Firefox Could not initialize the browser's security component

Firefox error:

 

This article deals with the causes of the message "Could not initialize the browser's security component. The most likely cause is problems with files in your browser's profile directory. Please check that this directory has no read/write restrictions and your hard disk is not full or close to full. It is recommended that you exit the browser and fix the problem. If you continue to use this browser session, you might see incorrect browser behavior when accessing security features.".

 

Hard drive space

Check your hard drive's free space.

1. Open My Computer
2. Right click on the C: drive
3. Choose Properties. A dialog will come up.
4. Go to the General tab.

1. Go to your Desktop.

• • Press F11

1. Select Macintosh HD.
2. Press command+I to display the Macintosh HD info window.

1. Click the Places menu, and select Computer.
2. Right-click on Filesystem.
3. Choose Properties. A dialog will come up.
4. Go to the Basic tab.

If it reports less than 1MB free space available, you'll need to make more room.

File permissions

Check the file permissions in your Firefox profile folder. The file named cert8.db must not be read-only.

1. Open your profile folder:

   • (Firefox 3.5): See How do I find my profile?
   • (Firefox 3.6):
     1. At the top of the Firefox windowOn the menu bar, click on theHelp menu and selectTroubleshooting Information. The Troubleshooting Information tab will open.
     2. Under Application Basics, click on Open Containing FolderShow in Finder. A window with your profilefilesfolder will open.
   1. At the top of the Firefox windowOn the menu bar, click on theHelp menuFirefox menu, go over to theHelp menu (on  Windows XP,  click on the Help menu)  and select Troubleshooting Information.  The Troubleshooting Information tab will open.
   2. Under the Application Basics section, click on Open Containing FolderShow in Finder. A window with your profilefilesfolder will open.

2. At the top of the Firefox window, click on theFirefox button (File menu in Windows XP) and then clickExitOn the menu bar, click on theFirefox menu and select Quit FirefoxAt the top of the Firefox window, click on theFile menu and selectQuitAt the top of the Firefox window, click on theFile menu and selectExitOn the menu bar, click on theFirefox menu and selectQuit FirefoxAt the top of the Firefox window, click on theFile menu and selectQuit.
3. Right-click on the file named cert8.db.
4. Choose Properties. A dialog will come up.
5. Go to the General tab.
6. Make sure the Read-only checkbox is not checked.
7. Press OK.

1. Open your profile folder:

   • (Firefox 3.5): See How do I find my profile?
   • (Firefox 3.6):
     1. At the top of the Firefox windowOn the menu bar, click on theHelp menu and selectTroubleshooting Information. The Troubleshooting Information tab will open.
     2. Under Application Basics, click on Open Containing FolderShow in Finder. A window with your profilefilesfolder will open.
   1. At the top of the Firefox windowOn the menu bar, click on theHelp menuFirefox menu, go over to theHelp menu (on  Windows XP,  click on the Help menu)  and select Troubleshooting Information.  The Troubleshooting Information tab will open.
   2. Under the Application Basics section, click on Open Containing FolderShow in Finder. A window with your profilefilesfolder will open.

2. At the top of the Firefox window, click on theFirefox button (File menu in Windows XP) and then clickExitOn the menu bar, click on theFirefox menu and select Quit FirefoxAt the top of the Firefox window, click on theFile menu and selectQuitAt the top of the Firefox window, click on theFile menu and selectExitOn the menu bar, click on theFirefox menu and selectQuit FirefoxAt the top of the Firefox window, click on theFile menu and selectQuit.
3. Select the file named cert8.db.
4. Press command+I to display the cert8.db info window.
5. Expand the Sharing & Permissions section.
6. Make sure your Mac user account is set to Read & Write.
7. Close the cert8.db info window.

1. Open your profile folder:

   • (Firefox 3.5): See How do I find my profile?
   • (Firefox 3.6):
     1. At the top of the Firefox windowOn the menu bar, click on theHelp menu and selectTroubleshooting Information. The Troubleshooting Information tab will open.
     2. Under Application Basics, click on Open Containing FolderShow in Finder. A window with your profilefilesfolder will open.
   1. At the top of the Firefox windowOn the menu bar, click on theHelp menuFirefox menu, go over to theHelp menu (on  Windows XP,  click on the Help menu)  and select Troubleshooting Information.  The Troubleshooting Information tab will open.
   2. Under the Application Basics section, click on Open Containing FolderShow in Finder. A window with your profilefilesfolder will open.

2. At the top of the Firefox window, click on theFirefox button (File menu in Windows XP) and then clickExitOn the menu bar, click on theFirefox menu and select Quit FirefoxAt the top of the Firefox window, click on theFile menu and selectQuitAt the top of the Firefox window, click on theFile menu and selectExitOn the menu bar, click on theFirefox menu and selectQuit FirefoxAt the top of the Firefox window, click on theFile menu and selectQuit.
3. Right-click on the file named cert8.db.
4. Choose Properties. A dialog will come up.
5. Go to the Permissions tab.
6. Make sure Access is set to read and write.
7. Press Close.

Restart Firefox and the problem may be fixed.

Corrupted file

The file cert8.db in your profile folder may have become corrupted. Delete this file while Firefox is closed.

1. Open your profile folder:

   • (Firefox 3.5): See How do I find my profile?
   • (Firefox 3.6):
     1. At the top of the Firefox windowOn the menu bar, click on theHelp menu and selectTroubleshooting Information. The Troubleshooting Information tab will open.
     2. Under Application Basics, click on Open Containing FolderShow in Finder. A window with your profilefilesfolder will open.
   1. At the top of the Firefox windowOn the menu bar, click on theHelp menuFirefox menu, go over to theHelp menu (on  Windows XP,  click on the Help menu)  and select Troubleshooting Information.  The Troubleshooting Information tab will open.
   2. Under the Application Basics section, click on Open Containing FolderShow in Finder. A window with your profilefilesfolder will open.

2. At the top of the Firefox window, click on theFirefox button (File menu in Windows XP) and then clickExitOn the menu bar, click on theFirefox menu and select Quit FirefoxAt the top of the Firefox window, click on theFile menu and selectQuitAt the top of the Firefox window, click on theFile menu and selectExitOn the menu bar, click on theFirefox menu and selectQuit FirefoxAt the top of the Firefox window, click on theFile menu and selectQuit.
3. Click on the file named cert8.db.
4. Press command+Delete.
5. Restart Firefox.

cert8.db will be recreated when you restart Firefox. This is normal.

New profile

Your settings may have become corrupted due to changes in your system or a lack of hard drive space at one point. Create a new profile with theProfile Manager. If the problem goes away, you can thenmove your settings to the new profile. If the problem remains, you can go back to your original profile.

 

from:http://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/Could%20not%20initialize%20the%20browser%20security%20component