Updating to Firefox 5

[Airborne]

My Firefox version is 3.6.23 which I have retained until FF stop their frequent updating and the latest versions have been thoroughly debugged and stabilised.

 

Now I feel confident in installing Firefox 5 and would like to go ahead.

 

1. Will this updating automatically carry over all my Bookmarks, addons and other personal data ?

 

2. Do I need to backup my large number of Bookmarks just in case something goes wrong ?

 

3. If I should have to backup, then at present I prefer to install FEBE which is a FF addon that does just about everything needed. See https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/febe/

I can of course do a manual backup using the FF Organise Bookmarks facilty and put the bacup icon on my Desktop, but prefer the automatic method.

 

I would appreciate your comments, particularly on the FEBE addon or alternatively give me your suggestions.

 

Many thanks

[RandyL]

From my past experience with Firefox the transition should be seamless. As for add-ons it depends. If they are supported they should be OK. If not Firefox will look for updated versions of the add-ons. If none are found then you're out of luck untill they rewrite them. If they ever do.

 

Make a manual system restore point Airborne if you're worried. You can always roll back.

[Starbuck]

I'm running FF6 and just about all of the my addons are working.

If you use the built in updater you won't need to back up anything.

The new FF version will use all of your existing settings.

[Airborne]

I'm running FF6 and just about all of the my addons are working.

If you use the built in updater you won't need to back up anything.

The new FF version will use all of your existing settings.

 

Starbuck, you are a treasure of advice.

 

I did ask the Mozilla Forum what version of FF was current, they said version 7.

 

My FF Help says that version 5 is available and to update. Well, The Mozilla guys say that version 5 is no longer supported and to update to version 7. Incredible ! FF are so enthusiastic in updating their versions every other day that they don`t even know what they are doing any more.

 

My verdict ;- Stay with 3.6.23 until either FF no longer supports it or wait until FF get over their daily updating fetish and the latest version has been debugged by market users and at least 6 months has elapsed to allow for stability.

 

I cannot accept a program that is constantly changing. My concern is not FF but the auxilliary programs and add-ons that we all use. If the FF changes do not take into account compatibility with other user programs and give to these vendors time to modify their products in line with FF updates, then FF will soon be OUT and I will resort to IE and a stable world.

[BeeCeeBee]

It is not a question of support, lately Firefox has been regularly upgrading their versions and the update includes any security revisions that might previously have been simple updates of the latest version. My transition from 3.6 through 4-7 has, as Starbuck put it, been seamless with 4 being the only upgrade that required some small learning curve. The newer features are just fine.

[Airborne]

an

It is not a question of support, lately Firefox has been regularly upgrading their versions and the update includes any security revisions that might previously have been simple updates of the latest version. My transition from 3.6 through 4-7 has, as Starbuck put it, been seamless with 4 being the only upgrade that required some small learning curve. The newer features are just fine.

 

Thanks BCB,

I understand what you say and it is encouraging.

 

But 3.6.23 works impeccably with not a problem in sight. My information so far from various sources is that all the FF versions are concerned with some kind of increased security feature and not a lot else.

 

I don`t need any increased security by FF since with Sandboxie, AVG 2012 and ZA, inflowing infections are non-existent. The only suspect area that I have is outgoing theft from within the sandbox, which I do not believe Sandboxie has any control over. If the increased FF security features guard against outgoing traffic then I will listen. If only on incoming traffic, I am not interested.

[Starbuck]

I'm running FF6 and just about all of the my addons are working.

Today i upgraded to FF7.

The only issue i found with the addons is that Java Console 7.0.01 isn't compatible with FF7 yet and has been disabled.

All my other 10 addons are working fine.

[Airborne]

Today i upgraded to FF7.

The only issue i found with the addons is that Java Console 7.0.01 isn't compatible with FF7 yet and has been disabled.

All my other 10 addons are working fine.

 

Dear Starbuck,

 

THAT piece of information from such a reliable source sounds very good indeed to me.

 

I am told by the Mozilla gang that version 8 is due to be released any minute now. Which means that by updating to version 7, I will be chasing my tail.

 

I do wish Mozilla would reach some kind of stability. Apart from update trimmings like all other programs, a new version should be consistent for many months.

Edited November 4, 2011 by Airborne