(Solved) Firefox 5.0 destroyed my browser experience

[The_Dadu]

I've lost all my add-ons and all the configuration I have spent much time over many years setting up the way I like it.
Any ideas on restoring Firefox 4 or am I stuck trying to recreate this manually?
I'm seriously thinking of going Chrome after this debacle.

[Archie]

The following may not answer your questions:

Have you looked at your /home/<user>/.mozilla/firefox and /home/<user>/.mozilla/firefox folder? Most Firefox stuff are usually stored at /home/<user>/.mozilla/firefox/<random_alphanumeric>.default/.

I use Chromium browser regularly but I don't discount Firefox either. I still have it installed and on my menu. It all about choices. Try Chromium or even Google Chrome.

[muungwana]

It is always advised to create a back up of anything you have spent a lot of time and effort on. With the amount of time you seem to have spent on firefox, you probably should have created a back up of firefox settings folder.

explain what you mean by "lost". New version of firefox usually disables all add ons that have declared themselves to run on older versions of firefox. Did firefox delete your old addons or did it just disable them?

You can configure firefox to ignore addons that have maximum version that is less than the version of firefox you are running.

[The_Dadu]

I found a solution.  On the mozilla add-on page for firefox, at the bottom where it would be easily missed, is a link to install the Fast Dial 3.5 development version.  I also seems to have recovered my configuration.
Still, I am greatly angry that the Firefox developers are shortsighted enough to issue incompatible software without an EXPLICIT warning of immanent loss of all add-ons.  The attitude that this demonstrates is extremely destructive to the user base.

[muungwana]

Firefox does not loose extensions on upgrades to new versions. The only thing happens is that it checks on first run after an update if all installed extensions have a declared maximum version that is greater than or equal to the new version of firefox and it disables all extensions that fail this test.

The date of release of new versions of firefox is well known. Your extensions were disabled because they fail to meet new requirement of the new browser and a part of your blame should be directed at extensions developers for not having updated version on firefox arrival. How can you blame firefox for extension developers lack of updated addons on firefox arrival?

All users of firefox know that some old extensions need to be updated first before they can work with new versions of firefox. If you have extensions that you must have, then first check if they have an updated version before updating your browser. You should know this much.

I think you are unfairly being hard on firefox

[djohnston]

I think you are unfairly being hard on firefox

The poor fox is getting flamed!

[The_Dadu]

"I think you are unfairly being hard on firefox"

My standard of comparison is based on upgrading Chrome from version 9 thru 12  and Opera between 9 thru 11 each without loss of configuration/functionality at any individual step.  Firefox has not learned those lessons. And, the latest change in the way firefox numbers it's releases means that any shorter-term compatibility that was there has now been thrown out.

[T6]

wait a second, where is firefox 5?

it is not in the repos is it?

[Texstar]

I have one add-on out of many that reported itself as being too old. Firefox will check on it from time to time and as soon as a new version of the addon comes out I will automatically get an update for it. Thank you Firefox.

[muungwana]

"I think you are unfairly being hard on firefox"

My standard of comparison is based on upgrading Chrome from version 9 thru 12  and Opera between 9 thru 11 each without loss of configuration/functionality at any individual step.  Firefox has not learned those lessons. And, the latest change in the way firefox numbers it's releases means that any shorter-term compatibility that was there has now been thrown out.

Firefox internals and firefox addons internals become one and the same when they are loaded. A great many add ons touch too much firefox internals and that is why they break on updates when firefox internals change even in the slightest. Chrome extensions on the other hand are nothing but webpages and that is why they can easily cruise pass different chrome versions. I dont know about opera but what ever they have is not as invasive as firefox extensions are on firefox.

Firefox have learned their lesson and are working on a new add on engine called "jetpack", with it, addon developers will do what they do on chrome, create webpages and expect loose in functionality when that happens.

[Old-Polack]

"I think you are unfairly being hard on firefox"

My standard of comparison is based on upgrading Chrome from version 9 thru 12  and Opera between 9 thru 11 each without loss of configuration/functionality at any individual step.  Firefox has not learned those lessons. And, the latest change in the way firefox numbers it's releases means that any shorter-term compatibility that was there has now been thrown out.

Just as likely you fail the user awareness test. This is the way Firefox has always worked. Chrome and Opera do not have literally hundreds of extensions to choose from as Firefox does, so if the ones you've chosen do not have updated versions available by Firefox new version release day that's the fault of the extension creator. When the extension creator upgrades the extension the new version will be installed and activated automatically. The Firefox developers have no control over the extension creators; they are independent coders.

Complaining about it here, is about as effective as howling at the moon... and just about as annoying to others.

[Texstar]

Of the 617 add-ons that make up 95% of add-on usage known to Mozilla, 88% are currently considered compatible with the latest builds of Firefox 5.0.

For future reference please check this report before you upgrade to Firefox 6.0

https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/compatibility

Then you can find out right away if you should update or hold off until your favorite addons are updated.


aaahhwwwooooooo!!!

[Village Idiot]

When using Firefox, for best results, you need to be wearing the correct hat..

[Old-Polack]

When using Firefox, for best results, you need to be wearing the correct hat..

Dammit, I had one of those and was wondering who stole it.

[YouCanToo]

When using Firefox, for best results, you need to be wearing the correct hat..

Gosh, you have a picture of my sister!