Installing Firefox/BonEcho 2.0 while keeping 1.5.0.7

[the-edmeister]

1) Backup your 1.5.0.7 Profile before doing anything! (just in case)
A - Firefox Extension Backup Extension (FEBE) - https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/2109/
B - MozBackup - Backup tool for Firefox and Thunderbird - http://mozbackup.jasnapaka.com/
C - BackupFox - http://www.neowin.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=291258
D - Backup your profile - http://kb.mozillazine.org/Profile_backup

2) Create a new Profile with 1.5.0.7 (or whatever you have now), but don't start 1.5.0.7 with that new Profile; after creating the new Profile and being returned the to the Choose User Profile dialog box, click Exit.

3) Install 2.0b2 using the Custom Installation option, but don't launch it at the end of the installation process. On the last Installation window un-check the box that says Launch Mozilla Firefox 2.0 Beta 2 now, then click Finish.

4) Go to the new desktop icon for 2.0b2 and Right-click > Properties; on the Target: line add the following:
space hyphen p space "profileName"
-- so it looks like this (but with the name of your new Profile):

Code: Select all

"C:\Program Files\~\firefox.exe" -p "profileName"

Click Apply, then close the Properties box.

5) Now you can launch 2.0 b2 with its' own Profile.

Additional steps you may want to do:
6) Copy user files from old 1.5.0.7 profile to the new profile.
http://kb.mozillazine.org/Migrating_settings_to_a_new_profile
You can share the same bookmarks.html file between both Profiles, even if you are running 2 versions simultaneously.
user.js

Code: Select all

// relocate Bookmarks.html file:
user_pref("browser.bookmarks.file", "D:\\Firefox\\bookmarks.html");

7) Install either the Nightly Tester Tools extension or Mr.Tech's Local Install extension to "override compatibility" for older extensions not yet updated for 2.0beta2.
OR about:config = add the Preference - extensions.checkCompatibility as a Boolean set to false
Note: Either method will allow older extensions to be installed, but those extensions won't necessarily work correctly. There have been changes (which are still on-going in the Branch nightly's) to the default theme for the Toolbars and the Tab bar, and to the Options dialog window (Downloads tab has been eliminated, plus other Preferences move around), so any extension that modifies those areas of Firefox may not work correctly. Updated versions of specific extensions and themes are spread out in both the Builds and the Extension/Theme Releases fora. Some 2.0b2 extensions are located here: http://webdesigns.ms11.net/chromeditp.html
Check the extension/theme author's own websites for the most recent versions to see if a 2.0 b2 compatible version is available, or check AMO or TEM.

8) Want to be able to have both 1.5.0.7 and 2.0b2 running at the same time?
http://the-edmeister.home.comcast.net/advice-html/simultaneous-profiles_versions.html
A new Command Line argument for both Firefox 2.0 and Minefield 3.0 to 'invoke' the MOZ_NO_REMOTE Environment Variable is -no-remote . Like this:

Code: Select all

"C:\Program Files\~\firefox.exe" -no-remote -p "profileName"

To launch an older version while 2.0 or Minefield is running you will still need to use either the Permanent Variable version or the Batch File version. YMMV, I haven't had much time to test the new Command Line argument much, so I don't know its' limitations yet.

Additional info from Vectorspace, edited by Ed:
9) Make sure that whichever version is set as your Default browser, that the corresponding Profile is the profile selected by default in Profile Manager; IOW, it is "illuminated" when you run the Profile Manager. (You can also inspect the profiles.ini file, that it shows Default=1 for that particular Profile - profiles.ini is a text file, use Notepad or other text program to view, and edit if you are courageous.)
This is to make sure that whenever Firefox is started from another app (like link in e-mail program) which launches the Default browser, that your Default browser is launched with the corresponding (correct) profile. [If you screw this up and run 2.0 with the 1.5.0.7 Profile, that Profile may get b0rked, in which case your backup will be needed.]

10) The version launched from going Start > Run and typing firefox.exe is the version most recently installed, and will also launch with the Default profile. If install order is 1.5 then 2.0 beta, 2.0 beta will be launched through this with the Default Profile. If 1.5 is default and 1.5's profile is default, running Firefox like this will start 2.0 with 1.5's profile. IOW, it is probably best using 2.0 as your Default browser, with the new Profile as the Default Profile; unless you modify the Registry key or re-install 1.5.0.x so it is the newest installation!
You can control which version is launched in this manner using the path to firefox.exe in this registry key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE > Software > Microsoft > Windows > CurrentVersion > App Paths > firefox.exe
Or, reinstall whichever version is to be default.


Ed

[Frank Lion]

I had a chat with Ed on this and he has no problem with me adding this alternative method here.

For normal builds, I use the same method as Ed (not that surprising since I learnt it from Ed, haha) but for beta builds, which I trust about as far as I can throw them, I use the following method, in the interest of high speed and Mozilla folder security :


1. Download a ZIP build of beta.*(nothing gets installed when using zip builds )

2. Go to your existing 'Mozilla' folder (it will be Doc&Settings/Whatever/Apps Data/Mozilla) make a backup copy of it and paste it somewhere. Then rename the one in Apps Data to 'MozillaMAIN'.

3. Make a folder in your C Drive or whatever and call it 'Firefox Beta'. Put your zip into it, and unzip it into that folder.

4. Go into the unzipped folders and find 'firefox.exe' and double click it - it will make a NEW Mozilla folder and you are away.

5. When you are finished fiddling, delete this new Mozilla folder (or rename it Mozilla-B2, if you want it again), rename your 'MozillaMAIN' back to 'Mozilla' and fire up your Firefox 2 again

6. Do not use your beta zip build again, without repeating the above steps again! Possible 'world of pain' type stuff otherwise.


See? very quick and totally risk free, I do it like this all the time with betas.


*see answer below, to find these : http://forums.mozillazine.org/viewtopic ... 38#2511238

** extra tip here : http://forums.mozillazine.org/viewtopic ... 23#2524123

[urichter]

The -profile option is also noteworthy: Just use firefox -profile c:\some\path\to\profile, and firefox will use this folder as profile folder. The folder just has to exist, if its empty, a new profile will be created there.
The second advantage: The profile doesn't have to be registered in the profile manager! No risk to mess up the default profile if you just want to start a different version!

[Äkiidoll]

That always works for me too Ed. The -p switch didnt work this version, had to use the -profilemanager switch.

Mozilla/5.0 (X11; U; Linux i686 (x86_64); en-US; rv:1.8.1b2) Gecko/20060821 Firefox/2.0b2

Amber

[the-edmeister]

Frank,
Thanks for the input, that sounds like a safe and efficient way of testing a Beta without risking damage to the main installed version(s); toss it away when you install a new nightly or when you want to return to your Release installation.

urichter,
Thanks. I suspect nothing gets added to the profiles.ini file (and thus the Profile Manager) when starting a Profile in that manner. I'm gonna have to test that out this coming weekend, it might help me cut down on the number of Profiles (47 now) listed in my profiles.ini file.

Amber,
Thanks for the info about about differences or limitations with Linux OS's. There seem to be some subtle differences with some Command Line arguments between the different OS's, it's nice to try to get them documented in one forum thread.


Ed

[ourasi]

I find this method simplest:

1. Load Firefox Portable 2.0 Beta 2.

2. Load latest Firefox 2.0 nightly zip

3. Replace firefox-folder in portable with that in Firefox 2.0 zip.

You can update it as normal and install extensions and so on. If course you must/can copy your bookmarks and passwords and other things also to your profile. But you never mess with installed Firefoxies or profiles and you can have as many copies of Fx 2.0 as you like, in USB stick or in your hard disk.

[jtmal0723]

all references of 1.5.0.6 should be changed to 1.5.0.7, as 1.5.0.7 was released the other day.

[DeepFreeze3]

A - Firefox Extension Backup Extension (FEBE) - https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/2109/
B - MozBackup - Backup tool for Firefox and Thunderbird - http://mozbackup.jasnapaka.com/
C - BackupFox - http://www.neowin.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=291258
D - Backup your profile - http://kb.mozillazine.org/Profile_backup

What about Pike's Bookmark Backup extension? Come on, dude! It's a classic!

[the-edmeister]

What about Pike's Bookmark Backup extension? Come on, dude! It's a classic!

Excellent extension, I use it myself, but it doesn't backup the entire Profile per se. Everytime a user would install a new extension that uses its' own pref or data storage 'system' they would have to manually add that file to Other files in BB.
Example files / folders:
\gm_scripts\ - GreaseMonkey scripts
\adblockplus\ - AdblockPlus filters
clipdat.rdf or clipdat2.rdf - Clippings data
stylish.rdf - Stylish extension styles

Ed

[DeepFreeze3]

8) Want to be able to have both 1.5.0.7 and 2.0b2 running at the same time?
http://the-edmeister.home.comcast.net/advice-html/simultaneous-profiles_versions.html
A new Command Line argument for both Firefox 2.0 and Minefield 3.0 to 'invoke' the MOZ_NO_REMOTE Environment Variable is -no-remote . Like this:

Code: Select all

"C:\Program Files\~\firefox.exe" -no-remote -p "profileName"

To launch an older version while 2.0 or Minefield is running you will still need to use either the Permanent Variable version or the Batch File version. YMMV, I haven't had much time to test the new Command Line argument much, so I don't know its' limitations yet.

I currently use this new Command Line in shortcuts for both Firefox 1.5.0.7 and Bon Echo. Numerous times, I've opened both browsers and have done things with them side by side, and I've haven't noticed (as of this writing) any problems. It's a great improvement from before when I constantly had to open & close both repeatedly to do anything.

[the-edmeister]

I currently use this new Command Line in shortcuts for both Firefox 1.5.0.7 and Bon Echo.

According to Ben Smedberg it wasn't gonna be added to 1.8.0 which is the Firefox 1.5.0.x versions.
https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=325509#c6


Ed

[DaComboMan]

I had a chat with Ed on this and he has no problem with me adding this alternative method here.

...


1. Download a ZIP build of beta.(nothing gets installed when using zip builds )

...

Where do you get a .zip build?

Portable edition is nice but it doesn't remember sites visited. At least in the address bar that is.

[Frank Lion]

1. Download a ZIP build of beta.(nothing gets installed when using zip builds )
...

Where do you get a .zip build?

I do it like this:

Go to the latest page like this, i.e. : http://forums.mozillazine.org/viewtopic.php?t=613368

Then follow the 'NEW All Linux, Mac and Windows hourly builds for the last 14 days NEW' link.

[James]

Perhaps http://ftp.mozilla.org/pub/mozilla.org/ ... ozilla1.8/ would be better as the Tinderbox builds can potentially be less stable as Pacifica is taking a long time at moment. http://tinderbox.mozilla.org/showbuilds ... Mozilla1.8

[Frank Lion]

Thanks James.