Mozilla forces automatic update from 32 to 64-bit on Windows

Discussion of general topics about Mozilla Firefox
Post Reply
Brummelchen
Posts: 4480
Joined: March 19th, 2005, 10:51 am

Mozilla forces automatic update from 32 to 64-bit on Windows

Post by Brummelchen »

https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic ... lCGG_Hib1w

with firefox 55 mozilla is going to force firefox 64-bit with the stub and with firefox 56 the automatic update will force users to 64-bit - under several conditions.
User avatar
Virtual_ManPL
Posts: 2052
Joined: July 24th, 2008, 5:52 am
Contact:

Re: Mozilla forces automatic update from 32- to 64-bit

Post by Virtual_ManPL »

Finally...
This should be done long time ago.
Virtualfox persona
Tired of constant Firefox UI changes? XUL extensions are not working anymore? Try SeaMonkey, Waterfox Classic, Pale Moon.
User avatar
Grumpus
Posts: 13236
Joined: October 19th, 2007, 4:23 am
Location: ... Da' Swamp

Re: Mozilla forces automatic update from 32- to 64-bit

Post by Grumpus »

Should be noted for those operating 64 bit systems - this for those who don't read the link.
Doesn't matter what you say, it's wrong for a toaster to walk around the house and talk to you
User avatar
costark
Posts: 548
Joined: July 14th, 2004, 5:03 am

Re: Mozilla forces automatic update from 32 to 64-bit on Win

Post by costark »

Brummelchen wrote:https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic ... lCGG_Hib1w

with firefox 55 mozilla is going to force firefox 64-bit with the stub and with firefox 56 the automatic update
will force users to 64-bit - under several conditions.
I have W7-64 and Min of 2 GB RAM (8) so I'll get to use Firefox 64 when 55 is Installed.

HOW will my Life Change? ...... Virtual_ManPL [Finally...This should be done long time ago.] so it must be helpful for some / All .....
W10 22H2 - SSD-HDD i5 12G -
allande
Posts: 188
Joined: July 20th, 2017, 11:58 am

Re: Mozilla forces automatic update from 32 to 64-bit on Win

Post by allande »

The google post says that the Firefox 55 stub installer for fresh installs would give the 64-bit version. Existing users would be switched on version 56. The 64-bit version uses more memory for the same workload, but 64-bit software expands the limit of memory access. As long as the operating system is set to use swap files as normal, Firefox 64-bit should not get OOM (out of memory) errors or crashes at all, however it could slow down. OOM crashes are one of the main types of crashes that occur with Firefox.

64-bit Firefox should have less risk of hackers compromising it since ASLR https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ASLR makes some exploits not hit their target.

64-bit Firefox cannot run 32-bit plugins, but plugins other than Flash have already been blocked in Firefox 54 which you are using, so that will not be a difference to you. If you do not get crashes now, you may not notice much difference at all.

If you want to switch now, you can, Firefox 54 64-bit does exist, instructions for how to are here: https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/sw ... bit-64-bit
User avatar
James
Moderator
Posts: 27999
Joined: June 18th, 2003, 3:07 pm
Location: Made in Canada

Re: Mozilla forces automatic update from 32 to 64-bit on Win

Post by James »

costark wrote:I have W7-64 and Min of 2 GB RAM (8) so I'll get to use Firefox 64 when 55 is Installed.
Win64 Firefox has existed for Release since Fx 42.0 and was listed on http://www.mozilla.org/firefox/all/ since Fx 43.0 release. No need to wait until Fx 55 to try Win64 Firefox.
User avatar
costark
Posts: 548
Joined: July 14th, 2004, 5:03 am

Re: Mozilla forces automatic update from 32 to 64-bit on Win

Post by costark »

Thanks to Allande and James. I'm 64-Bit now with no issues and the Conversion Procedure seemed Too Easy to be True.... Dnload 64 - Install - Uninstall x86 via Control Panel ....

All the Best!
W10 22H2 - SSD-HDD i5 12G -
Post Reply