288701 - Uninstall deleted everything in my program files directory save a few open binaries.

Status: RESOLVED FIXED

(Firefox :: Installer, defect)

Description

[Darren Lue Choy]

User-Agent:       Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 6.0; Windows 98)
Build Identifier: Firefox (1.0) ?

I downloaded FireFox a while ago and finding that the integrated 'plugin 
installer' didn't work ignored it and downloaded and installed the necessary 
components manualy.

All components except for 'Nippon-Browse', a japanese to english dictionary,  
have worked correctly.

A recent update notice promted me to upgrade. The inataller again didn't work 
(no outgoing connection...) so I decided to download the latest version and 
uninstall.

I also uninstalled that unstable Adobe 6 nonsense first.

The uninstall went off without a hitch except that now I could not access the 
internet nor any other browser I had.

A quick restart and behold a desktop of broken icons, applications 
crashing/failing to start correctly and windows installer telling me that I 
could not install microsoft office (it was installed two years ago and was 
still not a minute ago...) as it was now missing critical components...

A quick file-browse and I discover that the FireFox installer has *deleted 
every file* not a-running-binary from my *program files* directory up.

This not only includes every application I had installed, common components, 
but more inportantly the custom conficurations, scripts and plugins I'd 
developed/accumilated.

Reproducible: Didn't try

Steps to Reproduce:
1. install FireFox(1.0)
2. use FireFox plugin-installer (w/no success)
3. download and install Adobe 6, Java, Macromedia Flash, Quick Time
4. use FireFox update-installer (w/no success)
5. uninstall FireFox
6. discover FireFox'****'
7. repair install windows.
8. cry.



Expected Results:  
installed the plugin through the integrated system
or
installed the update through the integrated system
or
Only deleted FireFox related files leaving my Program Files directory intact.

theme:default
No crash
no talk back except to tell me that the uninstall was successful.

Windows 98
Intel motherboard
    - workstation layout
    - came with system
 - Pentium III 550 (slot style)
    - no bugs deteted with Intel diag.
    - came with system
 - 128mb RAM
    - came with system
Primary graphics:
 - Voodoo 5500 (PCI)
    - updated bios from 1.11 to 1.13 and back to 1.11
       - 1.13 had better rendering but was yelled at by overbearing father
       - FFS I am an electonics engineer, dad.
Secondary graphics:
 - Matrox 220MGA (AGP)
    - Nil 3D ability, multimonitor support
Primary sound:
 - Soundblaster ? (ISA)
    - Had it laying about, plugged it in to solve audio problem.
Secondary sound
 - Cirus ??? (PCI)
    - driver problems, works for wave but only @ 9-bit?!?
       - not DX compatible.
       - not Hanes compatible
       - not Miles compatible
       - you get the picture.
    - cannot be removed from case without hacksaw or explosives
       - solid workstation design bolts thing to motherboard at all four edges.
          - gj intel, gj.

Hard drive
 - unknown
 - it works, I won't question that.

LG CDRW
 - Retail bundled with Nero!
    - Nero didn't work so I have to use a warez version
       - really.
 - it works, I honesty question how.

Comment 1

[Darren Lue Choy]

For the record:

Dispite this major inconvience, I still consider Firefox better than the 
alturnatives because 'It burns.'

And appears more stable.

Comment 2

[zug_treno]

Duplicate of bug 233625?

Comment 3

[Steve England [:stevee]]

*** This bug has been marked as a duplicate of 233625 ***

Comment 4

[Darren Lue Choy]

Uh, no, this was a different bug, that has also been fixed.

I used the DEFAULT PATH!

During the initial instalation the 'default' path of  "C:\Program Files\Firefox-blah" was not at all what I expected, so I aborted up and went the 'custom directory' branch. Finding that "D:\appfiles\firefox\" was unacceptable, changed to "D:\appfiles\"!

Not trusting the ambiguious 'custom directory' dialogue I tried to create the directory manually and select it, without success.

Concluding that I could not risk uncertanty, I made the 'default directory' myself, and copied the name strait from the dialogue box, and went 'DEFAULT instalation, DEFAULT PATH, DEFAULT everything'.

/****important detail omitted earlier****

However my default path was not 'C:\program files\\' but 'D:\appfiles\\' as I'd changed the 'windows programs location' (among others) in the registry to a removeable drive [because my roommate (at the time) had taken to stealing my projects and selling them as his own.]

****important detail***/

Following this I tried the integrated 'updates and plugin' installer but it failed miserably. Checking the 'default' "C:\program files\firefox-blah" directory I saw what appeared to be a firefox installation populated by what I now believe to be the 'updated' files. I downloaded each third-party plugin and installed each; and each (working) installer used a 'file search' rather than any registry key. And checking the firefox 'plugins' folder of the malfunctional ones showed me the misplaced files; albid they where I expected them to be.

Subsiquently when a new version came along I jumped on it. And the uninstaller that knew where it had really stashed firefox thrashed my "D:\appfiles\\", my real 'program files', leaving the "C:\program files\firefox-blah\" untouched.


The changes to the installer has (evidently) fixed this closely related bug.

and no I don't have a spellchecker, and yes I am bitter basement holding troll.