Could not initialize the browser’s security component
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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.
But, let's take a step back for now. My XP computer was starting to behave strangely for some time now. I knew it was not the XP because I could not boot at all. It would hang before detecting the first hard drive when booting. Also, XP would completely freeze that I had to unplug the computer.
In my case, all my data, including Firefox, are on another hard drive. Yes, I have 2 hard drives: one for XP and the other for my source code, Firefox/Thunderbird, my documents... So, before my computer decide to die or not on me, I decided to buy another computer. I then moved the second hard drive to the new computer.
I did not buy the fastest computer but something faster than my current one and available in stock at the stoe. If I could, I would had waited but sometimes, you don't have a real choice. I will make a post later on.
Back to my "Could not initialize the browser's security component".
After some research, I could still not make Firefox work but found 4 reasons:
1. Hard Drive capacity
That could not been it since I was low with less than 1 GB out of 250GB capacity. But okay, I'll bite and moved some files around. Even with 5Gb of free space, I still had the same message. So, it was not that.
2. Files permissions
I'm not sharing my files but they also mentioned cert8.db must not be read-only. After verification, it was not read-only. So, it was not cert8.db.
3. Corrupted File
They also mentioned cert8.db could possibly be corrupted. Having crashed a few time and had to close the computer with on/off or unplug it, it could had been the best possibility so far. I deleted cert8.db but it did not work and let Firefox recreate one for me. So, it was not file corruption.
4. New profile
A new profile could become corrupted for any reason. Mine is an old profile so it was not that but the corrupted files scenario did worry me.
So, I installed Thunderbird and had the same message: "Could not initialize the browser's security component" or something similar. Thunderbird is in the same main folder that my Firefox files.
That's when I got a feeling it must be something about the folder itself.
The solution
I looked again but saw in the Security tab that \Administrator and \Users both did not have their permissions to allow Full control. Since, I moved the drive and not copy the data from the drive, it did not give me Full control on that folder. After editing the Permissions and allowing both users Full control, I was able to open Firefox and Thunderbird normally.
After that, I had the same problem saving an existing text file with notepad. So, I did the same thing on my whole hard drive.
Bye, Bye "Could not initialize the browser's security component" 
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Denise said:
I sure would be interested to hear all you found out about combining old xp hard drive into new vista. My vista mother board crashed a couple of months back. I had to get out and get a new computer ASAP and of course it was a vista.
Best Buy stated that they could install my old hard drive into my new vista for a major fee of course. I am thinking this cannot be too difficult but I have no clue as to how to do this. I have all my data sitting on my old hard drive. If I had $350 extra dollars to spare I would let Best Buy install another mother board. But at the current moment that is not an option.
I would like to see more posts on xp versus vista.
September 8th, 2008 at 7:31 pm -
Steve McGrath said:
Denise, I know how you feel.
I don’t mind doing other post of this kind.I would suggest that you buy and USB external case($20) for your hard drive(xp). When you plug it, you should see other partition(s) and then you will be able to recover, at least, the data(firefox, email, my documents…). That’s the simplest way for non-tech persons.
September 8th, 2008 at 7:42 pm -
Denise said:
Thanks Steve I will check into getting one. If I get stuck will you help me? I am definitely non-techie! :_(
I should then just go to Besy Buy and ask for an USB external case?
Is that like my scan disk?September 8th, 2008 at 7:55 pm -
Steve McGrath said:
Denise, go to a local computer shop and ask them to install the hard drive for you in the case. That should be much cheaper.
If you feel a tiny adventurous, you could install the drive yourself in the HD case. In most case, you have a connectors for: the power, IDE to USB that’s the larger cable, 4 screws to hold the hard drive to the case controller board, and 2-4 screw for the face place outside the case.
Bring the hard drive with you if you don’t know the type(IDE, SATA).
You can email me since I want to keep the comment on the subject
September 8th, 2008 at 8:11 pm -
SPACED OUT QWERTY said:
IT’S SO SIMPLE PEOPLE, ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS GO TO YOUR PROFILE DIRECTORY:
C:\Documents and Settings\yourprofile\Application Data\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\someweirdlettersand#’s.default AND RIGHT CLICK(ANYWHERE IN THE BACKROUND), CLICK PROPERTIES, AND UNCHECK THE READ ONLY BOX, CLICK APLLY, THEN CLICK “APPLY TO CHANGES TO THIS FOLDER, SUBFOLDERS, AND FILES”, CLICK OK, AND YOUR DONE, EVERYTHING SHOULD BE BACK TO NORMAL. POSTED BY SPACE.June 16th, 2009 at 4:46 am
