436188 - RelNote incorrect: 3.0 RC1 installation will overwrite 2.0 on Windows

Status: VERIFIED FIXED

(Firefox :: Installer, defect)

Description

[Brad Stiritz]

User-Agent:       Mozilla/5.0 (Windows; U; Windows NT 6.0; en-US; rv:1.9) Gecko/2008051206 Firefox/3.0
Build Identifier: Mozilla/5.0 (Windows; U; Windows NT 6.0; en-US; rv:1.9) Gecko/2008051206 Firefox/3.0

The release notes for Firefox 3.0 RC1 include the following statements:
"Please note that installing Firefox 3 will overwrite your existing installation of Firefox on Mac OS X and Linux. On Windows, Firefox 3 installs in a new folder." 

This was not my experience in Windows Vista Ultimate 64-bit SP1. I had already installed Firefox 2.0.0.14, and it has been running with no issues. When I installed Firefox 3.0 RC1, the default folder that was suggested in the installation folder apparently was the same folder as Firefox 2.0. I was not paying attention, though, so I accepted the suggested folder.

After installation, I found that there was only Firefox 3.0 RC1 on my system. Firefox 2.0 had been overwritten.

Reproducible: Always

Steps to Reproduce:
1. Install Firefox 2.0 to suggested folder: Program Files (x86)\Mozilla Firefox.
2. Install Firefox 3.0 to suggested folder: Program Files (x86)\Mozilla Firefox.
3. Try to run Firefox 2.0.
Actual Results:  
Can't run Firefox 2.0 any longer.

Expected Results:  
Should be able to run both Firefox version 2.0 and new version 3.0 RC1.

Please consider having 3.0 installer suggest a different installation folder if the user is running Windows Vista 64-bit, and has already installed Firefox 2.0.

Comment 1

[Robert Strong (they/them - no direct email)]

Asa and Mike, the relnotes for RC1 state the installer will install into a different directory. RC's just like releases will install into an existing directory (e.g. Program Files\Mozilla Firefox, etc.). Can either of you please fix the release notes? Thanks

Comment 2

[the-edmeister]

I had the same thing happen on Windows 2000, using 3.0RC1 on 05-21. I had to go "Back" and select a "Custom" installation path so as not to overwrite 2.0.0.14.
I agree with the "Expected Results" mentioned.

Comment 3

[Mike Beltzner [:beltzner, not reading bugmail]]

Adding         en-US/firefox/3.0rc2/releasenotes/index.html
Transmitting file data .....
Committed revision 14585.