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Portable FF 3.0.10 adding local PC registry setting(s)Submitted by Sduibek on May 8, 2009 - 2:49pm
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00 [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\mozilla.org] [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\mozilla.org\Mozilla] ( categories: )
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Removes On Exit
Firefox always adds those when you're logged in with an admin account. The launcher removes it on exit. Unless you've set it to allow multiple instances (which you should only do on your own PC, which is usually the only place you have admin rights).
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How is it removed?
Looking through the launcher code, I don't see HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\mozilla.org anywhere. I do see HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\mozilla.org. I think the key he is talking about is left in the registry since I can find where you remove it.
Reset?
Ah, I believe this only occurs if Firefox creates a new profile from scratch. In Firefox Portable, this should not occur because there is a default profile that gets copied into the correct location for it by the launcher before starting it. And end user could break that though by either (1) deleting the profile and the stuff in DefaultData or (2) adjusting the paths manually using FirefoxPortable.ini and pointing it to a non-existent profile.
Sometimes, the impossible can become possible, if you're awesome!
Nope, that is N/A as well
1. I haven't even touched the Profile Manager since I started using this (portable) app. I haven't created, deleted, modified, or renamed any Profile(s) -- at least not via the aforementioned GUI, which is the only way I know how to do that. Is there perhaps some action that changes the Profile and/or recreates the profile in the background or something?
2. I have not deleted the profile or the DefaultData location (see above).
3. I have never modified anything in the FirefoxPortable.ini file.
What gothic, medieval atmosphere is complete without Vodka?
Not for me
No, it is not removing that entry on exit. Sorry, you lose
I notice that sometimes the *content of the string* is wiped, but never the keys themselves.
EDIT: I haven't set to allow multiple instances; I don't even know what you're talking about there.
What gothic, medieval atmosphere is complete without Vodka?
Hmmm
It shouldn't be adding those and only appears to on an auto-upgrade or a default profile creation. Does it at those at every run for you?
Sometimes, the impossible can become possible, if you're awesome!
Same exact issue
I have the same exact issue. I've modified the laucher to delete this entry on exit because I've been using it on a computer I have admin rights on. Regardless, this entry would not normally be deleted if I didn't go into the laucher and amend it. Every time I start PFF the entry is created and nowhere in the code could I find where it is cleaned up so I added it myself.
Reproduce on 3.0.10?
I've got it running on a clean PC right now logged in as admin and there is no entry within HKLM. Can you give me any additional steps to reproduce? Extensions? Plugins? Ignore the beta for now since it's a beta.
Sometimes, the impossible can become possible, if you're awesome!
Steps to reproduce
So I started from scratch on Win XP SP3 with admin rights.
1) I removed HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\mozilla.org manually.
2) I downloaded the latest version of PFF (3.0.10) and installed/extracted it to my desktop. All the default options were used and no plugins/addons were installed.
3) I ran PFF, it started up, and I immediately closed it. (HKLM\SOFTWARE\mozilla.org was not created, therefore it did not need to be removed)
4) I ran PFF again, it started up, I navigated to a random page (PortableApps.com) and then closed PFF. (HKLM\SOFTWARE\mozilla.org WAS created and was NOT removed when FF was closed)
I don't know if this matters, but there is no local version of Firefox installed on the system.
Hopefully someone can reproduce this so I don't sound crazy.
Same as above
except on SP2 and the key was created immediately, I didn't have to go any further than the default page.
No local version here either.
Nope
I did the exact same thing on a fresh Windows XP SP3 install. And nothing. Multiple launches, viewed a couple sites each time including PA.c. Installed to and ran from the desktop. Nothing. So, it's something about your PC that's making Firefox write that string out...
Any chance you have .NET installed? It messes with Firefox without permission (even changes its browser string). I'm already working on a fix so that it can't mess up Firefox Portable as it is.
Sometimes, the impossible can become possible, if you're awesome!
Consider .NET not a variable
John I think at this point as a developer you have to assume that everyone is using some iteration or another of Microsoft's .NET Framework. While this may not technically be the case, that is IMO irrelevant as .NET has been around since 2003, and furthermore, since it's up to at least version 3.5 SP1 now. In addition, more and more applications are requiring .NET Framework; even some graphics drivers and the like.
So that is my lengthy way of saying -- assume anyone using Win2000, WinXP or Vista has .NET Framework of version 2.0 or higher.
What gothic, medieval atmosphere is complete without Vodka?
It's a variable
I'm aware that some PCs have .NET. No, it's not most. Vista PCs (and only Vista PCs) have .NET pre-installed. Most XP and 2000 PCs do not have it unless an admin installs it purposely (it's not pushed automatically). No video drivers require it, just that clunky version of ATI's Catalyst Control Center (which isn't the driver). Personally, I don't use any .NET apps. Nor do most of my friends. So, yes, it IS a variable. Some PCs have it. Most don't. So, it varies.
Either way, I'm asking because I'm trying to figure out the cause to figure out how big a problem it is and how to fix it. And if the fix for .NET that I'm working on works for this too, then I'm done. We're gonna neuter the extension that .NET drive-by installs into all copies of Firefox without permission.
If it's just a couple users with an unusual configuration and only affects when running as admin, then I won't rush out a revision. And, like I said, I couldn't reproduce it on XP sans .NET.
UPDATE: I got a chance to test on Vista (with .NET) and it does have the issue. So, I'm gonna attempt to determine why and go from there.
Sometimes, the impossible can become possible, if you're awesome!
.NET is installed
I do have .NET installed on this computer. So that's probably the reason the key exists. Is there any way you can address this issue, or is it something that will just be left as is since not everybody has .NET installed?
Fixed
No, it's gonna be fixed. Just trying to work out how many it affects to see if a between-version revision is warranted or it can wait a few weeks for the next Firefox release.
Sometimes, the impossible can become possible, if you're awesome!
Wait
I'm not really too concerned about it and I doubt too many people are. I'd say hold off until the next version of Firefox comes out.
This also happens here
and has done with every release. I run as admin on two computers, one with XP SP2 and the other with XP SP1. It happens on SP2 but not SP1 (if that's any help).
No auto-upgrade, profile creation or multiple instances.
Fixed in 3.5 Beta 4
This should be fixed by the launcher in 3.5 Beta 4 that was just posted. You can copy the launcher from it into your current Firefox install. Please let me know if it solves the issue on your PC.
Sometimes, the impossible can become possible, if you're awesome!
Just had a quick test and
Just had a quick test and that seems to have sorted it out here. Thanks very much