Two Mozilla versions installed at same time

Ramona,
Suppose I want to install the new version of Mozilla while keeping the old version
installed. I use the zip version for installation. Is this the way I would do it?

The Mozilla folder under the Program Files is "Mozilla1.6 ". So I don't think I have to rename it because the new version is 1.73 and the new folder in Program Files will probably be named "Mozilla1.7 ". Therefore, I can just install the new program using the zip version and there should be no conflict, right?

As far as plugins are concerned, of which I only have one besides the one that is installed by Mozilla, I simply copy it and move it into the plugin folder for Mozilla 1.7. Is this right?

How will the new Mozilla find my profile? Do I have to go to tools and click on Change Profiles to select my profile named Bob?

I guess one should open only one of these programs at a time to avoid a potential conflict.

This brings up another question about doing a backup. I have a very good backup program I got with Partition Magic called DataKeeper.
When I looked at my profile I saw there are cache files stored there which I don't think should be backed up. So I backed up mail files, address book, news files, etc. Is this what I should be doing?
Thanks for all your help.
Bob

 

ackerberg,

Even though you use the Zipfile, unzip 1.7.3 to a separate folder than 1.6. You can name the 1.7.3 folder anything you choose, then unzip to this folder. The Zipfile doesn't include the Version #, nor is it listed in Add/Remove, as no uninstall is necessary, only a deletion of the files.

Also create a new Profile for 1.7.3. You can even do this before you unzip 1.7.3. The Release Notes emphasize not sharing a Profile with another Version of Mozilla.

You can copy your plugin to the 1.7.3 Mozilla folder with no problems.

It's not possible to run more than one version of Mozilla at a time, and the same with Netscape. If you are running 1.6, and click on the 1.7.3 shortcut, it will open another copy of 1.6. What you can do is create a Desktop shortcut for 1.7.3, and add the -profilename command line switch. Do the same to the 1.6 shortcut, and you can bypass the Profile Manager.

To prevent having the Profile Manager open each time you open Mozilla:
• Right click on the Desktop Shortcut
• Select: Properties
• Select: Shortcut
• In the "Target" field add this command switch: -p yourprofilename
It will look similar to this:

"C:\Program Files\mozilla.org\Mozilla\mozilla.exe" -p bob

NOTE: there is one trailing space after the final quotation mark:

You are right on target with backup:
Delete the Cache folder
Delete the XUL.mfl file
Delete the history.dat file
Compact your Mail Accounts before exiting Mozilla.

I do a backup of the entire Profiles folder.

Let me know if you have more questions.

Cheers!

Ramona

 

I have Moz1.7.3 installed, and 1.8a4 unzipped, each with its own profile. By default, my unzipped files place a subfolder in a directory which does not interfere with the installed program. And, everyone is happy.

But, I have a question for Ramona.
I have Ns7.1 and 7.2, again in different directories, the GREs are different, and I used the hack to separate one Netscape profile from the other, still in the Mozilla location. I have, also, directed both programs to open with its own profile. But if 7.2 is open, and then I want to take a look at 7.1, the latter cannot be opened.
So, both programs cannot be opened at the same time? Wopuld you expect this, under my unusual conditions?
Thanks.

 

Westside,

Yes, that is the expected behavior, regardless of where the Profiles are located, and even though separated by the XPCOM.dll hack.

Ramona

 

Thank you, Ramona, but I would not expect it, because the two programs do not seem to have anything much in common.

 

Westside,

I have Netscape 7.1 installed in C:\Netscape 7.1, and Netscape 7.2 in the default location:
C:\Program Files\Netscape\Netscape

I used the XPCOM.DLL Hack on both versions, and renamed the two instances of Mozilla to Netscpe. Both Netscape 7.1 and 7.2 Profiles resided in the Netscpe folder, with only Mozilla 1.7.3 in the Mozilla folder:
C:\Windows\Application Data\Mozilla\Profiles
C:\Windows\Application Data\Netscpe\Profiles

I just renamed Netscpe back to Mozilla in the Netscape 7.1 XPCOM.DLL file, which moved the Netscape 7.1 Profile back to the Mozilla folder. I opened Netscape 7.1, then double clicked on the Netscape 7.2 Desktop shortcut, which opened the second instance of Netscape 7.1.

So the moral of this story is that no matter where the Profile folder resides, you can only have one version of Netscape, or Mozilla open simultaneously. The XPCOM.DLL hack seems to have no effect on this happening.

Ramona