Closed Bug 1549084 Opened 5 years ago Closed 5 years ago

Already downloaded updates aren't discarded/omitted/skipped with enabled "Check for updates but let you choose to install them" in Options under General tab

Categories

(Toolkit :: Application Update, defect)

66 Branch
defect
Not set
major

Tracking

()

VERIFIED DUPLICATE of bug 336267

People

(Reporter: srpen6, Unassigned)

Details

User Agent: Mozilla/5.0 (Windows NT 6.1; Win64; x64; rv:66.0) Gecko/20100101 Firefox/66.0

Steps to reproduce:

I would like to install an older version of Firefox. I visited this page:

https://support.mozilla.org/kb/install-older-version-of-firefox

which points me here:

https://ftp.mozilla.org/pub/firefox/releases/65.0.2/win32/en-US

Actual results:

However it seems any method I use results in an upgraded version.

Expected results:

I have tried this method:

  1. install Firefox 65.0.2
  2. launch Firefox
  3. disable updates
  4. restart Firefox

and this:

  1. install Firefox 65.0.2
  2. launch Firefox
  3. disable updates
  4. exit Firefox
  5. install Firefox again
  6. launch Firefox again
  7. restart Firefox

but in both cases Firefox gets updated to version 66.0.3. How can I install an
older Firefox without it updating?

why would you want to install 65.0.2?

@longsonr I am trying to run some tests on different Firefox versions in a virtual machine, and I think its important that users be allowed to use older versions should they choose to, and assuming they know the risks.

However currently it doesnt seem possible when it used to be.

I found a workaround:

  1. when installing, uncheck "Launch Firefox now"

  2. navigate to

     C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\defaults\pref\channel-prefs.js
    
  3. add this line

     pref('app.update.auto', false);
    

Hopefully someone has a better solution but this does the trick for now.

Also not hidden preference for this is available in Options under General tab could also change Updates setting to "Check for updates bu let you choose to install them".

I'm marking this as WORKSFORME per Comment #4 and Comment #3

Status: UNCONFIRMED → RESOLVED
Closed: 5 years ago
Component: Untriaged → Preferences
QA Contact: Virtual
Resolution: --- → WORKSFORME

@Virtual that is simply not correct. Here is what happens in practice:

  1. install Firefox

  2. launch Firefox

  3. because of default settings, updates are immediately downloaded and will be
    installed on restart

  4. select option to disable updates. however at this time its pointless because
    the updates have already been downloaded and will be installed on restart

  5. restart Firefox, updates get installed regardless of any changed option

Flags: needinfo?(Virtual)

Are you sure that changing this setting while update was already downloaded in background will update Firefox on next restart?
If so, please reopen this bug, as indeed, seems (for me at least) like issue for users testing older version of Firefox.

Flags: needinfo?(Virtual) → needinfo?(svnpenn)

@Virtual I am certain.

I tested this several times before posting the issue, and again just now.

Each test was ran on a pristine virtual machine.

Because of default settings it is now impossible from what I can tell to prevent
an initial update via the user interface. Future updates will be prevent yes,
but if you install an old version now it will be upgrades the current version
before disabling updates.

Flags: needinfo?(svnpenn) → needinfo?(Virtual)

Here is an alternative workaround:

  1. when installing, uncheck "Launch Firefox now"

  2. delete

     C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\updater.exe
    

Note that you will still see the message "Restart to update Firefox", but if you
restart the old version will remain.

(In reply to Steven Penny from comment #7)

Because of default settings it is now impossible from what I can tell to
prevent
an initial update via the user interface. Future updates will be prevent yes,
but if you install an old version now it will be upgrades the current version
before disabling updates.

So let's morph this bug a little to 'Already downloaded updates aren't discarded/omitted/skipped with enabled "Check for updates but let you choose to install them" in Options under General tab' and let's hope it's not intended by developers.

Severity: normal → major
Status: RESOLVED → REOPENED
Ever confirmed: true
Flags: needinfo?(Virtual)
OS: Unspecified → All
Hardware: Unspecified → All
Resolution: WORKSFORME → ---
Summary: Install Firefox without updates → Already downloaded updates aren't discarded/omitted/skipped with enabled "Check for updates but let you choose to install them" in Options under General tab
Component: Preferences → Application Update
Product: Firefox → Toolkit
Status: NEW → RESOLVED
Closed: 5 years ago5 years ago
Resolution: --- → DUPLICATE
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