Hi

Yes, if you close or restart Firefox, it will update. Although I would not recommend that you do so, you would have download an older version and bring across your bookmarks and other data to it.

Thanks for that. Could I not simply go to wherever the new download is being stored and just delete it? Is it a single file or a folder or what?

Edited to add:

I just took a look and in

Computer/Windows 7 (C:)/users/Bert/AppData/Local/Mozilla/Updates

there's a folder labelled 6F940AC27A98DD61. I thought this might be the new download but unfortunately not only is it dated 27/09/2018, the folder is also empty.

Thanks for that. Could I not simply go to wherever the new download is being stored and just delete it? Is it a single file or a folder or what?

Edited to add:

I just checked the Program Files (x86)\Mozilla Firefox folder. It contains a folder called Updated - last changed 2nd June 2021. This is the date when I inadvertently downloaded the latest update, so presumably whatever I downloaded is in this folder.

What will happen if I go through the folder and delete every item dated today? Will the new download have been erased?

Sorry, duplicate post.

it would not be a bad idea to send that update folder to recycle bin.

it can always be undeleted.

Thanks! If I delete the entire folder and then restart Firefox will the latest download have been erased? And will I get a new prompt asking if I want to download it?

I am not 100% assured of this methodology to impede the installation of the download. But its sounds like it may work.

My rationale is that if the "install" process was automated, like for many other FF users, then the download would have automatically installed then rebooted your FF.

So it could be that you have downloaded the file but it will not install - until you press the "install buttons" inside of FF.

Therefore, please do send that update file to the recycle bin.

Nextly, if your FF does get updated with v89, there are some things we can try to either tweek V89 so it will be a bit more comfortable "or" downgrade you to V88. However, v89 does have system fixes.

btw: have you backed up your FF user data, ie bookmarks, pw's, etc., yet? Its good to have the data backed up in case you need to install FF from scratch.

Thanks for that. I must admit that I would, for now at least, like to keep my existing version.

You're quite right: I don't have the program set automatically to download and install updates; I've always preferred to control that myself. If I'd realised that today's update was the new radical revamp I wouldn't have downloaded it just yet.

Backing up up the user data makes good sense. I'm afraid this is a very basic question but is it contained in a single file or folder which I can simply copy to another location?

There are several ways to back up your FF user data. As for me, I use WIndows10 browser to import everything from FF. And when I need to install a new FF or create a new profile, i simply do an a full import from the Win10 browser.

So between FF sync-ing system, manually exporting info to files on the disk, to using other browsers for preserving your FF data and making a copy of the profile, it can be very confusing for people - truly.

Also, in win7, you can make a system restore point too. And this would hopefully restore the old files if needed.

So at this time, i think a reasonable methodology would be to log into FF account and execute a "sync". Please let me know if you have done this, before taking any actions above

I have created a restore point.

Under Tools I see an entry Synchronise Now. It doesn't generate a menu or any visible options, and clicking on it doesn't have any obvious effect. Are the syncing settings somewhere else?

Ah - I've just seen a link from Troubleshooting to Profile Folder. If that contains everything vital I could simply copy it across to another place.

Edited to add:

A quick Google search tells me that everything vital is in that folder. I've now copied it safely to two separate locations.

When it is actively syncing, ie sending your data up to your account, the sync wheel will spin around.

When the words "sync now" show up, the sync has stopped or ended. At which time you can log out.

To test if the syncing system has your data, we can create a new virgin/blank profile on your FF.

Then when sync is turned on, the new blank profile should begin to look like your typical profile with all the bookmarks and what-nots.

To test the above:

1) log out of your FF account 2) enter about:profiles into the url field and press go 3) inside the profile manager, look for the "create" button which is near the left top section 4) afterwards, that profile should appear on your screen and should looked empty of your customizations. 5) while in the blnk profile, log into FF account and invoke the sync now. The wheel should spin as it downloads data to the new profile. 6) when syncing has ended, log out, then take a look to see if your data has populated the new profile. If it did not, then the syncing feature has not been working for you.

Let us know of your results

I have created a restore point. Under Tools I see an entry Synchronise Now. It doesn't generate a menu or any visible options, and clicking on it doesn't have any obvious effect. Are the syncing settings somewhere else? Ah - I've just seen a link from Troubleshooting to Profile Folder. If that contains everything vital I could simply copy it across to another place. Edited to add: A quick Google search tells me that everything vital is in that folder. I've now copied it safely to two separate locations.

great!

I'm going to be away from the computer for a short while; I'll try your syncing test when I get back. Thanks for your help.

I'm sorry to have been so long getting back to this. Happily, I've now sorted it out, managed to remove the lurking unwanted update, and vowed to investigate exactly what's being offered before I blindly download anything in the future.

The syncing is now working, too.

Thanks to everyone for the thoughts and advice.

We are glad to be of help.  :-)