Knowledge Base discussions
Refresh Firefox - reset add-ons and settings
This is a proposed new troubleshooting article Michael Verdi just drafted. Background:
/forums/knowledge-base-articles/707113 Focus on troubleshooting
Why don't we just use the article discussion tab for this?
We could use a new thread in /en-US/kb/how-do-i-fix-firefox/discuss to discuss this article. Only thing, if you rename the article before it is approved for the KB, just remember to include a link to the new article in this thread; otherwise, people might not be able to find it - see /forums/knowledge-base-articles/705289?last=41374#post-40680
Modified by AliceWyman on
Just one quick comment, though. I'm gonna hava problema if yer gonna write stuff like:
This fix is kinda complicated. This is for long-time Firefox users with lots of info stored in Firefox.
AliceWyman said
Just one quick comment, though. I'm gonna hava problema if yer gonna write stuff like: This fix is kinda complicated. This is for long-time Firefox users with lots of info stored in Firefox.
We'll have to disagree there as usual. Conversational writing is more effective than formal writing in learning. And, the audience for our KB isn't one that would require formal writing — it's not academic, business or expert. If it were, I imagine mozilla.com would look very different.
Are there any rules for conversational writing in "How to/Reference" and "Troubleshooting" articles or does anything go? I'm talking about using "kinda" instead of "kind of" and "info" instead of "information". Makes it hard for reviewers and proofreaders to figure out what's an error and what isn't.
P.S. I took a look at http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/features/ (from the Desktop link on the main mozilla.com page) and I have no problem with the writing style on that page. It's friendly and informal but it uses "information" not "info" and "kinds of" not "kindsa" (or whatever).
Modified by AliceWyman on
I cross posted into the search thread.
Verdi said
I'll do three different versions of this — one where you don't save anything, one where you just save your bookmarks, and one where you use sync to save bookmarks, history and passwords.
What about users who want to keep their extensions and themes which will be the major part?
The article will be mainly video based because the instructions are complicated and I'll be doing three different versions of them.
Videos have always been intended to be a more, so the article must have detail instructions for users in locales that don't have videos.
WebM videos are supported by Chrome, Opera and IE 9 with a WebM plugin on Windows (see http://camendesign.com/code/video_for.../test.html). "Another browser that plays WebM videos" would be a better sentence and less advertisement for one competing browser (http://marketshare.hitslink.com/browser-market-share.aspx?spider=1&q...).
scoobidiver said
What about users who want to keep their extensions and themes which will be the major part?
Yeah that's a problem. That's why we're trying to get a feature into Firefox to do this for you. I'm thinking I could just suggest that you redownload the ones you want to keep afterward. These steps won't work for everyone but if you are sick of troubleshooting, this is not a bad solution. I've used the 3rd version (with sync) on my own installation of Firefox and on my Wife's. It wasn't difficult to get the few add-ons we use again - mainly adblock.
Videos have always been intended to be a more, so the article must have detail instructions for users in locales that don't have videos.
I've been thinking about this. The actual list of steps for these three procedures will be HUGE. I think the video makes them seem easy. This article may not work without the videos. I'm still not decided on what to do.
WebM videos are supported by Chrome, Opera and IE 9 with a WebM plugin on Windows (see http://camendesign.com/code/video_for.../test.html). "Another browser that plays WebM videos" would be a better sentence and less advertisement for one competing browser (http://marketshare.hitslink.com/browser-market-share.aspx?spider=1&q...).
I'm not at all concerned about advertising other browsers. I'm concerned about fixing Firefox. On Windows and Mac, I know you have Internet Explorer and Safari so I don't have to tell you to download something else. On Linux this might work but just telling people to use Chrome is fine. I'm not going to affect the Firefox market share, And if I could in this way, we've got bigger problems.
Verdi said
I'm thinking I could just suggest that you redownload the ones you want to keep afterward.
You need to remember which extensions you had before, that's in the Extension section of the about:support page.
I'm still not decided on what to do.
Two versions, the one with videos and another one in comment with detail instructions. Localizers will comment the video version and uncomment the commented version.
On Windows and Mac, I know you have Internet Explorer and Safari so I don't have to tell you to download something else.
Videos won't play in IE 8, or in IE9 without the WebM plugin, or in Safari and they are required to understand the article. You need to have also a Flash version as a backup.
scoobidiver said
Two versions, the one with videos and another one in comment with detail instructions. Localizers will comment the video version and uncomment the commented version.
Good idea.
Videos won't play in IE 8, or in IE9 without the WebM plugin, or in Safari and they are required to understand the article. You need to have also a Flash version as a backup.
I included an FLV version of this video so it would work in IE8 and 9 but it seems we've got a problem on sumo - filing a bug now.
I have no idea how long it will take to fix the bug I just filed https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=678212 - I might just offer a link to a youtube version as a backup if it's going to take a while.
In the video about removing the "Mozilla Firefox" installation directory on Windows, as well as in the text instructions, you use C:\Program Files\ which will be confusing. On my 64-bit Windows 7 system (many/most Win7 systems are 64-bit? ref.), there IS a C:\Program Files\ directory but it does not contain a Mozilla Firefox folder. Mozilla Firefox (as well as other 32-bit programs) is installed in the C:\Program Files (x86)\ directory by default.
You recommend exporting bookmarks and then importing them into a new profile. Why not use the Restore bookmarks from backup or move them to another computer method instead (back up to a .json file and restore that backup)?
P.S. Like scoobidiver said, lots of people will want to preserve their extensions. Also, some people may want to at least try fixing their current profile and, in some cases, the fix may be as easy as clearing cache and cookies. The article needs a link to Troubleshoot and diagnose Firefox problems (at least until "Article Topics" are set up, so that related articles are listed).
Modified by AliceWyman on
AliceWyman said
In the video about removing the "Mozilla Firefox" installation directory on Windows, as well as in the text instructions, you use C:\Program Files\ which will be confusing. On my 64-bit Windows 7 system (many/most Win7 systems are 64-bit? ref.), there IS a C:\Program Files\ directory but it does not contain a Mozilla Firefox folder. Mozilla Firefox (as well as other 32-bit programs) is installed in the C:\Program Files (x86)\ directory by default.
Gah! Ok - I'll have to point that out (obviously I have the 32-bit version).
You recommend exporting bookmarks and then importing them into a new profile. Why not use the Restore bookmarks from backup or move them to another computer method instead (back up to a .json file and restore that backup)?
Yeah that's better.
P.S. Like scoobidiver said, lots of people will want to preserve their extensions. Also, some people may want to at least try fixing their current profile and, in some cases, the fix may be as easy as clearing cache and cookies. The article needs a link to Troubleshoot and diagnose Firefox problems (at least until "Article Topics" are set up, so that related articles are listed).
Let me think about that how/if to do that. It's really beyond the scope of the article. This is specifically for someone who had either tried troubleshooting without luck or who don't want to go though troubleshooting in the first place.
Verdi said
AliceWyman saidP.S. Like scoobidiver said, lots of people will want to preserve their extensions. Also, some people may want to at least try fixing their current profile and, in some cases, the fix may be as easy as clearing cache and cookies. The article needs a link to Troubleshoot and diagnose Firefox problems (at least until "Article Topics" are set up, so that related articles are listed).Let me think about that how/if to do that. It's really beyond the scope of the article. This is specifically for someone who had either tried troubleshooting without luck or who don't want to go though troubleshooting in the first place.
You may have written this article specifically for someone who had either tried troubleshooting without luck or who don't want to go though troubleshooting in the first place but that doesn't mean that others who are looking for a fix to their Firefox problem won't find it. You should at least let them know that there are other ways to fix Firefox without reinstalling Firefox and creating a new profile. At the very least, make the intro sentence include a link:
Have you tried diagnosing Firefox problems without any luck?
Modified by AliceWyman on
Manually removing the "Mozilla Firefox" program folder will remove any plugins from the Mozilla Firefox\plugins folder, if it exists. That's mentioned in Uninstall Firefox from your computer. For example, the Windows Media Player Firefox plugin will need to be reinstalled. Maybe warn people of this?
By the way, is there still much of a need to remove the Mozilla Firefox program folder and reinstall Firefox, since bug 519357 (compdir-lockdown) was fixed in Firefox 3.6? Applications which used to place components in the Firefox program folder probably install their add-ons via the Windows registry now. Could you ask one of your dev buds?
Modified by AliceWyman on
AliceWyman said
By the way, is there still much of a need to remove the Mozilla Firefox program folder and reinstall Firefox, since bug 519357 (compdir-lockdown) was fixed in Firefox 3.6? Applications which used to place components in the Firefox program folder probably install their add-ons via the Windows registry now. Could you ask one of your dev buds?
I actually just got a script from Rob Strong today that we can use to determine if removing the install directory will help. I tested it on 3 Firefox installs and it said I should replace the directory on 2 of them. The one it didn't was the one I used in the video.
script from Rob Strong ... I tested it on 3 Firefox installs ... "
?
Also what about the link to Troubleshoot and diagnose Firefox problems?
AliceWyman said
script from Rob Strong ... I tested it on 3 Firefox installs ... " ?
We proposed this feature but it's too heavy handed. So we're going to see if we can gather some data and fix the remaining problems with the install directory. I just created Firefox Integrity Script with instructions on using it.
Also what about the link to Troubleshoot and diagnose Firefox problems?
I like your suggestion: Have you tried diagnosing Firefox problems without any luck?
Verdi said
I just created Firefox Integrity Script with instructions on using it.That article isn't ready to be used and the script has to be reviewed.
