Frequently Asked Questions (Read First)

1. Updates: Is it ok to let Firefox update itself?
2. UPX Compression: Can't you UPX compress the Firefox EXEs and DLLs to save space?
3. Mail Links: Can Firefox Portable open Thunderbird Portable for mailto links/Read Mail menu?
4. Privacy: Does Firefox Portable leave behind any personal data?

Answers

1. Updates: Is it ok to let Firefox update itself?
   
   A. Yes. The ability to use the Firefox update system is preserved in Firefox Portable. The only difference is that it will ask you before doing it. This is because updates on flash ram drives will take quite a bit longer than an update on a hard drive (up to a few minutes) and you're more likely to run out of space. Be sure you have at least 35MB free as Firefox' updater won't check and will crash when it runs out of space. If this happens and Firefox Portable winds up corrupted, just install a new copy of Firefox Portable on top of your existing one (your data and settings won't be changed).
   
   At the moment, no. This is due to Bug 406335 which was introduced sometime within the updates to the 2.0 branch of Firefox itself. The Mozilla Software Updater no longer correctly updates secondary, standalone and portable versions of Firefox, Thunderbird, etc. The bug is discussed in more detail in this forum topic about the issue.
   
   
2. UPX Compression: Can't you UPX compress the Firefox EXEs and DLLs to save space?
   
   A. No. Altering the Firefox binaries is not permitted under Mozilla's Distribution Guidelines. You would have to compile a Community Edition with no Mozilla name, Firefox logo or auto-update if you wanted to UPX compress Firefox and distribute it. Even without the legal issues, it breaks partial updates. Of course, you're free to UPX compress it on your own... you just can't give that compressed version to anyone else.
   
   
3. Mail Links: Can Firefox Portable open Thunderbird Portable for mailto links and the Read Mail menu option?
   
   A. Not yet, though there is an extension being worked on that will allow us to do this.
   
   
4. Privacy: Does Firefox Portable leave behind any personal data?
   
   A. No. Firefox Portable has its disk cache disabled. It uses RAM for cache. All your cookies and other data is self-contained on your portable device. At no time is any personal data stored on the local machine, so even if someone tried to find it with an undelete utility, there would be nothing for them to find.