The System Details shows that you used an outdated Firefox 124.0 version that is no longer supported, we recommend to always use the current release (126.0) to get the latest security patches.

• https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/update-firefox-latest-release

You shouldn't lose personal data and customization when Firefox updates if you keep Firefox up to date, however if you wait longer and skip updates then this isn't guaranteed. If you lose data then a possible cause is that your security software is interfering or keeps an handle/lock on some files.

• https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/recover-user-data-missing-after-firefox-update

Thanks for responding.

I have been updating manually EVERY NEW VERSION for years until the last one--never skipped until 124.02, which is what I run now.

I do not recall when exactly for reasons that I do not understand -- I had the autoupdate setting on -- I got updated automatically ( I think 126) and looked quite different than the ones before. So there is a possibility that they redesigned it and even if I install it manually as I always do, if it's sufficiently different, it may wipe out eveything again. So it's not an issue of "very old and not supported".

What I need to know from a relaiable source if the current version (126) has been changed to adegreed that it is no longer compatible with 124.02 and thus does no longer support all the customization of versions preceding it. I do not want to install it manually and discover another wipeout.

For example, aside from looking different, the update wiped out all bookmarks and extensions. So , 1st:

1. Why was I updated without warning or permission? 2. Was the wipeout due to the fact that that unlike custom install, it was std install, or because 126 is no longer compatible with the bookmarks and extensions of 124 and even if I custom install 126, the same wipeout will happen?

I do NOT want to install ANYTHING on my computer until I am prepared, immediately after my backup routines and journal entries and shutting down all other apps, when I can leave the computer free to ONLY install something. I want to download every Firefox update to an exe file on my PC, but I do NOT want to install them until I know enough about other's experience with a particular version to feel safe doing so - I never run anything on my PC while an install is taking place, so I don't want any "drive-by" installs when I am not expecting it at that moment.

When I realized that Firefox's reminders to "download" actually MEANT "download and sometime or other we will do a surprise install!", I stopped updating to let the nest ESR version catch up with 119.0, so it wouldn't cause problems with my profile. (Your profile "management" for the USER to have to do is pretty horrendous and time-consuming.) I just need to be sure that the ESR version will allow me to download (only) the update and then install it when I'm ready.

Now I read that Firefox may "destroy" all of your data if you skip any updates. I never planned to "skip" any, just to install them - in order - at a time when I am prepared to install them. However, Firefox's failure to allow users to DOWNLOAD updates to an .EXE file, so they can install it when they are ready, PREVENTS users from installing them "in order". So now it looks as if ESR may be my only option to run a stable Firefox browser, unless I want to find another browser that doesn't try to wrest control of my own computer from me and make constant changes to it that I don't want. I had to get an internet cord with an on/off switch, in addition to making OS changes to prevent Windows from doing the same thing (plus STEALING my PC hardware, disk drive's lifespans & internet bandwidth to update OTHER people's PCs - instead of providing their OWN hardware & bandwidth to update their own customers systems !).

Where can I find DETAILED instructions to switch my 119.0 version of Firefox to the latest version of ESR? Is that 115? When will the next ESR version be released? Can I download it to a file that I can install at what is a good time for ME? Is that the MSI file? Please reply to [removed email from support forum]

Thanks, Anne

... I had the autoupdate setting on -- I got updated automatically ( I think 126) and looked quite different than the ones before.

The differences between Firefox 124 and 126 are small if you compare an uncustomized installation. However, two possible issues:

(1) New installations or updates sometimes trigger creation a new profile.

This can either be a completely vanilla profile, or it can be created as a result of a Refresh or "Tune-up." When this happens, Firefox should display a dialog about proceeding with one or the other of those. If you don't get a dialog, it's possible that a lock file in your Firefox profile prevented an in-place update and Firefox automatically created a new profile.

We can give you the steps to check for old profiles. They would be similar to the first section of the following article: Recover lost or missing Bookmarks.

(2) if you use userChrome.css rules to modify the appearance of Firefox, changes to Firefox's own CSS rules can cause custom rules to have unintended effects.

I can't keep track of which versions user have reported cause problems, but if restarting Firefox in its Troubleshoot Mode restores a sensible basic toolbar layout, then this would be worth investigating further. See: Diagnose Firefox issues using Troubleshoot Mode.

Finally, unless your installation of Firefox is managed by an IT department that forces prompt updating, you should be able to choose the option on the Settings page to alert you to new updates and let you choose when to install them. This has always worked for me, but I'm usually not more than one week behind on updates.

Thanks for the explanation.

1st, there should be no circumstance in which a new profile should be created without requesting it from the user. Period.

(1) New installations or updates sometimes trigger creation a new profile.

>>This can either be a completely vanilla profile, or it can be created as a result of a Refresh or "Tune-up." When this happens, Firefox should display a dialog about proceeding with one or the other of those. If you don't get a dialog, it's possible that a lock file in your Firefox profile prevented an in-place update and Firefox automatically created a new profile.>>

2nd,there was no dialog, nor a notification of an update. If there was a lock on a file, I had nothing to do with it. It is precisely for this reason that new profiles should not be created without asking me.

<<We can give you the steps to check for old profiles. They would be similar to the first section of the following article: Recover lost or missing Bookmarks.

(2) if you use userChrome.css rules to modify the appearance of Firefox, changes to Firefox's own CSS rules can cause custom rules to have unintended effects.

Finally, unless your installation of Firefox is managed by an IT department that forces prompt updating, you should be able to choose the option on the Settings page to alert you to new updates and let you choose when to install them. This has always worked for me, but I'm usually not more than one week behind on updates.>>

I do not use Chrome and I am a home, not enterprise user.

I downloaded the custom install and dared to install it as I've always done and the customization reappeared--so it still works--everything was due to the auto update.

PLEASE, PLEASE make sure that that option remains valid to permit us to install without forcing new profiles without permission.

Thanks for all your help.

> I do not use Chrome

Based on your comments, it sounds like you do not use a userChrome.css file, which is completely unrelated to Google's Chrome browser.

It's difficult to know what glitch might have occurred now that things are back to normal.

Thank you for the clarification -- I have no idea what a chrome .CSS file is -- some of us are end user who care little about technicalities and just want to do our jobs.

What is the source and purpose of the file -- what installed it on my computer, is it necessary, should I remove it? If so, how? Where is it located?

Since you don't know what a userChrome.css file is, it probably is not relevant to you.

However, if you want more background information:

It is an optional file users can create to modify the interface in unsupported ways. For example, some users want to roll back the toolbar appearance in ways that you simply cannot do with built-in features (for example, making the tabs square again, or moving the tabs below the bookmarks).

If you never created or installed a userChrome.css file, then never mind.

I only mentioned it because of your "looked quite different" comment which isn't something anyone would usually say when comparing Firefox 124 and Firefox 126.

Anne,

If I understand you correctly, that's the policy I have too and until now I did not have any troubles -- I download the custom install exe and install at my convenience. I was set @check but do not update and it was OK -- whenever I got a notification of an update I would do all that.

But suddenly I got an update WITHOUT ANY NOTIFICATION and it killed customization, which is why I came here.

Luckily I could recover the profile and Firefox directory and I reverted to my earlier version.

I then downloaded the latest and installed it as usual and it worked OK.

So you can continue as before, just keep copies of the Profile and Firefox folders in case they update you again.

jscher2000 - Support Volunteer said

... you should be able to choose the option on the Settings page to alert you to new updates and let you choose when to install them. This has always worked for me, but I'm usually not more than one week behind on updates.

Unfortunately, what it claims to do is not what it actually does. If you let Firefox "download" an update, it does not do that - there is no downloaded update file anywhere on your HD for you to install when it is the right point in time for YOU. All it does is just trigger an automatic update at some SURPRISE! time in the future.

Q1. What I want is to download each update as an executable file that I can save on my computer and install at a point in time that works for ME. I also want to save it on my HD in case I have to restore an earlier version of my computer system, so I can bring the older, restored Firefox up to the current version by reinstalling each update in order, since I'm hearing that Firefox updates may break things if any are skipped and Firefox doesn't offer any way to run, in order (or at all), updates (between what is on a (restored) PC and what is the current version). IMO, every update should be programmed to do this automatically.

Is there any way I download updates (ESR or otherwise) onto my HD and then install them when I choose? If so, HOW? Is that a "Custom Install"? Or an .msi file? I haven't found ANY way to download an update file to my HD for later manual install. And I thought FF was supposed to be about privacy and choice !!!

Q2. When will the NEXT FF ESR version (after v115.*) be available? I don't want to take the trouble to go back to v115 and then a new version comes out in a few months. Will the new ESR version number correspond with the latest constant-update version number? I would prefer this, since both versions should be supporting the same extensions, have the same profile format, etc.

Q3. If I try to install v126 over v119, will that break everything? I stopped updating to wait for next ERS version to catch up, then I realized that (duh!!!) it would probably be given the same number as the fast update version! Now, because of FF updates breaking things and not providing any way to catch up to the update stream safely (no v124 downloaded to my HD and no way to have FF install it, I don't know what to do (unless I find another browser). How can I get back into the update stream from v119.0  ? This does not seem like a very good update system. If I had to restore my system to an earlier date, there would be no way to safely "catch up" Firefox to the current version. This does not seem like a very good update system.

Thanks, Anne

jscher2000 - Support Volunteer said

... you should be able to choose the option on the Settings page to alert you to new updates and let you choose when to install them. This has always worked for me, but I'm usually not more than one week behind on updates.

Unfortunately, what it claims to do is not what it actually does. If you let Firefox "download" an update, it does not do that - there is no downloaded update file anywhere on your HD for you to install when it is the right point in time for YOU. All it does is just trigger an automatic update at some SURPRISE! time in the future.

Hi Anne, a patch (.mar) file is downloaded and staged for installation at your next Firefox restart. It is set up in a hidden folder (similar to AppData being a hidden folder). If you want to download a full (.exe) installer to run at your leisure, see: Custom installation of Firefox on Windows.

You may want to start a new thread for the other topics. On this one:

> When will the NEXT FF ESR version (after v115.*) be available?

The next ESR will be based on Firefox 128.0. The release calendar can be found here: https://whattrainisitnow.com/calendar/

You can keep an eye on this bug if you are interested in the progress.

• 1893446 - (esr128) [meta] Support ESR128
• https://whattrainisitnow.com/release/?version=128

https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/page.cgi?id=etiquette.html