Firebird007 said

Can anyone give me a VERY simple method of installing a new version of FF, whilst leaving my older version totally intact. I am so surprised that Mozilla have not yet built this option into their download options . I need my addons to work as they are essential for my visual problems.

I use Windows 7

This can be done. It's not that complicated, but you need to be careful.

Each Firefox program needs to be installed in its own programs folder. AND each version needs to have its own profile.

Note: Some data can be shared between these via sync, But because some things will not be compatible, you should only sync; bookmarks and passwords Only.

You should NOT be using old versions of Firefox to browse the web. Especially as old as 32. There are multiple known and probably more unknown security issues in such an old version.

What add-ons do you need to use?

Mozilla Firefox, Portable Edition from Portable Apps. https://portableapps.com/apps/internet/firefox_portable

It can be installed to hard disk and will not affect any other version of Firefox you may have installed. Any version of Firefox from Mozilla would need some fairly complicated tweaking to get it to be separate from a currently installed version - before you can even complete the installation of an additional, much newer version of Firefox.

Mozilla doesn't provide an option for you to do that because they don't want people to use older versions which lack the security updates which are part of the newer versions. Firefox 32 is from September 2, 2014 and it is simply asinine for someone to be using that old version, even considering that visual problems may be involved.

Access Firefox - http://www.accessfirefox.org/ - has solutions for visual and other accessibility issues. http://www.accessfirefox.org/About-Access-Firefox.php

Thank you to the 3 people who have replied so far to my question.

Only FedMcD has avoided making some sort of derogatory comment !

'When I ask for help, I DO NOT expect some judgemental comments from other FF users on the current version I use.....

'Asinine' meaning..."foolish, unintelligent, or silly; stupid: ...like an ass !"

I am not saying that there aren't some constructive and helpful comments offered.

I am fully aware that mozilla do not want anyone using older versions, hence their lack of support on this issue. HOWEVER, it would be very helpful if Mozilla made this process easy so that the newer version could be assessed and hopefully configured to make it usable for some disabled users like myself. Then the new version could replace the older one.

I have no wish to hold on to older versions that may pose security issues, but I DO want a FF browser that is actually usable for me and acknowledges some users needs to configure in an more unconvential way due to personal difficulties.

Since FF version 3.2.1 (I think), Mozilla have abandoned clearer icons on the interface and replaced them with 'tiny black things'...seeingly in their new minimalistic look, and since then, have been in a constant race to outdo Google Chrome with new updates every few months......each time any addons fail to work until they themselves get updated ...'sometime later'.

Just for the record my dpi is set to 170% to help with my double vision. I have also changed other sizings in the 'personalisation' options of Windows 7 for similar reasons. If a newer version of FF cannot accommodate these configurations then it will be useless to me ! I have also emailed at least 2 people at the FF Access Project and received NO replies !

I have actually had 2 different versions of FF installed in the past on an older computer. Installing the new version to a separate folder is straighforward enough, using a custom install, but the business with a separate profile is a real pain in the arse!

I will explore further some of the positive suggestions offered, the consider my options, including using a different browser.

If anyone has any other positive helpful suggestions, I would be very grateful.

I'm not sure what you want us to say. It's not a smart, safe or supported solution to run old versions of Firefox. We won't help with that.

What add-ons are you trying to run in more modern versions? We can help you see if there are supported versions or replacements.

Can you post a screenshot of the appearance you like? Otherwise, it may be difficult to understand what you need. This article has tips on screenshots: How do I create a screenshot of my problem? Please cut out or blur any sensitive information in the image before attaching it to your reply.

Since you use a version in the range of Firefox 29-56, you might currently be using the Classic Theme Restorer extension as a way to modify the appearance of the toolbar area. The author has released a detailed set of custom style rules for Firefox 57+ which can accomplish many of those same changes. However, they are a little challenging to set up, so that's why it would be helpful to understand what customizations are important for you rather than telling you dozens of options you'll need to sort through on your own.

Thanks to those of you who have made helpful comments above...

I have checked out some of the ideas suggested.

FF Portable seems to be the short term answer.

'The-edmeister'...can you definitely confirm that my current version of FF will be unaffected by FF Portable ?

I presume it creates it's own profile and folder ?

As for the longer term, I have listed below those Addons I rely on plus my Windows essential configurations. I have also added a screenshot of the FF interface, as suggested by 'jscher 2000'...(thanks)

'ADDONS......'Adblock Plus, NoSquint (no longer supported, but alternatives available I believe), Personas Plus, Speed Dial, The Addon Bar (Restored). PLUS....... dpi of 170% ....plus all the following have font size changed to size 22... 'Active title window', 'menu' and 'message box'. (in advanced personalisation setting)

Several Addons I looked at do NOT support 

FF Quantum, so maybe a good version to update to would be FF v. 51 ?

Please do let me have your comments on what I have said.

Oh, I do not use use 'Classic Theme Restorer'.

Yes, Firefox Portable is "self-contained". Nothing gets installed or created outside of the Portable program files folder, and it doesn't write to the Windows Registry.

I actively use a Portable version once every week or two for specific websites. Overall I have three Portable versions hanging around from years past; each works in isolation from other Official Firefox versions (and their Profiles) and is isolated from the other Portable versions, too.

Note that to keep versions separate all you need to do (and should do) if to create a desktop shortcut that start this Firefox version with its own profile. Things get tricky when it comes to the default browser that opens with the profile set in profiles.ini as Default=1 when started via HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT keys in the Windows Registry.

See also:

• http://kb.mozillazine.org/Creating_a_new_Firefox_profile_on_windows
• http://kb.mozillazine.org/Shortcut_to_a_specific_profile
• http://kb.mozillazine.org/Using_multiple_profiles_-_Firefox
• http://kb.mozillazine.org/profiles.ini_file

• https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/Command_Line_Options

Firefox comes with a pref that affects the zooming of the entire Firefox appearance (user interface and web page area). You can set layout.css.devPixelsPerPx to 1.0 (default is -1) on the about:config page. Adjust its value in 0.1 or 0.05 steps (1.1 or 0.9) until icons or text looks right. Modifying layout.css.devPixelsPerPx affects user interface and web pages (global zoom).

You can open the about:config page via the location/address bar. You can accept the warning and click "I accept the risk!" to continue.

• http://kb.mozillazine.org/about:config

You can look at Zoom Page WE and NoSquint Plus extension to set a default font size and page zoom on web pages.

• https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/addon/zoom-page-we/
• https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/addon/nosquint-plus/

Please run the latest Firefox, 61.

FF Portable v 61 now installed and working OK. The 'zoom' Addons I have installed do not help any more than the + & - default.

Only Nosquint Plus offers per site settings, but it works only erratically, and the settings box text & buttons are tiny !!....maybe due to unfixed bugs on this version (?)

'Theme Font & Size Changer' only has very limited features on FF v 61, so no help at the moment.

Several other extensions do not work at all and can not be installed with v 61.

However, many thanks to 'the-edmeister' for his help, suggestions and encouragement with this Portable version.

Thanks also to 'cor-el' for his/her suggestions. So short term objective complete. I will keep working on a longer term solution for updating convential FF.

I cannot acept this as a 'proper solution' yet, as the most important Addon extra...NoSquint Plus does not work properly on FF Portable v 61.

I therefore presume it also does not work on the convential FF v 61.

There are other features that appear to me as retrogressive, such as when veiwing the 'personas' page. Instead of being able to see any persona skin 'on my browser' instantly when 'moused over', I have to select a skin in a new tab to 'view it'.

Why does it not work properly? Make sure you have the latest version, https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/addon/nosquint-plus/, and if there are issues with the add-on itself, contact the add-on dev.

The mouseover feature was entirely removed, but it's pretty simple to just click a theme. You don't have to open it in a new tab.

Firebird007 said

The 'zoom' Addons I have installed do not help any more than the + & - default. Only Nosquint Plus offers per site settings, but it works only erratically, and the settings box text & buttons are tiny !!....maybe due to unfixed bugs on this version (?)

Firefox's built-in zoom feature saves your preferred zoom level on a per-site basis. What are you seeing with respect to per-site zoom levels:

(A) It works until Firefox is closed, then zoom levels are reset -- make sure Firefox is not set to clear history when you close it, or if it is, that you do not clear "Site Preferences" data

(B) It is per-tab instead of per-site -- make sure "browser.zoom.siteSpecific" hasn't been set to false in about:config

(C) Some other problem?

'Theme Font & Size Changer' only has very limited features on FF v 61, so no help at the moment.

That extension is for styling the toolbar area. You can make changes to that area using a userChrome.css file. Examples: https://www.userchrome.org/what-is-userchrome-css.html

text]Firebird007 said

Firebird007 said

Can anyone give me a VERY simple method of installing a new version of FF, whilst leaving my older version totally intact. I am so surprised that Mozilla have not yet built this option into their download options . I need my addons to work as they are essential for my visual problems.

I use Windows 7

I have an ftp file of all the FF versions on IE on Windows 7. [Removed by mod]

I like version 56. And I get little banners on the top of my web page "you FF is out of date." I know that. I tried the FF Quantam and it was so much like the looks of Google Chrome. When I updated, FF, I could uninstall it. But when I attempted to install the older version, it automatically went to the previous one. I am not computer savvy, but I went to computer restore and manually put in Jan. 1, 2018 and it erased all the history of FF and Google Chrome. I thought that was sneaky of both browsers. But I do not like Google Chrome. And when you use Windows 7 not many browsers are fun to use. I like FF. I may update to the 61.0. I just like the menu I had with 56.0. Good luck.

Please dont use out of date versions of Firefox. The latest version is 62

RadicalDudette said

I may update to the 61.0. I just like the menu I had with 56.0. Good luck.

Do you mean the way the application menu had large icons before instead of text? or some other aspect of the menu?

I am not aware of an easy way to modify the appearance of the application menu, but the web is full of style rule wizards who love to experiment, so it may well be possible. However, functionally speaking, the new menu has a fixed list and you can't add new items (even if you can restyle or rearrange existing items).

Thanks to RadicalDudette for some helpful comments..however....

I am enfuriated with Mr. Tyler Downer....!!

What right do you have Mr Downy to interfere with another person's comment ?

You seem to be determined to prevent me from finding a satisfactory new version of FF that is actually useable for me.

Perhaps you can 'moderate' all the responses on the forum by simply erasing them ! The forum is intended to help other FF uses, not to assert one person's dogmatic stance.

In using the FF Portable v 61, I am still trying to get the No 'SquintPlus' to work, which it does not. Not properly anyway..

The main problem being that it will NOT set 'text zoom levels' and 'full zoom levels' properly and consistently for each site, and usually ends up ceasing to work at all. I have emailed the developer Baris Derin who has failed to reply consistently. I have also emailed the Acessability Team via Ken Saunders....No reply either !

I emailed the author of the original 'NoSquint' (which works like a dream) who did reply and was very helpful, but he had to stop it's development because he says.... "I'm not able to dedicate the time required to keep pace with Firefox's evolution"

Most of the Acessability Addons do not work with FF quantum & above.

Perhaps your time could better be spent encouraging Mozilla to make it's current FF versions suitable for those of us with visual difficulties, or even develop the necessary Acessability Addons themselves !

Whatever happened to the famous FF configurabilty ??