Firefox 2.0 Install help for a N00b

[Retruglot]

I recently downloaded Firefox 2.0 from http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/, but am at a loss as to how to install it. I was successful at getting it to a /tmp folder and unzipping it (untarring it, un-gz'ing it or whatever its called). I can even go to a terminal session, get in the folder and type ./firefox and make it fire up.... the terminal window displays many errors, but the browser fires up without any obvisous problems and none of my Bookmarks.

I don't see a configure file in the lot... nor an install, or anything else that seems like the obvious (to a N00b like me) choice. Yes, I can say with confidence that I am in the directory as "root" - and I feel good knowing that I know this makes a difference.

I did follow the links to the Installation Instructions on the page, but for reasons unknown to me, they only have instructions for Windows installs - go figure.

Please help!!



Thanks,
Ret

[phlipant]

Did you try yum install firefox?

[Retruglot]

Never heard of it... but this is what I got:

[ret@localhost firefox]$ yum install firefox
bash: yum: command not found
[ret@localhost firefox]$

I'm using PCLinuxOS BigDaddy 0.93a... is "yum" an app or something? I'll go looking for it anyway...

Next suggestion?

I see a file called "updater*" but it expects parameters and paths and such... I tried the path that my current Firefox shortcut points to, but it didn't make a difference..


Ret

[Retruglot]

If it helps, here is the ls of the directory:

[ret@localhost firefox]$ ls -1
browserconfig.properties
chrome/
components/
defaults/
dictionaries/
extensions/
firefox*
firefox-bin*
greprefs/
icons/
libfreebl3.chk
libfreebl3.so*
libmozjs.so*
libnspr4.so*
libnss3.so*
libnssckbi.so*
libplc4.so*
libplds4.so*
libsmime3.so*
libsoftokn3.chk
libsoftokn3.so*
libssl3.so*
libxpcom_compat.so*
libxpcom_core.so*
libxpcom.so*
libxpistub.so*
mozilla-xremote-client*
plugins/
readme.txt
removed-files*
res/
run-mozilla.sh*
searchplugins/
updater*
updater.ini
updates/
xpicleanup*
[ret@localhost firefox]$



Thanks,
Ret

[EnigmaOne]

Experience has taught me that this general approach (do one thing at a time, in the local directory [lots of cd-ing]) seems to be easier for newbies, if a console session has to be done:

Open a console session.
su to root
do: cd /
do: ls
if you don't have an /opt directory

do: mkdir opt

do: cd /opt
# Move the file firefox-2.0.tar.gz into your /opt directory.
if you already have firefox-2.0.tar.gz on your filesystem

do: mv path/to/file/firefox-2.0.tar.gz . <--note the trailing period

if you don't have firefox-2.0.tar.gz on your filesystem

do: wget -c http://mirrors.yocum.org/mozilla/fir...fox-2.0.tar.gz

do: tar -xzvf firefox-2.0.tar.gz
do: cd /usr/bin
do: rm -f firefox
do: ln -s /opt/firefox/firefox firefox
do: exit
do: cd ~
do: firefox %u

At this point, Firefox should run fine.

do: exit

create your GNOME or KMenu entry for Firefox, using 'firefox %u' as the command to be executed.

[ladoga]

Thanks enigma.

That's much more straightforward guide.
I'll delete my post so it's not there adding to confusion.

[cybertron]

Just for reference, you won't find yum for PCLOS. I think that's Mandriva-based so it would be more likely to have URPMI, but I'm sure it has a GUI package manager that you'd probably be just as well off using.

The reason you have no bookmarks may be that you're running it as root. If you normally run Firefox as a normal user (which you should) then it won't find those bookmarks because it will be looking in root's home directory.

[EnigmaOne]

I've never tried running Firefox in this way, without using the %u parameter; which is supposed to force working directory references to the user account home directory.

Running firefox without it may result in a working directory path back to the non-writeable /opt/firefox/ directory.

I'll have to try that sometime.

[cybertron]

So thaaat's what the %u is for. Learn something new every day.

[phlipant]

i`m sorry. I did not know you ran PCLOS. Apparently, the better command is

apt-get install firefox

I don`t use PCLOS, so i gather that from Goolge.

P.S. There are some really good GUI front ends to apt and yum but, I think understanding the command line makes them even better.

[Retruglot]

Coolio!! Thanks everyone... I'm going to give this a go in a bit and hopefully I'll post back using the shiney new Firefox 2.

Thanks for all the extra explanation too... that stuff is more valuable than actually getting Firefox 2 installed!

Ret

[absinthe_tek]

EnigmaOne, I'm new here and searched the forum for instructions on how to upgrade my firefox to the newer version I've been hearing so much about. I hope this helps me with my youtube problems (lack of sound). I installed successfully and opened v2.0 in console using the last of your commands. However, I cannot find out how to get into the newer version in GUI. My desktop link and menu links all start up the old firefox, v1.0.7 I think. How can I fix this?

[cybertron]

You need to find the firefox executable wherever you installed 2.0. Right click on your desktop link and edit it so that it points to this new one. Menu links will depend on which WM you're using, but there should be some method to edit those too.

Also, you might want to check whether your distro has an updated package for 2.0. Installing things using your distro's native package format is always preferred if you can find what you're looking for.

[je_fro]

right click on those icons and menu entries and edit the path that they open when clicked.

[absinthe_tek]

Ok, this is totally messed up now. I've been watching some videos I've downloaded using limewire (Lost television episodes). They are excellent quality. I installed firefox and then flash 7 and now every video I had will not appear as it did previously in kaffeine, xine, or mplayer. Now they are appear to be lower quality and the video skips horribly.