Bravo Firefox!

I just deleted FF 0.8 and installed FF1.0. What a trivial operation that was.
FF is really really fast. I am very very impressed.
Thank you Ramona for all your help and encouragement. There was an article today in the NY Times business section about MS being worried about FF. I think they ought to worry.

 

I guess that you had to create a new profile for 1.0. There had been a lot of incompatibility after 0.8. I had to create new profiles, as well as disable extentions. But 1.0 is very smart, and will disable incompatible extentions.

 

I went from 1.0RC to 1.0 and it was a piece of cake, even though I uninstalled to install new - but there was an even easier way - (condensed explanation) go into about:config and change the version from 1.0RC to 0.10 - the reason - FF now thinks you have an old version and updates automatically!! They've done a great job putting it all together.

 

Upgraded from 1.0RC2 to 1.0 without any probs...

 

Unbelievable

I did not create a new profile! I did not even have to change the icon on my quick start button. When I first clicked on that icon, I got a box asking me which profile I wanted to use: Firefox 0.8, IE, or something else. I clicked on Firefox 0.8 and it started right up as if I hadn't done anything to my computer or removed the old version. Almost unbelievable, really.
I should have such good luck when I upgrade Mozilla on my desktop.

 

I've been using the same profile with Firefox for nearly a year, and I upgrade to each new release on an almost daily basis.

It helps to keep your profile in a different location from the main program folder, and out of C:\Docs&Settings, as well. That way, if the OS (XP Pro, in my case) goes belly up, my data is safe. I do the same with my Thunderbird profile, which is also nearly a year old.

I would suggest not installing new versions over old ones, though. Instead, rename the old program folder before installing the new version to the same location. The program will start from your old shortcut icons, and all of your settings will be intact. When you're sure that the new installation is running correctly, just delete the old, renamed program folder. Piece of cake!

 

ackerberg,

I agree with your positive experience of upgrading Firefox. It's a no brainer, and getting better by the version.

MS is trying to brush off the growing popularity of Firefox, but the number of downloads for Version 1.0 is most encouraging. The NY Times Ad for Firefox should be forthcoming...

I'm so glad it is a good experience for you!

Ramona

 

JSS3rd:
"I would suggest not installing new versions over old ones, though. Instead, rename the old program folder before installing the new version to the same location. "

Would you please explain that? I thought I had to uninstall prior versions before installing a new version, in which case I wouldn't even have an old program folder left, would I?
Assuming this is a misconception on my part (having to uninstall the old before installing the new), what do you mean by "the same location "? Would I have a single folder for Firefox under C:\Windows\Application Data\Mozilla with the two different versions in it?

 

I've always only had one profile (the default) since I'm the only person to use this computer and I really only want one profile. I don't want to have to make a choice among profiles before using my browser. Whenever I've updated I've simply uninstalled the older version BUT when it offered the second option of uninstalling the profile, I've said No. I've then re-installed the newer version and away I go... bookmarks and everything else where it should be.

 

Hi Rebecca,

Sorry if I wasn't completely clear about how I upgrade Firefox (and Thunderbird). When I referred to "versions" I meant daily builds as well as distinct version numbers (.8, .9, 1.0RC, 1.0, etc.).

No, it's not necessary to uninstall old versions of the program before installing new ones, but it certainly doesn't hurt. I happened to look at Control Panel > Add or Remove Programs the other day, and found that I had numerous versions of Firefox listed, dating all the way back to, and including, Firebird. I went through the registry and cleaned them all out, which made the next installation slightly more complicated than normal.

Note that when you uninstall an older version using the Control Panel applet, you're given the option of retaining the old folder, if I remember correctly. If you do, then, yes, you will have an old program folder.

By "same location" I meant the parent directory (folder) in which your Firefox program folder is located. My installation is completely non-standard (by Microsoft's way of thinking), in that my Firefox program folder is located at D:\Internet\Firefox, and my profile is located at E:\Userfiles\Mozilla_Firefox.

Before a new installation, I rename the Firefox folder to "XFirefox ". Then I run the installation program for the new version or build; because of previous installations, the installer knows that I want to install to D:\Internet\Firefox, even though that folder longer exists, so the installer creates it.

When I run Firefox, it's configured as I want, because it uses the same profile I've been using for nearly a year. When I'm satisfied that the new Firefox is running properly, I delete the XFirefox folder. To install the program on my laptop, I simply delete the Firefox folder and copy the (new) Firefox folder from my desktop computer.

If this still isn't clear, please don't hesitate to say so, or to ask more questions.

 

Thanks for the explanation, even though most of it is way over my head!
Assuming I've backed up my Profiles folder, though, is there really any reason for a relatively basic internet user such as myself to retain the old folder?
Rebecca
(formerly of Hicksville, Long Island!)

 

rebecca,

No reason for you to keep the folder. You don't intend to run more than one Version of Firefox, and my experience is to delete the folder before installing the new Version.

Ramona

 

Hi Rebecca,

Which old folder ... profile or program?

What I was saying, in a nutshell:

1) Before a new installation it's not necessary to uninstall the older version, but don't install the new version over it.

2) Rename the old program folder.

3) Install the new version or build.

4) Delete the renamed (original) folder.​

How did you wind up half way to Hudson Bay? I have friends in Levittown, and use the Hicksville LIRR station frequently (much better service than from/to Port Jeff).

 

By "old folder" I meant the program (though I realize that my reference to my profiles folder in the same sentende confused the issue!). I think Ramona hit the nail on the head for my particular case -- I just don't know enough about anything to need/want multiple versions of something on my computer.
Thanks for the help and info!
Rebecca
[BTW, Jim, I was aiming to get away from crowds and traffic -- definitely accomplished THAT!]

 

Rebecca ...

I'm sorry if I gave you the impression that I was suggesting the use of multiple versions of Firefox.

Renaming the original folder gives you a fall-back option should the new installation prove to be faulty in some respect, in which case you just delete the new Firefox folder and rename the older one back to "Firefox ". This shouldn't be a problem, given Firefox's present level of maturity.

When I was a boy, growing up in NW Ohio, my Dad used to spend a week or so fishing each summer in Bonfield, Ontario, a little town about 20 miles east of North Bay. I frequently went with him, and I thought WE were in the boonies!

 

To uninstall or not to uninstall?

Sorry to jump in on this one but I've read enough horror posts about "uninstalling" or "not uninstalling" that I have to ask: I just downloaded Firefox 1.0 and am switching from Netscape 7.1. Everything transferred over fine. Shoud I uninstall Netscape 7.1 now? Thanks.

 

pjd ...

Yours is a slightly different situation than what we've been talking about, since you're asking about what amounts to "apples and oranges ". Remember that Netscape (Mozilla, too) is a suite of programs (browser, email, newsreader, etc.), while Firefox is only a browser.

If you've been using Netscape for email, you'll either have to retain it or install Thunderbird, Firefox's stand-alone email counterpart. Unless, of course, you already use a different email program.

If you've satisfactorily transferred all of your Netscape settings to Firefox, and aren't using Netscape for email, there's no reason to keep it.

To answer the unasked question )), the only reason I can see for uninstalling Firefox before installing a new build is to keep only one instance of Firefox listed in Add/Remove. For months, I didn't uninstall, and finally found that I had about six versions of Firefox listed, even though there was only one copy of it on my computer.

IMHO, you need to uninstall only before installing a newer version number. Otherwise, do as I've suggested in previous messages ... rename the old program folder before installing a newer build. Firefox will remember where you want it to be installed (even if you use, as I do, a location other than the default one). When you're satisfied that the new installation works satisfactorily, you can just delete the old (renamed) Firefox program folder.

 

jpd,

Just wanted to add that you should first check Add/Remove first to ensure that the faulty install of Firefox isn't listed there. It most likely won't be if the install aborted for some reason. However, deleting a folder without checking Add/Remove makes me really nervous.

If you're using the Zipfile for installation then deleting the Firefox Program folder is A-OK, but if you're using the Full Install, then you would definitely want to check Add/Remove first.

I think the GRE problems with Netscape 7.1 produced a lot of precaution before installing a new Netscape, and perhaps that is what you've read. Or perhaps you're referring to installing an updated version on top of the existing version. That is a very big NO. The newer versions have distinctive code changes and are not compatible with the older versions, so in that respect never install over another version, and don't install two versions in the same folder, as that will also create havoc. Jim renames his exiting version before installing a new version in a unique folder. I prefer uninstalling first, but that is a personal preference.

Ramona

 

This thread just gets more and more interesting!

Ramona's right, of course, about checking Add/Remove, but I'm not talking about an install that doesn't complete successfully. I'm referring to one that installs OK, but that doesn't run properly, and lord knows we've had any number of Phoenix/Firebird/Firefox builds/releases that have been as buggy as a summer evening, and that have had to be dumped and replaced by an earlier known good version until fixes come along.

The problem with Add/Remove is that it doesn't do everything it shoud do. Ideally, it should remove all vestiges of a program, including all Registry keys, but that doesn't happen. In the case of Firefox, installing the program creates about 60 Registry keys referring to Firefox, and Add/Remove deletes only about 30 of them. Fortunately, none of those Registry keys really affect the operation of Firefox ... they just tell the rest of the system how to interact with it. That's why, despite Ramona's nervousness, it's OK to dump the files from the existing Firefox folder, rather than uninstall them, and install a new build to the same folder. With a new version number, it's better to uninstall, just to avoid more than one Firefox listing in Add/Remove.

If you want to be really squeaky clean about the whole thing, though, use Add/Remove, then search the Registry with a program like RegSeeker and remove all references to Firefox before a new installation.

Note that uninstalling Firefox (or cleaning the registry of references to it) has no effect on your profile, nor on the file (C:\Documents and Settings\Username\Application Data\Mozilla\Firefox\profiles.ini) that tells Firefox where to look for your profile. Once a profile is established, Firefox always knows where to look for it. Only if you rename your profile, or move it to a different location, do you need to use the Profile Manager.