Date: 2002-11-09 Member: 7956Members
    Naw, haven't downloaded any "questionable" files, and no one is on the computer but me. I have a hardware AND software firewall too.

    I guess it was my turn in the barrel, eh? LOL
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  • TyrainTyrain Join Date: 2003-01-03 Member: 11746Members
    I wonder how some people manage to crash PCs like that.

    My brother, for example, is able to completly destroy a fresh install in a mere two days. My install is still running fine and stable since new years eve 2006.

    I guess you just should let Windows do too much, if it fiddles too much on its own it will crash eventually.
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  • DiscoZombieDiscoZombie Join Date: 2003-08-05 Member: 18951Members
    my windows xp was working fine without a reinstall since like 2002 =d I guess I'm one of the lucky ones.
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  • CabooseCaboose title = name(self, handle) Join Date: 2003-02-15 Member: 13597Members, Constellation
    /me does the penguin dance

    <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/marine.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="::marine::" border="0" alt="marine.gif" />
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  • DepotDepot The ModFather Join Date: 2002-11-09 Member: 7956Members
    How did I know a penguin person was gonna post here before this was done? <img src="http://www.ibparcade.com/style_emoticons/default/damm.gif" border="0" alt="IPB Image" />
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  • KungFuDiscoMonkeyKungFuDiscoMonkey Creator of ns_altair 日本福岡県 Join Date: 2003-03-15 Member: 14555Members, NS1 Playtester, Reinforced - Onos
    /me high fives Caboose
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  • UltimaGeckoUltimaGecko hates endnotes Join Date: 2003-05-14 Member: 16320Members
    Bah, New Years Eve? I haven't done anything to mine in a year (...but that was just because my X700 didn't like XP home - and I didn't like Compaq devoting 8 of my GBs to a completely useless 'restore partition' (...and in fact, it didn't even 'restore' anything when my graphics card change broke it, so it was useless). Now at my OS choice it gives me the option of XP Pro or ...XP Pro, and it hasn't been giving me the user selection option (but that's probably because I got rid of the pointless guest account that I had on here). Actually not that great of a record, I guess, but another computer has Windows 98 from ...well, 98 still. Actually, I've still got a computer with 3.1 on it, but it's missing a power cord, and it was from 1993, so I don't think that computer's going to be turned on ever again.


    ...I will ask, were you messing around with msconfig/the system config utility?
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  • TyrainTyrain Join Date: 2003-01-03 Member: 11746Members
    <!--quoteo(post=1616333:date=Mar 22 2007, 10:39 PM:name=UltimaGecko)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(UltimaGecko @ Mar 22 2007, 10:39 PM) [snapback]1616333[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->
    Bah, New Years Eve?
    <!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->


    Well, it would have been longer but I bought it like 30th of december <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":D" border="0" alt="biggrin-fix.gif" />
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  • DepotDepot The ModFather Join Date: 2002-11-09 Member: 7956Members
    <!--quoteo(post=1616333:date=Mar 22 2007, 05:39 PM:name=UltimaGecko)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(UltimaGecko @ Mar 22 2007, 05:39 PM) [snapback]1616333[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->
    ...I will ask, were you messing around with msconfig/the system config utility?
    <!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    I may have checked the msconfig, but I doubt I changed any settings.

    Penguin people, stay away - you're like a bad dream, or a virus.... ... .. .
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  • lolfighterlolfighter Snark, Dire Join Date: 2003-04-20 Member: 15693Members
    Phooey. Penguins are way cute. They're even cute compared to other birds, and considering the generally high cuteness factor of birds, that's saying a lot.
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  • DepotDepot The ModFather Join Date: 2002-11-09 Member: 7956Members
    Penguins the birds ARE way cute. The penguin people however, leave a lot to be desired.
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  • Lt_PatchLt_Patch Join Date: 2005-02-07 Member: 40286Members
    <!--quoteo(post=1616319:date=Mar 22 2007, 08:03 PM:name=Depot)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Depot @ Mar 22 2007, 08:03 PM) [snapback]1616319[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->
    How did I know a penguin person was gonna post here before this was done? <img src="http://www.ibparcade.com/style_emoticons/default/damm.gif" border="0" alt="IPB Image" />
    <!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    Godwin's Law, but applied to penguin people, and Windows debates...
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  • DepotDepot The ModFather Join Date: 2002-11-09 Member: 7956Members
    <!--quoteo(post=1616347:date=Mar 22 2007, 06:36 PM:name=Lt_Patch)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Lt_Patch @ Mar 22 2007, 06:36 PM) [snapback]1616347[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->
    Godwin's Law, but applied to penguin people, and Windows debates...
    <!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    Surely a man of your Windows expertise could provide at least a tidbit of info here, eh? <img src="http://www.ibparcade.com/style_emoticons/default/chair.gif" border="0" alt="IPB Image" />
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  • FaskaliaFaskalia Wechsellichtzeichenanlage Join Date: 2004-09-12 Member: 31651Members, Constellation
    When important system files go missing malware is most likely the cause. Or you have been victim of a really unlucky random data corruption caused by a strong electromagnetic field near your PC. But because nearly all important system files are stored in two separate locations by windows, so they can be retrieved if they get accidentally deleted, it is rather unlikely that a random event has caused this. So I would definitely go with malware.
    A likely scenario would be that you have a virus/worm that is sitting undetected on your music drive D: and that only operates on certain dates. So you might want to make sure, that all your drives are clean.
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  • KungFuDiscoMonkeyKungFuDiscoMonkey Creator of ns_altair 日本福岡県 Join Date: 2003-03-15 Member: 14555Members, NS1 Playtester, Reinforced - Onos
    /me mails Depot some Linux CDs ^_^
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  • DepotDepot The ModFather Join Date: 2002-11-09 Member: 7956Members
    <!--quoteo(post=1616353:date=Mar 22 2007, 07:14 PM:name=Faskalia)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Faskalia @ Mar 22 2007, 07:14 PM) [snapback]1616353[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->
    When important system files go missing malware is most likely the cause. Or you have been victim of a really unlucky random data corruption caused by a strong electromagnetic field near your PC. But because nearly all important system files are stored in two separate locations by windows, so they can be retrieved if they get accidentally deleted, it is rather unlikely that a random event has caused this. So I would definitely go with malware.
    A likely scenario would be that you have a virus/worm that is sitting undetected on your music drive D: and that only operates on certain dates. So you might want to make sure, that all your drives are clean.
    <!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    They're clean NOW. <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":)" border="0" alt="smile-fix.gif" />


    <!--quoteo(post=1616354:date=Mar 22 2007, 07:21 PM:name=KungFuDiscoMonkey)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(KungFuDiscoMonkey @ Mar 22 2007, 07:21 PM) [snapback]1616354[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->
    /me mails Depot some Linux CDs ^_^
    <!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    Thanks KFDM, I'm about ready to convert.
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  • JimmehJimmeh Join Date: 2003-08-24 Member: 20173Members, Constellation
    <a href="http://www.internetnews.com/security/article.php/3667201" target="_blank">http://www.internetnews.com/security/article.php/3667201</a>

    Windows found as most secure OS by Symantec.
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  • DepotDepot The ModFather Join Date: 2002-11-09 Member: 7956Members
    <!--quoteo(post=1616368:date=Mar 22 2007, 08:34 PM:name=Jimmeh)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Jimmeh @ Mar 22 2007, 08:34 PM) [snapback]1616368[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->
    <a href="http://www.internetnews.com/security/article.php/3667201" target="_blank">http://www.internetnews.com/security/article.php/3667201</a>

    Windows found as most secure OS by Symantec.
    <!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    That's impressive - to bad Symantec is tied to NAV.
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  • TyrainTyrain Join Date: 2003-01-03 Member: 11746Members
    <!--quoteo(post=1616368:date=Mar 23 2007, 01:34 AM:name=Jimmeh)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Jimmeh @ Mar 23 2007, 01:34 AM) [snapback]1616368[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->
    <a href="http://www.internetnews.com/security/article.php/3667201" target="_blank">http://www.internetnews.com/security/article.php/3667201</a>

    Windows found as most secure OS by Symantec.
    <!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->


    It's really hard to find a comparision for that, but it is like saying: Miami is the nicest and safest tourist location in the world, said by the mayor of Miami.
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  • RoverRover blargh Join Date: 2003-09-23 Member: 21139Members
    <!--quoteo(post=1616396:date=Mar 23 2007, 05:11 AM:name=Tyrain)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tyrain @ Mar 23 2007, 05:11 AM) [snapback]1616396[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->
    It's really hard to find a comparision for that, but it is like saying: Miami is the nicest and safest tourist location in the world, said by the mayor of Miami.
    <!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    Windows firewall is the awesome though.


    Safe.

    Might as well cut your wire while you're at it but still...

    You feel safe.
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  • DepotDepot The ModFather Join Date: 2002-11-09 Member: 7956Members
    What about torrents... could they cause a problem?
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  • puzlpuzl The Old Firm Join Date: 2003-02-26 Member: 14029Retired Developer, NS1 Playtester, Forum Moderators, Constellation
    downloading a file via a torrent client won't do anything to your system, however, if you download executables and then execute them, then all bets are off.
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  • Lt_PatchLt_Patch Join Date: 2005-02-07 Member: 40286Members
    <!--quoteo(post=1616351:date=Mar 22 2007, 10:50 PM:name=Depot)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Depot @ Mar 22 2007, 10:50 PM) [snapback]1616351[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->
    Surely a man of your Windows expertise could provide at least a tidbit of info here, eh? <img src="http://www.ibparcade.com/style_emoticons/default/chair.gif" border="0" alt="IPB Image" />
    <!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    But a man of my Windows knowledge doesn't use Firefox, because I'm actually an intelligent web user =)
    If someone wanted to put something on my computer, and I mean <b>wanted</b> to do it, then using Firefox over IE isn't going to make their life any harder.

    But still, puzl is right, Firefox is a self-contained install, the uses the registry for normal web browsing uses, in otherwords, checking for system default proxy policies, and the like. It's highly unlikely that firefox itself screwed the PC up.
    What's more likely, is that something else may be wrong with the system, a hardware screw up, perchance? Just because it glitched as you were updating Firefox, doesn't necessarily mean that Firefox caused the problem. It's where you start, but it's not always the main problem.
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  • DepotDepot The ModFather Join Date: 2002-11-09 Member: 7956Members
    It's more or less a moot point now, as the damage has been done, but I really don't want this to happen again, IF I can prevent it.

    I'm running a recovery program to try and locate my music, picture files, etc. It is moderately successful so far - still searching.
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