What genius decided version 5 was ready for release?!

Kaspersky 2011 security software is not compatible either and was arbitrarily uninstalled by Firefox, making my computers vulnerable to attack. I must uninstall this upgrade.

I see no way to roll it back to version 4 in this thread. From posts in this thread, it looks like you are going to be releasing additional irresponsible and dangerous upgrades in the near future.

So I must uninstall completely and choose a different browser. I would be a fool to reinstall any version anytime soon or ever.

Alright, let's try and get this settled once and for all (these instructions are for Windows) ...

1. Uninstall Firefox (for more detail on how to do this, see my earlier post)
2. Download Firefox 4.01 from here: http://www.oldapps.com/firefox.php?old_firefox=114
3. Install Firefox 4.01

As for some of the other comments made, I'm not convinced by Mozilla's decision to adopt a rapid release cycle either but complaining here is unlikely to change anything. Obviously, with the sheer number of third party plugins available, a rapid release cycle makes it harder for the plugin developers to keep up.

However, this is a volunteer-driven *support* forum. In all likelihood, the only people that are reading the posts made here are those seeking casual help, and those who have chosen to answer the questions posed. Most - if not all - of the volunteers are unlikely to have any afiliation with Mozilla Corporation, let alone a mandate with regard to the future direction of Firefox.

Here is a specific avenue for providing feedback, critical or otherwise:-

http://input.mozilla.com/en-US/feedback

Edited by a moderator.

Gosh people! Why is everyone advocating using an insecure version of Firefox!? Use Firefox 3.6 because Mozilla still supports it. That way you aren't using an insecure version. The installer can be found here.

I was browsing some other support questions, and I found a link to a FF4 installer. Please note that this is a insecure version. Downgrade to FF3.6 if you want a secure version (see my last post). Also note this is a 32bit version (I can't find any 64bit installers).

Firefox 4 Installer

You guys are making things out to be harder that it really is, by wanting to go back to an earlier version of Firefox rather than dealing with "compatibility" in a rational manner.

1. The developers of Add-ons for Firefox are responsible for keeping their product up to date as Mozilla releases new versions of Firefox. They are the people to complain to after a Firefox update is released if it doesn't work! If an Add-on developer isn't "up" to the work involved in keeping their stuff up-to-date they should get a different job or just stop supporting Firefox - period.

2. Use the tool that Mozilla developed a few years ago, the Add-on Compatibility Reporter, to "force" add-ons to be "compatible" with the new version of Firefox. This "tool" isn't going to actually "fix" an add-on, but it does override the maxVersion that the developer of each add-on specified in their add-on when they last updated their add-on.
https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/add-on-compatibility-reporter/

3. If the above isn't satisfactory to you, stop using add-ons - Firefox works just fine without any add-ons. Or stop using Firefox and use a different browser.

In conclusion, nobody "forces" you to do anything. If you don't want Firefox to be updated as soon as a new version is released, just turn the automatic updates off!

You're right. Contacting the developer of the add-on instead of the SUMOs would be better. But first, is the toolbar an add-on or a separate thing entirely (like Google Toolbar)? If it's an add-on, go install the compatibility tool so we can try and test the add-on with forced compatibility. If that doesn't work, you can send Mozilla a report as well. If it's not an add-on, then bring it up with the developers. It's not our fault if the non-add-on developers don't bring their stuff up to date with the browser.

As for the other people, please don't scream at us if your other software doesn't work with FF5. That is the fault of the developers for not releasing updates fast enough. FF4 was in beta long enough to give devs enough time to crank out new releases. For a good example, the kids game from Disney called "Toontown" doesn't even have support for FF4 yet, let alone FF5. Their fix? Downgrade to 3.6. Ridiculous. Devs want us to use old and/or insecure browsers just because they won't release updates. It's not our fault.

Am I missing something? To uninstall Firefox (any version), just click the Windows START button, choose the Control Panel, and select "Uninstall a program" under "Programs". Works like a charm.

On XP and Vista (don't know about 7), Windows actually runs the Firefox uninstaller. This is a Good Thing, because the Firefox uninstaller gives you the option of keeping your old customizations (i.e., your profile). Normally, you should do this, to save yourself the hassle of having to reconfigure whatever version you fall back to. But if you're having trouble with customizations, you may have to clobber them.

I have to agree with FF5 being broken badly. I can not stop Firefox from crashing my Nvidia drivers and locking up on most of the websites I go to for my job. I like the private browsing feature but what good it is when it locks up on the sites I need. Try loading a silverlight page and watch it stutter thru. I heard FF4 was bad because of security issues but FF5 is uncalled for as a fix. I want FF4 but can not get it. Guess it was time for Firefox to break itself and it's had time to fix the problems but nope. Just ignore the people or claim they are ignorant. Sad day. Well. Back to IE or Chrome. Hate to have to try and find something that works when FF did so well. I will not recommend it to any of my customers anymore, actually I will steer them away from it.

Fixes continue to get released. One fix was released specifically for Mac's recently. But most fixes are now as part of the new versions, so some of Firefox 4 was fixed by firefox 5. Firefox 7 is already on the Aurora channel and Firefox 6 is on the Beta channel. In a short time they will all move up one.

Hopefully developers will soon get used to this new fast release system, with small - hopefully tested and stable - changes being released maybe as often as every 6 weeks each as a new version number of Firefox. There are many changes going on with how add-ons are produced.

I am not sure Firefox have handled this situation very well, they would have done better to give warning of the downsides of upgrades, not just promoting the perceived improvements, however; fingers crossed; the big leap was between version 3.6 and version 4, lets hope as the new system of frequent releases settles down things will improve. Firefox 6 will very soon become the standard Release.

deleted I cannot see front pages on websites properly and I cannot see my entire theme for igoogle tea house deleted

Edited by a moderator due to language. See the Rules & Guidelines .