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New version possibly did not completely uninstall older version?

  • 1 reply
  • 2 have this problem
  • 12 views
  • Last reply by cor-el

IDLauncher
IDLauncher
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On my computer (Running Windows 7 and Firefox 3.6.12) I noticed in my add/remove programs, two instances of Firefox (the extra being for 3.6.3), so I switch from the limited user I run as generally to the administrator account to uninstall the old version, but I find that in the add/remove programs panel in the administrator account there is only one version listed and it's the older version (3.6.3). So I open up Firefox in the admin account to check the version, and find it's the new version that runs, but for some reason it does not show up in add/remove programs when using the admin account. I want to uninstall the old version but I am afraid that since it is the only version listed in the add/remove programs panel in the admin account that it will delete the new version too with all my bookmarks and add-ons and settings and whitelists. This fear is further noted when I try to uninstall the older version as a test and it prompts me to close the running instance of the newer version of Firefox.

What is happening here? Can I delete the old version without messing up the new one? Why can't the admin account's add/remove program panel see the new version, but the limited user's one can?

On my computer (Running Windows 7 and Firefox 3.6.12) I noticed in my add/remove programs, two instances of Firefox (the extra being for 3.6.3), so I switch from the limited user I run as generally to the administrator account to uninstall the old version, but I find that in the add/remove programs panel in the administrator account there is only one version listed and it's the older version (3.6.3). So I open up Firefox in the admin account to check the version, and find it's the new version that runs, but for some reason it does not show up in add/remove programs when using the admin account. I want to uninstall the old version but I am afraid that since it is the only version listed in the add/remove programs panel in the admin account that it will delete the new version too with all my bookmarks and add-ons and settings and whitelists. This fear is further noted when I try to uninstall the older version as a test and it prompts me to close the running instance of the newer version of Firefox. What is happening here? Can I delete the old version without messing up the new one? Why can't the admin account's add/remove program panel see the new version, but the limited user's one can?

All Replies (1)

cor-el
cor-el
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  • Top 10 Contributor
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You most likely only have that old entry in HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\Mozilla Firefox left. It happens more often that the updater leaves old entries in the "CurrentVersion\Uninstall" registry key. If you are comfortable with editing the registry then you can remove that key or just change the name to the current version. Otherwise just leave it as is to avoid problems or uninstall and reinstall Firefox.

Your bookmarks and other profile data are stored elsewhere (not in the Firefox program folder) and won't be affected by an uninstall and reinstall, but make sure that you do not select to remove personal data if you uninstall Firefox.