The OS thinks an app is open ...but it's not

Question

Level 1

9 points

The OS thinks an app is open ...but it's not

I have an application which I can't open because the system says 'a copy of (the app) is already open, you can only launch one at a time' ...the app is most definitely not open: I have tried restarting, force quitting, repairing permissions and the disk (all fine), reinstalling that app, tried other Users - and get same scenario, tried the Root User - it sometimes irons out gremlins but not this time. Here's the thing: the application is the browser FireFox ...and most responses would be 'that's Third Party software, consult them...' ...well I have and so far I have got nowhere (...help!!) Why does the computer think that FF is open? Can't the Mac OS tell it's not and override what the software is saying?

iMac, Mac OS X (10.5.6), 2 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo

Posted on Apr 29, 2009 1:26 AM

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Answer 1

dbsneddon

Level 4

1,542 points

Apr 29, 2009 9:33 PM in response to Jim-Bass

In a terminal window try...

ps auxc | grep firefox

Do you get details of a process running?

Dave

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Answer 2

thomas_r.

Level 7

32,031 points

Apr 29, 2009 4:22 AM in response to Jim-Bass

I think we need to know more about how you are trying to open FireFox, as I've never seen this message before. If you double-click FireFox, or click it's icon in the dock if it's there, one of two things should happen: if it's open, it becomes the frontmost app, and if it's not, it launches. Neither of these should result in that message.

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Answer 3

Jim-Bass Author

Level 1

9 points

Apr 29, 2009 9:01 PM in response to thomas_r.

Hi Thomas- if I try to open FireFox from the Dock or Applications (or recent items ...anywhere) the Dock icon bounces and gets the small light underneath but before the browser opens I get a dialogue box with a Question mark on the left and the text: 'Close FireFox - A copy is already open. Only one copy of Firefox can be open at one time' There is an OK button on the lower right, which just closes the dialogue box.

If I look in the Force Quit Apps box, Firefox is not there. As I said, I've tried restarting, other users, deleting and reinstalling FF, running Disk Utility ...I'm stumped. I have fairly good troubleshooting skills and worked on maintaining Macs for years - even a couple of years at Apple itself ...I've never seen this before, at least not without the app running in the background somehow... any ideas?

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Answer 4

Apr 29, 2009 9:32 PM in response to Jim-Bass

Sounds like Firefox is trying to open already for some reason. I have had that message a few times on my Winderz box when I clicked on the icon too many times 🙂
Good thing we are on a mac so it is a little easier fixing things.

So, used to work at Apple, eh? First thing is that if it happens in a new user, it is system-wide issue so look outside your home folder for clues. On my system I immediately find /Library/Mozilla and /Library/Application Support/Mozilla. I would be inclined to start with the Application Support folder but both could be pertinent. Since my system is fine ( 🙂 ) I can't really test these files to solve your issue but it is a good place to start.

Happy hunting!

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Answer 5

Jim-Bass Author

Level 1

9 points

Apr 29, 2009 9:54 PM in response to Jim-Bass

STOP THE PRESS ... I trashed the extensions ƒ from library / app support and logged in as the Root user where Firefox opened (yay!) as a first time open ...however it still thinks it's open it my User, so I'll t-shoot the Home ƒ now .. we're on the way

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Answer 6

dbsneddon

Level 4

1,542 points

Apr 29, 2009 10:01 PM in response to Jim-Bass

It sounds like there is a lock file around somewhere from an earlier
session that did not get cleaned up.
Again from a terminal session try

cd ~/Library/Application Support/Firefox/Profiles/
ls -al then go into the default.mmm directory
and look for a file called .parentlock

Delete it.

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Answer 7

Jim-Bass Author

Level 1

9 points

Apr 29, 2009 10:02 PM in response to Jim-Bass

ok 'cured' : I deleted the contents of the Firefox ƒ in Home/Library/App Support and it opens as for the first time ...so I sort of know what I've done but it wasn't as amazing a fix as the problem had me thinking!

thanks to those who chipped in

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Answer 8

Jim-Bass Author

Level 1

9 points

Apr 29, 2009 9:50 PM in response to dbsneddon

thanks but no luck yet with the above ...I don't get any process details ...I'll keep plugin' away but welcome any suggestions

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Answer 9

Jim-Bass Author

Level 1

9 points

Apr 29, 2009 10:04 PM in response to dbsneddon

that's one of the files, I think you've identified the culprit - ta!

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