View Full Version : Firefox Upgrade. I hate it.


Janice
05-11-2011, 11:58 PM
My system seems jumpy. I'm getting all these pop-ups. Anyone having problems?

robyrob
05-12-2011, 01:24 PM
i usually wait until the first revision before upgrading to a new major version number - I firmly believe in letting other people be the test subjects.

also sometimes it helps to start with a fresh install - take a look at which addons you have installed, then uninstall ALL older versions of firefox, java, flash, adobe reader etc (anything which uses browser plugins) and reinstall everything from scratch - install ONLY the add-ons you really need

usually too many add-ons/extensions can increase the chances of having a conflict, and sometimes those add-ons don't have ALL the bugs worked out to be fully compatible with a new major software update.

Janice
05-12-2011, 02:38 PM
Rob, I never even asked for this upgrade. It started on its own. I swear I'm telling the truth here. Is there a way I can get rid of this monster and then downgrade the previous version?

robyrob
05-12-2011, 04:56 PM
Rob, I never even asked for this upgrade. It started on its own. I swear I'm telling the truth here. Is there a way I can get rid of this monster and then downgrade the previous version?
you'd have to download the older version, uninstall that newer version completely and then install the old version

download 3.6.17 here: http://www.filehippo.com/download_firefox/9752/

robyrob
05-12-2011, 05:00 PM
for the automatic updates, you are best to leave it check automatically for updates, but have it ask you before installing anything

http://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/Updating%20Firefox#w_configuring-update-options

# At the top of the Firefox window, click on the Tools menu and select Options...On the menu bar, click on the Firefox menu and select Preferences...At the top of the Firefox window, click on the Edit menu and select Preferences...
# Click the Advanced icon.
# Click the Update tab. The auto-update options are displayed.
# Click the button that says "Ask me what I want to do"
# Click the OK button

Janice
05-12-2011, 08:08 PM
Rob, thanks so much. The uninstall and reinstall went great. I like this version a lot better. I did it without reading your next post about updates. Is there a way I can do anything about it now? I don't want it upgrading by itself again.

robyrob
05-13-2011, 01:41 AM
sure, just go into the Tools menu and change the settings now and it will ask before it installs any new updates - it will still offer the 4.0 upgrade, but it will also offer any 3.6.xxx security updates

Janice
05-13-2011, 03:22 PM
I'm good to go. I really appreciate your help.


:thanks:

comedyfreak
05-16-2011, 12:06 PM
I had to get use to the new version. I don't like my bookmarks on the right side don't know why they have to fix something that wasn't broken.:rolleyes:

Janice
07-12-2011, 03:56 PM
Firefox is constantly prompting me to update to the new version. Has anyone done it? Any reviews, advice, roby? lol.

spunkygirl
07-12-2011, 05:24 PM
I use Firefox Beta, I like it better

Yooch
07-12-2011, 05:29 PM
I don't normally use Firefox, but when I was still working, I had to use Firefox from home on my iMac in order to access certain job-related data, because Safari wouldn't interface with it. Over the months I used Firefox, I was asked to upgrade two or three times. Fine, but I used Firefox out of necessity and still have it in my Applications. I never felt totally comfortable with Firefox, and with each 'upgrade', less still. Every time you log off Firefox they have that little check box asking you if you want Firefox to be your default browser. I always decline, because I'm used to Safari. I never saw the Firefox upgrades as improvements. I do like the way it auto-saves previous URLs, so that you don't have to type out the whole thing each time. (Maybe they all have that, but I noticed it more on FF). That is all I can say for it.

Penny Lane
07-13-2011, 02:20 AM
I upgraded Firefox when I got my new computer. So far no problems. I used Google Chrome for a couple of years but started having problems with it.(freezing up, virus warnings) So I decided to go back to Firefox.:)

Yooch
07-13-2011, 03:04 AM
I upgraded Firefox when I got my new computer. So far no problems. I used Google Chrome for a couple of years but started having problems with it.(freezing up, virus warnings) So I decided to go back to Firefox.:)

I was talking to a guy at Best Buy today; my wife's looking for a laptop, and we were talking about browsers. I didn't even bring up the subject of Firefox; he said he liked using it because he found it to be secure, but then he said the same about Google Chrome, too, which is different from your experience, Marlene.

(I did have Google Chrome on my iMac, but got rid of it after a week. It started when I wanted to install Google Earth, and I ended up getting other stuff I didn't ask for, like Google Chrome. Maybe it was the memory it took up, or something, but my computer wasn't performing completely as it should. I miss Google Earth, which is fun to play with, but it wasn't worth keeping my computer from running right.)

As mentioned, I still have Firefox in my Apps., and it's there if I need it, but now that I no longer need it for school, will probably not use it all that much, but we'll see.

robyrob
07-13-2011, 10:17 PM
version 3.6.18 is the current 3.x version, you should at least have that for security reasons

i haven't upgraded to the 4.0 yet myself - i don't like the way firefox is changing their release schedule just to "keep up" with chrome and IE - major version upgrades should be exactly that, and only as necessary

i also don't like when they make changes to the controls without allowing you to modify them to your liking

part of the problem with the upgrades is that they will cause problems with a lot of addons and plugins, which means you are going to need to periodically uninstall or remove them, or just do a fresh install every so often - and this is true with ANY browser not just firefox.

the other problem is you really need to keep up on your java and flash updates, almost every two weeks one or the other of them is doing something which could be problematic - i urge everyone to go to http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/plugincheck/ and check theirs NOW

Janice
07-13-2011, 11:43 PM
Thanks Rob. The version they want me to upgrade is 5.0. I'm happy with whatever version I have now. I also get this other warning, something about using too much CPU usage because of Firefox. I think I have that right. I don't know what to do.

robyrob
07-13-2011, 11:57 PM
Thanks Rob. The version they want me to upgrade is 5.0. I'm happy with whatever version I have now. I also get this other warning, something about using too much CPU usage because of Firefox. I think I have that right. I don't know what to do.
see if you can get a screenshot of the error message with the CPU warning, or write down the exact message and I'll see if I can track it down

Janice
07-14-2011, 10:51 AM
It did say High CPU Usage by Firefox. I clicked on I think, Settings and got this. Looks like it's connected to my Norton Security Suite, which I get free for having Comcast.