290006 - 1.7.6 does not install/run on my win98 system

Status: RESOLVED WORKSFORME

(SeaMonkey :: Installer, defect)

Description

[BugMagnet]

User-Agent:       Mozilla/5.0 (Windows; U; Win98; en-US; rv:1.8b) Gecko/20050217
Build Identifier: mozilla-win32-1.7.6-installer.exe

I was running v 1.7.3 and decided to update to the latest stable v 1.7.6 on an
old PB system with win98 1st ed.  After 'install', mozilla would not run.
I reinstalled 1.7.3 and it ran.  reinstalled 1.7.6 it would not.  I repeated
this 3 or 4 times with the same result.  Then I installed 1.7.5 and it ran. 
Tried then to install 1.7.6 but it wouldn't run.  I then installed the beta
1.8b1 and it works as I am using it to file this bug report.

It seems that v1.7.6 has a quirk in the installer that does not like my win98
system/installation.

Reproducible: Always

Steps to Reproduce:
1.install v 1.7.3, 1.7.5 and/or 1.8b1 on win98 1st ed. and run
2. install v 1.7.6 in between each other version
3. repeat as needed

Actual Results:  
1.7.6 install seems to quit short of a full install.
installing all other versions tested results in the mozilla splash being
displayed followed by the list of users to select from and the option to run
mozilla.
the mozilla splash screen is not displayed after 'install' as it seems to quit
prematurely.  on one install attempt, some graphical artifacts were left on the
screen.

Expected Results:  
installed completely and started running.

Comment 1

[BugMagnet]

I just downloaded and installed v 1.7.7
The problem seems to be fixed in that version.
Installed v 1.7.7 and it ran. 
reverted to v 1.7.6 and it would not complete install or run.
re-installed 1.7.7 and it works.

I can install v 1.7.3, 1.7.5, 1.7.7 and 1.8b1 on this machine successfully.
v 1.7.6 will not install for me.

Whatever it was, v 1.7.7 fixed it.

Comment 2

[Michael Gabriel]

so, we dont care about old releases, do we ? -> INVALID ?

Comment 3

[BugMagnet]

v 1.7.6 was the latest stable release when this was reported, so can hardly be
seen as 'old'.

I do not believe the report is 'INVALID'.

I am guessing the install was broken by some accidental change in v 1.7.6

If this was the case, which may not be known if there is a lack of interest in
studying it, then I believe it should be documented so that the same error is
not repeated in the future as other changes are made.

I note that the version change log for v 1.7.7 has not been written/released yet
so it is hard for me as a mere user to determine what change may have knowingly
or unknowingly fixed the problem.

I do note howev er that the abreviated list of security fixes includes this item:
"MFSA 2005-40  Missing Install object instance checks"

Perhaps that was related to the problems I observed.

If so, then rather than indicating the status as 'INVALID' it would seem more
helpful to note it as being 'FIXED by v 1.7.7' and to make specific mention of
it so that if others have this experience they can see a the need to update to a
newer version.

Comment 4

[Jason Bassford]

No specific bug / patch referenced as the fix.

-> WORKSFORME