Is It Necessary to Upgrade to Firefox 3?

Hi,

I love FF 2 and would like to keep using it. I hold off as long as I can before upgrading anything. Is it possible to use both FF2 and FF3, or can I just keep on using FF2? Will FF2 continue to be supported?

If I have to upgrade, what is the correct way of uninstalling FF2 and then installing FF3?



TIA

Ann

 

Ann,

You can continue using Fx 2, and in fact there will be a Version 2.0.0.15 released soon.

Uninstall Fx 2 using Add/Remove, then install Fx 3...

 

...or, one can use both versions. I would not recommend this approach, unless you know what you are doing. Two separate installation folders, and two separate profiles. To me it is the only way. 2.0.0.14 is my default browser, but I intend to use 3.0 as well.

 

I'm seriously considering going "back" to FF 2 after all the problems I'm experiencing with version 3. My advice is: if FF 2 is working for you now, why bother?

 

I agree 100%, but, eventually, FF2 will not be supported. Since I have both 2 and 3, and 2.0.0.14 is default browser, FF3.0, though final is, still, a test browser, for me. As for the add-ons, all except MediaPlayerConnectivity were not compatible, and, that's a biggie for me. I will have to wait.

And, Ann, I just, saw your post. Obviously, it is possible to have both 2 and 3. To install 3, select Custom Install. You should have created another folder to put FF3 files (I call it newfolder). Then, don't start FF3
If you have never done this, right click on the 2.0.0.14 (you can it on 3.0, also), select Properties, and add -p, with a keyboard space in front of the dash, on the Target line.
Then Apply and ok. Click on the same shortcut. That will bring up the profile manager. Select "create profile ", and enter the info you want. Just give the new profile a name different from default. You are done.
The reason why I had suggested that you start with 2.0.0.14 is because, I want you to add, a keyboard space, and then default. Your 2.0.0.14 will open with the same profile as before. Your Target line should be like this: "C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe" -p default
If you gave the name Firefox3 to the new profile, its Target line should be: "C:\newfolder\firefox.exe" -p Firefox3, after modifying its Target line. And FF3.0 will start with its own profile.
I have two lines in the Add/Remove: Firefox2.0.0.14 and Firefox3.0

 

Thank you, Ramona. I was hesitant for a long time to even try FF now I hesitate to upgrade.

Ann

Westside, that is the way I would like to do it.........keeping what I know while trying out something new.

Ann

broni - That is good to know. I think I will wait on FF3. Thanks.

Ann

James - Thanks for your reply. Seems to confirm my decision to wait a bit before installing FF3.

Ann

Thanks, Westside. I am saving these instructions so that when I am ready to install, I will have the information at hand.

A lot of opinions posted here and all are appreciated.

Ann

 

Ann,
if you want a browser which you are confident with, and is compatible with all present add-on, don't bother with 3.0. There should be a 2.0.015, as well as a 3.0.1 as security update.
As far as I am concerned, as long as you install versions in separate folders, and use a separate profile, you will be ok. I am, still, using profiles which were, originally, created for 1.0.x. Except for the add-ons they work fine with the current version (but, I never go back and forth with the profiles).
Although a lot of people have been telling me that my computer will self-destruct because of the multiple version, it is fine. All my problem were due to that dingbat SP3.

 

Maybe a single profile is enough?

Like some of the others in this thread, I would like to keep FF2 while trying out FF3, just to make sure it works better (or even as well).
If I remember correctly what I did when moving over from one version of FF to another, as long as I put the newer version of FF in a separate folder, and make sure that I never have the 2 versions open simultaneously, I can get along with just one profile during my test period. Then I don't have to go through the tedious process of selecting a profile each time I launch FF.
Am I correct?

 

Hi xelaw, long time no see...

I would strongly urge you to have separate profiles if you intend to run both Firefox 2.0.0.xx, and Firefox 3.0, or risk corrupting the Profile.

I would suggest creating a new Profile for Firefox 3.0 before installing the application. Then once you have installed the second version, don't start it yet. Right click the two Desktop Shortcuts, and select Properties. To the Target Lines add this: -p profilename

The Target Line will look like this, using my profile names as an example:

"C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox 2.0.0.14\firefox.exe" -p fox2

"C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe" -p fox3

NOTE: there is one space between the end of the path and -p. Also one space between -p and the profile name.

This will avoid the nuisance of the Profile Manager popping up each time you start either version of Fx.

Also note that my Firefox 2.0.0.14 is installed in a separate folder than Fx 3. During the install you have the choice to change the location for the Program, and to rename the Program.

You can copy files from the original Profile to the new Profile to save having to create passwords, cookies, etc. I would copy these files:

cert8.db
cookies.txt
hostperm.1
key3.db
persdict.dat
signons2.txt

You will need to import the bookmarks.html file, as Fx 3.0 has a new format for Bookmarks. The Personal Toolbar no longer exists, and once you have your Bookmarks imported, it's a simple copy/paste from the Personal Toolbar to the Bookmarks Toolbar.

If you have more questions just let us know.

 

Thanks, Ramona
I guess I'll do it your way, to be safe. If FF3 works OK, I won't have both of them installed for long.
By the way, did I see in one of the threads that FF3 download and install will automatically overwrite FF2? I really wouldn't want that to happen. Is there anything special to do during installation to prevent this?

 

Typically, one should uninstall the previous version. Installing on top is not a good idea, but if the program removes the previous version, great! All sort of problems occur when people have two version and a single profile.
I outlined elsewhere on how to carry two versions, and two profiles.
My intention is to remove one version or other, but not yet.

 

A further note ... profile names are case-sensitive so, in Ramona's example, -p fox2 and -p fox3 will work, but -p Fox2 and -p Fox3 will not (unless the profile folders are renamed accordingly).

FWIW, I feel strongly that one should always use the custom installation rather than the default installation. It gives you more choices during the installation, such as where the program folder should be located, and what it should be named.

 

What's in a profile name?

I've forgotten this stuff since I switched from FF1.5 to FF2, so I'll need someone to jog my memory (Ramona?):
The profile for FF2 is buried deep in Documents & Settings in a folder called "C:\Documents and Settings\user\Application Data\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\foldername.default "
Is "foldername" the name of the profile that you're referring to? As far as I can tell "foldername" is an arbitrary collection of characters selected by Firefox during installation.
When I install FF3 in addition to FF2 (by putting it in a different folder in Program files than FF2), will the installer give the profile a different name, and put it in the same location ( "Profiles ") in Documents and Settings?
Again, I'm always very suspicious of new versions of programs that I know are working well, and I like to have them both on my computer for a while before I decide to switch.

 

That is the Profile name, which Firefox will name "default" unless you create the Profile before the install - which I am recommending that you do, e.g. C:\Documents and Settings\Ramona\Application Data\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\zyx321ba.ramona. Firefox "salts" the first eight characters, and you select the name of the Profile. Mozilla recommends NOT accepting the "Default user" when creating a Profile. See Screen Shot

You will name the Profile, when creating the Firefox 3.0 profile before installing the program. I laid this out in the guidelines to follow, in Reply #10.

Creating the new Profile before installing 3.0 will prevent 3.0 from picking up your 2.0.0.14 Profile. Just don't start the browser at the last step of installation, until you name your Profiles in the Desktop Shortcut Properties. See this Screen Shot

Also ensure that you do a "Custom" install, as Jim suggests, in order to place your 3.0 Program Directory in a folder separate from 2.0.0.14, which will be named: C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox. Thus why it is important to use a unique name for 3.0. See this Screen Shot

Let us know if you have more questions.

 

Ramona, thank you very much. I can always count on you to get a good and clear answer.

 

Always a pleasure, xelaw!