Install Firefox 4 on an Acer Aspire One running Linpus Lite Linux

[Gregario]

Yes, I'd heard that Linpus Lite was pretty limited, but I'd never had any problem with updating Firefox version 3 once the Macles code gave me a working "check for updates" button. I didn't expect version 4 to be any more complicated to install than updating version 3 but obviously a new version is rather more than an update so this was perhaps a rather naive view on my part.

Incidentally, what has happened to the update button in version 4? It used to be under the "Help" tab in version 3 but seems to have disappeared. 

[Mark Greaves (PCNetSpec)]

WARNING - Linpus Lite users that are still on Firefox 2, DO NOT attempt to upgrade Firefox in the following way, use the instructions at the top of this topic, here:
http://linuxforums.org.uk/netbooks/install-firefox-4-on-an-acer-aspire-one-running-linpus-lite-linux/msg45901/#msg45901

This posting is JUST a response to the above question, and should NOT be used as a means of updating Firefox 2 to Firefox 4 on Linpus lite... it may even break your system.


No idea... but from "now on" (once you've first installed Firefox 4 using the instructions at the top of this topic) when a new version of FF4 comes out, you can just download it, and unpack it directly to the /opt/firefox direcory (letting it overwrite the files that are already there) and you'll be good to go
(this should not erase your bookmarks/passwords/plugins etc. as those databases aren't contained in the download, so can't overwrite the ones currently in the /opt/firefox directory... but as usual, backing them up first is always a good idea)

[EDIT]

In FireFox 3 there was a "Check for Updates" menu item under the "Help" menu.

In FireFox 4 that menu item is gone.

To update (an already installed version of) FireFox 4:
Click the Help menu.
Select About FireFox... This should automagically check for updates and prompt you if there is an update available.

Or so I gather... I more of a Chrome user myself

[taeasz]

Apologise i am a real novice - tried to follow your excellent instructions to install Firefox 4 and failed miserably.
Now my browser doesnt work at all. this is what happened:-

1st command - 'connection refused'

2nd command - firefox4 appeared to download ok

the next 5 commands up to 'link all old plugins to the new/plugins directory' all gave 'connection refused' response

At this point I closed the terminal and shut down.

now I have the desktop, things like Skype work ok, but no browser!

is there a way to get back to Firefox 2? or maybe start again?

would appreciate your guidance, may thanks

[Mark Greaves (PCNetSpec)]

Go through the instructions again, and let me know what happens... you can't do any damage going through them again if that's what you're worried about.

It was a good idea to ask first though

But WHATEVER you do, DO NOT uninstall or reinstall Firefox 2... worst case scenario, we should be able get Firefox 2 back, though I'm a bit puzzled by the "connection refused" errors.

For information (this is straight from the macles.blogspot) -

"In some cases a connection refused error message may be triggered by sudo, which is not an error but a bug in sudo and can be safely ignored."

[taeasz]

thanks for the reassurance - following instructions as follows

1st command line - this is what happens:-

audit_log_user_command(): Connection refused
mv: cannot overwrite non-directory '/opt/firefox-backup/firefox' with directory '/opt/firefox'

[Mark Greaves (PCNetSpec)]

That's fine... and to be expected, the first command was only to back up Firefox 3 for people who'd installed it, and WILL fail if FF3 was never installed... I included it as a precaution.

Just carry on with the instructions.

[taeasz]

thanks

now this may be a stupid question, but the next command line to download firefox 4 does nothing as I press enter, presumably because I cant download it as I now have no browser, so how do i get around that?

do i need to recover Firefox 2 first?

[Mark Greaves (PCNetSpec)]

Enter this:

Code: [Select]

thunar ~

and tell me if there is a file called firefox-4.0.1.tar.bz2 there.

[taeasz]

no, scrolled down the list - it is not there

[Mark Greaves (PCNetSpec)]

OK, let's try again:

in the terminal enter:

Code: [Select]

cd ~

then:

Code: [Select]

wget -O firefox-4.0.1.tar.bz2 "http://download.mozilla.org/?product=firefox-4.0.1&os=linux&lang=en-GB"

Remember Linux commands ARE case sensitive, so be sure to enter them exactly as shown.

It would be much better if you could copy and paste the commands into the terminal

[taeasz]

ok I have typed in those commands

[Mark Greaves (PCNetSpec)]

and did it download ?

enter:

Code: [Select]

thunar ~

and see if there is a file called firefox-4.0.1.tar.bz2 there ?

[taeasz]

Mark - it did not download and the file is not in Thunar

unfortunately my memory stick died so cant copy and paste commands - will try to get another this evening

[Mark Greaves (PCNetSpec)]

Go to chat... top of page.

If it would make things easier... use the search bar to search for firefox then run the firefox executable (probably in the /usr/lib/firefox directory, but may be elsewhere)... that should start firefox 2

[Mark Greaves (PCNetSpec)]

OK, I've just explored the Recovery DVD's drive image, and it seems like the firefox 2 executable is located at /usr/lib/firefox-2.0.0.14/firefox

So open a terminal, and enter:

Code: [Select]

cd /usr/lib/firefox-2.0.0.14

then

Code: [Select]

./firefox

to run firefox 2.

If that works, let me know and well download the firefox 4 archive using firefox 2

another command that should start Firefox 2 is:

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bash /usr/lib/firefox-2.0.0.14/firefox

If those commands dont work... open thunar with this command:

Code: [Select]

thunar /usr/lib

look for a folder called firefox-*.*.*.* and adjust the above command(s) accordingly.

Like I said let me know how you get on, and we'll either install FF4, or fix the FF2 shortcut.