What is the last version of Firefox that will properly run on Windows XP service packs 2 and 3?
I have recently acquired a Windows 10 Laptop, and I have firefox on the device. However I still use my windows XP machine, and do some web browsing on it. I am curious as to when and if firefox will stop getting updates for XP, ad I believe I saw a recent note somewhere that a specific version would be the last that would work on XP service pack 2, but I cannot remember which version. Furthermore, as I have service Pack 3, I'm wondering what the final version that will work on that will be.
Incidentally, I was also curious about the Waterfox variant of the Firefox browser. What exactly is it, and does it work on XP at all or no?
All Replies (4)
The current Firefox 45 works on WinXP SP2 +SP3.
However as of Firefox 43.0.2 and newer the Firefox setups for Windows are signed now due to Microsoft requirements so those still using WinXP SP2 and not SP3 as they should, cannot install Firefox 43.0.2 or newer setups.
This is why WinXP users who download Firefox on www.mozilla.org or www.mozilla.org/firefox/all/ are served Firefox 43.0.1 where they can do a update to the current which is 45.0.2 currently.
https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/get-latest-version-firefox-windows-xp-vista
Besides that the only other Windows requirements that came up in last while is for Win64 Firefox Releases (existed since Fx 42.0) needing 64-bit Windows 7, 8 (8.1), 10 to run.
Modified by James
James said
The current Firefox 45 works on WinXP SP2 +SP3. However as of Firefox 43.0.2 and newer the Firefox setups for Windows are signed now due to Microsoft requirements so those still using WinXP SP2 and not SP3 as they should, cannot install Firefox 43.0.2 or newer setups. This is why WinXP users who download Firefox on www.mozilla.org or www.mozilla.org/firefox/all/ are served Firefox 43.0.1 where they can do a update to the current which is 45.0.2 currently. https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/get-latest-version-firefox-windows-xp-vista Besides that the only other Windows requirements that came up in last while is for Win64 Firefox Releases (existed since Fx 42.0) needing 64-bit Windows 7, 8 (8.1), 10 to run.
So then version 45 does work for even service pack 2, but it requires you to go through a few hoops to get it?
Incidentally, my version of XP is, I believe, a 32 bit version of the system (and I am utterly unsure about my windows 10 laptop's specs. Will that have any effect on whether or not Firefox will still run on my XP machine at all? I am currently on service pack 3 for XP, but if I ever need to reinstall the program (in case of god forbid a crash or something) all I have access to it Service Pack 2, so if I'm reading this right (and please correct me if I am) I would only be able to use up to version 43.0.1 on that version of the system, or do I just go through a few hoops to get the current edition?
If you have WinXP SP3 and not SP2 then you can download the current Release Firefox setup as https://ftp.mozilla.org/pub/firefox/releases/ is mentioned in article.
So for Firefox 45.0.2 https://ftp.mozilla.org/pub/firefox/releases/45.0.2/win32/ and pick your language say en-US.
WinXP SP2 users have to do the install 43.0.1 and update to current version route.
Browser useragents on WinXP by default does not show what Service Pack they have installed on WinXP. Otherwise Mozilla would likely serve 43.0.1 to SP2 users and 45.0.2 to SP3 users if SP was known from UA.
Modified by James
Marc7 said
James saidThe current Firefox 45 works on WinXP SP2 +SP3. However as of Firefox 43.0.2 and newer the Firefox setups for Windows are signed now due to Microsoft requirements so those still using WinXP SP2 and not SP3 as they should, cannot install Firefox 43.0.2 or newer setups. This is why WinXP users who download Firefox on www.mozilla.org or www.mozilla.org/firefox/all/ are served Firefox 43.0.1 where they can do a update to the current which is 45.0.2 currently. https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/get-latest-version-firefox-windows-xp-vista Besides that the only other Windows requirements that came up in last while is for Win64 Firefox Releases (existed since Fx 42.0) needing 64-bit Windows 7, 8 (8.1), 10 to run.'So then version 45 does work for even service pack 2, but it requires you to go through a few hoops to get it?
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The reason that versions after 43 require you to "jump through hoops" has nothing to do with Firefox.
It is because SHA1 was deprecated after the POODLE attacks a couple of years ago, and XP SP2 does not support SHA2. So, Firefox created a bootstrap so that SP2 users can download the SHA1 compatible 43 version, and then upgrade to the SHA2 browsers from within the browser.
You can read more about this in my comment here: firefox reports it is up-to-date when it is not
Specifically: Bug 1079858 - Deal with deprecation of SHA1 (SHA-1) Authenticode signatures for Windows signing