I'm getting ready to install Firefox 0.8 - any tips

[Snoggera]

on potential problems or glitches I may face?

[lpbk2713]

1. I downloaded it about a month ago.

It wouldn't install because of errors.

[Snoggera]

2. Errors during install?

or otherwise?

Any report on what those errors were?

thanks!

[CrownPrinceBandar]

3. I installed about a month ago as well...

I haven't had any problems. Install went well, and I didn't even have to import my IE bookmarks. Tabbed browsing is great.

Congrats, your one step closet to loosing the bonds of Microsoft!

[disgruntled_goat]

4. after you're done

check out "Phoenix help" - there are some amazing extensions available.
I using one that stops those annoying flash animations. you can see them, but you haveta click first. reaaaaly restored sanity to my browsing.

also of note are one that can enlarge text (right click, context menu) which is also super nice since i don't see so well, and many pages come up looking teensy.

'fraid i don't have specifics tho.
good luck, and enjoy the best browser out there.

[sir_captain]

5. I've had no problems

there is apparently one glitch that many run into, but the workaround is posted right on the firefox page at mozilla.org

if you get an "XBL Binding" error, just go to the main firefox page and it'll tell you what to do.

and anyway, have fun. it's a terrific browser.

i'd suggest downloading the tabbrowser extension after you get it going. it makes the tabbed browsing even better and more customizable.

[JaySherman]

6. Yeah. If you've got a firewall

make sure it's set to allow Firefox. I've sat there many times scratching my head wondering why something wouldn't connect to the Internet, only to remember that :dunce: the firewall was blocking it.

Other than that it's pretty straightforward. After you install it be sure to go get yourself some nice new skins, since imo the default Firefox skin is boring as hell. Make sure the pop-up blocker is enabled. Set FF as your default browser and enjoy. I've been using FF for several months now and rarely ever touch Internet Exploder anymore.

[madrchsod]

7. no problems at all

[Snoggera]

8. okay - here goes - thanks to everyone!

If you don't here from me again, it's probably because I'm lost in the firefox dimension. I'll be back!

[theoceansnerves]

9. i didn't have any problems

i love this browser!

[SpiritsDad]

10. Firefox 0.8

I've used Firefox (formerly Firebird) for several months and I'm a big fan.

I had NO difficulty with the original or subsequent installations. I found one Firefox extension very useful -- that is a context menu addition to "View this page in IE". Some web sites (my bank for example) requires IE. It is very handy to simply click the right mouse button and select "View in IE".

I think you will enjoy the flexibility, speed, and relative security of Firefox.

[Snoggera]

11. New questions!

I'm using Firefox, and wonder:

How do I set the screen colors? I like looking at pages with a grey background rather than white. Is there a way to set this?

I am now downloading Thunderbird mail. Will it automatically set itself into the browser, or how do I configure to easily use it?

thanks again

[SpiritsDad]

12. Thunderbird

As I recall, simply check "yes" when the installation routine asks if you want Tbird to be your default browser.

I don't have an answer regarding background color. If you don't get an answer here, you might ask the question at Firefox General at

http://forums.mozillazine.org/index.php?c=4

[Snoggera]

13. thanks about the tbird answer, I got the colors I want, and now

am wondering about managing cookies. One thing I liked about the old Mozilla was I could go to tools - manage cookies - and delete forever any that I didn't want. I don't see that here. Am I missing something?

[salvorhardin]

15. Managing cookies in Firefox

Choose Options from the Tools menu. This brings up the Options dialog
Click on Privacy in the left hand navigation pane
Click on the little right facing triangle next to Cookies in the right hand navigation pane (or click the Clear button to clear all cookies)
Use the checkboxes to set or unset the way you want Firefox to manage cookies
Click on the Exceptions button to specify sites that you either always want to use cookies or never use cookies
Click on the Stored Cookies button to remove specific cookies or sets of cookies
Click OK to close Options dialog

[Snoggera]

14. I really need to know

how is this better than mozilla 1.6? So far, I don't see any improvement. And, it seems like a bit more of a hassle to use.

[Snoggera]

16. Also

It automatically imported IE favorites, but I haven't used IE for years. Is there a way to import Mozilla favorites?

Damn, I sound petulant, don't I!

Thanks again everyone.

[Imperialism Inc.]

18. It is a beta version.

If you came from a full + bug fix version to a pre 1.0 beta and expected a more stable complete browser you don't understand software versioning ;-)

But seriously the primary improvements are the tab browsing features and the fact that it is standalone and quicker to load.

[salvorhardin]

19. I believe this should work

Choose Manage Bookmarks from the Bookmarks menu to bring up the Bookmarks Manager dialog
Choose Import from the File menu of the Bookmarks Manager dialog
(Assuming Win XP)
Look under C:\Documents and Settings\YourUserName\Application Data\Mozilla\
You should find your bookmarks in there, if not export your Mozilla bookmarks and then lather, rinse and repeat.

[salvorhardin]

17. Stronger, better, faster...

or something like that.

Firefox is meant to be a fast, lightweight alternative to Mozilla suite. The idea is you get all the goodness of Mozilla without the bloat. If you want something that was in Mozilla, then you can add an extension to get it. You can add extensions to do things Mozilla can't. It is also highly themeable.

Firefox is also intended to be the main Mozilla browser in the future.

[Snoggera]

20. you have been a big help

I appreciate it tremendously.

My latest dumb move:

I spent forever on a 56k downloading thunderbird mail. I unzipped it, and it disappeared. I have looked high and low on this computer, and can't locate it.

[salvorhardin]

21. Use the installer, Luke

I think you downloaded a nightly build. Try the installer which can be found here: http://seb.mozdev.org/thunderbird

Edit: because I can't type.

[salvorhardin]

22. Glad to be of help

Open source/free software is something that is very important to me, but all too often we resort to RTFM (read the f*ing manual) type responses to questions from newbies.

[Snoggera]

23. Okay, I have firefox and thunderbird running

but don't see any advantage over just using good old Mozilla 1.6

In fact, it seems a bit more of a hassle. What am I missing?

[sir_captain]

24. The extensions

are a big addition. Did you check them out? They're all listed at the firefox page at mozilla.org

As I already suggested, you should install the tabbrowser extension, which makes tabbed browsing really powerful. But seriously, there are extensions for everything.

In my opinion, firefox is faster than mozilla is, and it loads faster as well. The idea behind having it separate from thunderbird, and not part of a suite, is that the smaller the program, the less bloated the code. Mozilla will probably not undergo any major new revisions, while Firefox will be updated big time, at least up til version 1.0 is official.

[Snoggera]

25. I plan on exploring the extensions tomorrow

The help here has been greatly appreciated. It's amazing that such questions could be answered so quickly and correctly.

I can't wait to check them out!

I already think it is faster, but that may be my imagination!

[ConcernedCanuk]

26. I have both Mozilla 1.6 and Firebird

.
.
.

Personally, I prefer 1.6

I never found a way in Firebird to safeguard me from closing all my windows and tabs at once.

Mozilla warns me

I NEED that!

Lost all my windows more than once in Firebird, besides, I didn't find Firebird that much faster.

but I am limited with just a 56k modem on dial-up.

Might be of interest there is a tabbed browser, more of a skin for IE called Crazy Browser. I use it for some sites that don't like Mozilla, like sometimes one of my banks, and Hotmail's "compose". It's free and file size is only 5M.