I wasn't sure if i should post this on the "running multiple instances" thread.
so apparently if both the launcher and the firefox (also thunderbird) main executable have the same file name, firefox (thunderbird) assumes another instance is running and refuses to run (if the multiple instances option is set to false).
I'm thinking this is a problem with how firefox and thunderbird detects other running instances and not with the launcher itself, but thought it should be brought to light here in case somebody else has the same issue. Right now, the only way to avoid this is to NOT rename the launcher.
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Firefox and Thunderbird use the MOZ_NO_REMOTE environmental variable to check if another instance is running.
The launcher sets this to 1, which stops Firefox and Thunderbird (I think) from latching on to it.
When an instance of Firefox or Thunderbird (I think) starts up, it sets the variable to 0.
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Ryan McCue
Cube Games
There are only two states in Australia: Queensland and Drunk
"If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the precipitate."
If this is the root of the issue, then why does it only occur when the launcher is renamed (to Thunderbird.exe) and not when it is left alone or named something else?
the launcher checks first for any processes named firefox.exe or thunderbird.exe (depending on which you are using). MOZ_NO_REMOTE is used to tell Firefox or Thunderbird to latch onto the current process.
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Ryan McCue
Cube Games
There are only two states in Australia: Queensland and Drunk
"If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the precipitate."
why would you need the launcher named firefox.exe?
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That's the way it's supposed to work:
https://portableapps.com/support/firefox_portable#known_issues
You've never been able to rename it to firefox.exe since it added in the ability to check if FF was running. You can't rename FirefoxPortable.exe to firefox.exe. That's just the way it is.
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