Can't update firefox with the update menu?

[Alexandre Racine]

Binary package hint: firefox

I am currently with Gusty (7.10) and firefox version 2.0.0.6. Before my upgrade I had version 2.0.0.8 and the current menu to update firefox in firefox is grey.

Is this a bug?

ProblemType: Bug
Architecture: i386
Date: Sun Oct 21 22:39:46 2007
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 7.10
NonfreeKernelModules: nvidia
Package: firefox 2.0.0.6+2nobinonly-0ubuntu1
PackageArchitecture: i386
SourcePackage: firefox
Uname: Linux aracine-maison01 2.6.22-14-386 #1 Sun Oct 14 22:36:54 GMT 2007 i686 GNU/Linux

[lambicfree (malemarco-84)]

the problem is that the firefox version installed with ubuntu is a version taken from ubuntu's official repositories, not directly from mozilla.org. so you would have to wait until the ubuntu community add new firefox version in the repository. the solution is to install a firefox version taken from mozilla.org. one way is to follow this instruction: http://ubuntuzilla.wiki.sourceforge.net/ (ubuntuzilla is a project that provide you a script to install and keep updated firefox). an another way is to download and use the binary file from http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/.
to do this, go to http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/, download firefox (this save a file called firefox-2.0.0.8.tar.gz on your harddisk). move the downloaded file "firefox-2.0.0.8.tar.gz" in your home directory (but if you are using a system with more that one users please reade the NOTE at the end of this comment). unpack the file by using the command:

sudo tar xvfz firefox-2.0.0.8.tar.gz

rename the directory firefox to make it hidden:

mv firefox/ .firefox/

now you have to change the link to firefox in /usr/bin. first go to /usr/bin

cd /usr/bin

now remove the existing link to firefox (it's a link to /lib/firefox/firefox that is the version installed by default in ubuntu). you must to be root:

sudo rm firefox

now create a symbolic link to the firefox file downloaded:

sudo ln -s ~/.firefox/firefox

ok, now if you start your browser you can verify that it's updated (go to Help>About Firefox and look at the version number) and the check for updates is now available!

NOTE: if you are using a system with only a user these steps are correct. Otherwise is better you move and unpack the file firefox-2.0.0.8.tar.gz in a directory available for all the users of the system (that your home directory is not!), for example i put the .firefox/ directory in the root-home directory: /root/.firefox. however, you can unpack the file firefox-2.0.0.8.tar.gz with "tar xfvz" command wherever you want and than move the .firefox/ dir in /root by using
sudo mv -r .firefox/ /root/
than you have to link the file in /usr/bin to /root/.firefox/firefox, not to ~/.firefox/firefox :D
now the only think to keep in mind is that firefox in running from a directory which property belong to the root, so to update firefox (by using the menu check for update) firefox need to be root (infact you can see that check for update is not available). so, ONLY when you have to update firefox run firefox with root power:

sudo firefox

lanch the check for update (now available) BUT do NOT SURF the web until firefox has root power! when update is completed close the browser and reload firefox in the normal way.

hope it was useful and not too complex :D

[Alexander Sack (asac)]

Alexandre: _don't_ follow the advice given by lambicfree. This will only bring you into situations where we (ubuntu devs) cannot support you anymore.

We usually provide updates at the same time as mozilla.org. This time we were late due to one-time technical issues related to the gutsy gibbon release happening on the same day as the mozilla.org release.

@lambicfree: please don't spread these kind of instructions in the ubuntu bug tracker.

[Alexandre Racine (alexandreracine)]

ok Alexander, I'll wait a little ;)