I tried to install a portable version of Firefox 46 because I desperately needed to access the hundreds of web pages I had saved in the MAFF format, and I still had the .xpi file for that extension saved on my old computer (no longer available for download). Yes, I know that I can still access those maff files in the extended release version of Firefox (v. 52.9) but that won't happen until after I've done a clean install of Windows necessitated by a calamitous remote session with the fellow who built my new computer.
The first problem I ran into is where to 'install' the program. Instructions state, "To install Firefox Portable, just download the portable package at the top of the Firefox Portable page and then double-click it. Select the location you wish to install to and click OK. A Firefox Portable directory will be created there and all the necessary files installed."
I've tried every which way to 'install' the portable version of Firefox in either the "Program Files (x86)" directory or the "Program Files" directory. I kept getting the same error message: "The destination folder you selected is invalid. Please choose a valid folder. [C:\Program Files (86) or sub-directories]".
The executable is only too happy to install itself anywhere else I park it. If I park it on my desktop, it will install itself there. If I park it in the folder where I store all the setup files for the various Firefox versions I've downloaded, it will install itself there as well. I finally gave up trying to install it on my computer and installed it instead on a thumb drive, for the time being.
I was able to add the extension I wanted from my old "dbsjc2i1.default" folder, but then suddenly my Bookmarks Toolbar disappeared. Tried disabling the MAFF extension to see if it would reappear. No go. I've checkmarked "Bookmarks Toolbar" under View menu and there is an empty space that is definitely there, but no way to move the bookmarks I want there. I can access these bookmarks from the drop-down menu which appeared after I also installed the Classics Theme Restorer, but I'm really limping along here.
I wanted to install the program onto my C drive and it wouldn't let me do that, at least not in a logical place. And my Bookmarks Toolbar is sitting there visible but empty.
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Trist
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Program Files and Program Files (x86) are purposely locked out as the app can't run from there. You can install to C:\PortableApps if you'd like to install locally but not in Desktop, Documents, etc.
Sometimes, the impossible can become possible, if you're awesome!
Ah, mystery solved! Thank you for that.
I will try reinstalling the program into C:\PortableApps as you suggested and see if I cannot track exactly at what point my Bookmarks Toolbar disappears.
Addendum: Okay. I've installed the program into its correct location. And the Bookmarks Toolbar is visible and working.
Now I want to be absolutely clear as to where to put that MAFF extension I need. What I believe I did the last time (on the thumb drive) is to put it into "H:\FirefoxPortable\App\Firefox64\browser\extensions." Then I simply double-clicked the xpi file in order to install it.
Is that correct?
Trist
The initial location of the extension's XPI file is not important. Follow these directions to install an addon from an XPI file: https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/Add-ons/WebExtensions/Alternative_di...
Many, many thanks for your kind assistance. All my desired extensions are successfully installed, and I can now open all those MAFF files I saved over the past several years. After the reinstall of Windows I will be installing that Extended Release version of Firefox which still supports the Mozilla Archive Format in an updated version.
Hooray!