Günter Born reports that the new versions of Firefox, released yesterday — version 71 for most people and ESR (Extended Service Release) 68.3.0 for t
[See the full post at: Born: Reported profile problems with the newly updated Firefox]
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Born: Reported profile problems with the newly updated Firefox
Home » Forums » Newsletter and Homepage topics » Born: Reported profile problems with the newly updated Firefox
- This topic has 47 replies, 21 voices, and was last updated 5 years, 4 months ago.
Tags: Firefox
AuthorTopicViewing 22 reply threadsAuthorReplies-
anonymous
GuestDecember 4, 2019 at 7:01 am #2014586 -
woody
Manager -
anonymous
GuestDecember 4, 2019 at 5:36 pm #2014786Does not the installer remove the policies.json file by default? Last time checked was FF 68 so not sure about later versions. Anyway, installing/updating via command line works as expected.
"Firefox Setup 71.0.exe" /DesktopShortcut=false /MaintenanceService=false /RemoveDistributionDir=false
1 user thanked author for this post.
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agoldhammer
AskWoody Pluslmacri
AskWoody PlusDecember 4, 2019 at 8:43 am #2014608The Firefox for Enterprise support article Customizing Firefox Using policies.json states “Unlike controlling Firefox with using Group Policy, the policies.json is cross-platform compatible, making it preferred method for enterprise environments that have workstations running various operating systems.”
I updated to FF ESR v68.3.0 yesterday and haven’t noticed any issues. I’m not sure, but I suspect the policies.json problem described in Gunter Born’s article Firefox 71/68.3esr: Profile issues and bugs during upgrade affects Firefox users in larger organizations where they must use a company-approved Firefox profile located in the \distribution folder within the Firefox installation directory.
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64-bit Win 10 Pro v1903 build 18362.418 * Firefox ESR v68.3.01 user thanked author for this post.
gborn
AskWoody_MVPDecember 4, 2019 at 9:37 am #2014624Currently I just receive reports from German FF users – have to wait, if it’s a global issue (some people updated several machines, and only one or two are affected).
Ex Microsoft Windows (Insider) MVP, Microsoft Answers Community Moderator, Blogger, Book author
https://www.borncity.com/win/
1 user thanked author for this post.
geekdom
AskWoody_MVPDecember 4, 2019 at 9:54 am #2014628In briefly.
Although I can’t attribute this problem directly to Firefox, but suspect it may have been the source: junction points were either duplicates or missing.
This problem took some time to identify and resolve.
On permanent hiatus {with backup and coffee}
offline▸ Win10Pro 2004.19041.572 x64 i3-3220 RAM8GB HDD Firefox83.0b3 WindowsDefender
offline▸ Acer TravelMate P215-52 RAM8GB Win11Pro 22H2.22621.1265 x64 i5-10210U SSD Firefox106.0 MicrosoftDefender
online▸ Win11Pro 22H2.22621.1992 x64 i5-9400 RAM16GB HDD Firefox116.0b3 MicrosoftDefender1 user thanked author for this post.
bbearren
AskWoody MVPDecember 4, 2019 at 10:02 am #2014630I’m up-to-date with version 71, but in AppData it looks like this: C:\Users\bbearren\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles. There is no \distribution\policies.json.
Then again, I haven’t customized Firefox, either. It works fine for me straight up.
Always create a fresh drive image before making system changes/Windows updates; you may need to start over!We all have our own reasons for doing the things that we do with our systems; we don't need anyone's approval, and we don't all have to do the same things.We were all once "Average Users".Larry B
AskWoody Loungerbbearren
AskWoody MVPDecember 4, 2019 at 10:51 am #2014644I’m up-to-date with version 71, but in AppData it looks like this: C:\Users\bbearren\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles. There is no \distribution\policies.json.
Then again, I haven’t customized Firefox, either. It works fine for me straight up.
I just checked the B side of my dual-boot, and it’s the same.
Always create a fresh drive image before making system changes/Windows updates; you may need to start over!We all have our own reasons for doing the things that we do with our systems; we don't need anyone's approval, and we don't all have to do the same things.We were all once "Average Users".1 user thanked author for this post.
WildBill
AskWoody PlusDecember 4, 2019 at 11:17 am #2014651Just updated Firefox to Version 71.0 this morning; an individual user in America & not on a corporate network. No distribution\policies.json in my Mozilla Firefox folder.
As for C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\, not sure what I’m supposed to see as “xxxxxxxx.default”. Dated this morning, I see folder “1ejln7ix.default-release”. Dated late last night, I see folder “2rk07run.default-1502315497850-1561249085568”. No “policies.json” file in either folder…
Bought a refurbished Windows 10 64-bit, currently updated to 22H2. Have broke the AC adapter cord going to the 8.1 machine, but before that, coaxed it into charging. Need to buy new adapter if wish to continue using it.
Wild Bill Rides Again...anonymous
GuestDecember 4, 2019 at 12:26 pm #2014680I just updated to 70.0.1 a few days ago from 69.0.1 and had skipped a few updates in-between until I was sure most of the issues where fixed and now 71.0 arrives with issues. But even if it had no issues I’d still wait about a month or longer just to make sure.
Firefox shows 71.0 as being available for download/install when I check Help/About FF but at least the update nagging has not started to update to 71.0 just yet and maybe Mozilla needs a setting that can put off the update nagging for at least 30 days if that nagging can no longer be disabled.
Previously I had to put up with about 3 weeks worth of constant update nagging that could not be disabled and Mozilla needs some 30 day update deferral period on that update nagging for issues like this and others that may take a while to fix.
I’ll always check Ghacks and Askwoody/others anytime any new Firefox update shows up and I’ll always wait a few weeks and check again as well online to make sure no new issues are found with any new Firefox update before I’ll even consider installing the latest FF update. And it looks like version 71.0 has some serious issues and I’ll want to put off updating even longer to be safe.
1 user thanked author for this post.
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Charlie
AskWoody PlusDecember 4, 2019 at 1:30 pm #2014703 -
Microfix
AskWoody MVPDecember 4, 2019 at 2:05 pm #2014712Charlie, ‘automatic updates’ are never used here either, I always check daily for extensions only and have the FF updates completely switched off in our other devices.
This mozilla article helped me take control of the browser/extensions and how I want to use it, not mozilla 🙂
https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/how-stop-firefox-making-automatic-connectionsWindows - commercial by definition and now function...
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lmacri
AskWoody PlusDecember 4, 2019 at 12:34 pm #2014683Just updated Firefox to Version 71.0 this morning; an individual user in America & not on a corporate network. No distribution\policies.json in my Mozilla Firefox folder.
I don’t think home consumers would normally expect to find this \distribution directory or policies.json file included with their FF installation. From the Firefox for Enterprise support article Customizing Firefox Using policies.json :
“To implement this policy support, a policies.json file needs to be created. This file goes into a directory called distribution within the Firefox installation directory. This directory is not usually included by default, so you may need to manually create this directory.”
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64-bit Win 10 Pro v1903 build 18362.418 * Firefox ESR v68.3.01 user thanked author for this post.
Microfix
AskWoody MVPDecember 4, 2019 at 12:35 pm #2014684Updated to FF 68.3ESR on three Win8.1 devices and have encountered no issue.
However, I don’t use the integrated mozilla FF browser update, I download the entire setup file onto a USB stick from their FTP Site on release and run it seperately on each device after an initial test/check.
Awaiting the linux version update via repository.Edit: My distro repo version of FF 68.3 ESR dropped and no issues encountered.
Windows - commercial by definition and now function...-
This reply was modified 5 years, 5 months ago by
Microfix.
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This reply was modified 5 years, 5 months ago by
Microfix.
1 user thanked author for this post.
bobcat5536
AskWoody LoungerDecember 4, 2019 at 2:32 pm #2014730I just updated to version 71.0 and it totally trashed my user interface, all my custom tweaking is gone. I recovered with an image and all is back to normal. I won’t be updating again for a while. Kinda wonder if the folks at Mozilla aren’t taking update lessons from Microsoft. This isn’t the first time a Firefox update has trashed the browser. If anyone from Mozilla is reading this, how bout being a little more careful with those updates. Also, it seems like there is a Firefox update every other week lately. As the saying goes, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
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Carl D
AskWoody LoungerDecember 4, 2019 at 3:32 pm #2014753Thanks for the heads up on this.
I’ve just checked for updates in Firefox and I’m getting the “offer” to update to 71.0. I think I’ll leave it for a while.
“As the saying goes, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”
Mozilla are planning to move to a 4 week release cycle for Firefox by March next year, looks like they’re trying to outdo Chrome with their current 6 week cycle.
If they weren’t constantly adding mostly useless features that most people probably don’t need or want and wouldn’t use then I imagine quite a few staff wouldn’t have a job.
As seems to be the case with a lot of software companies (I’m looking at you, MS) these days.
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EP
AskWoody_MVP
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Charlie
AskWoody PlusDecember 7, 2019 at 9:34 pm #2016322I googled “Firefox 71” and clicked on the first link – the Mozilla Firefox website to read up about what’s changed on ver. 71. Lots of changes. The only problem they warn about is FF 71 having a problem with Comodo Antivirus.
Being 20 something in the 70's was so much better than being 70 something in the insane 20'sCharlie
AskWoody PlusDecember 8, 2019 at 2:06 pm #2016604Did some more reading about FF 71 – they’ve added a “Picture In Picture” feature, “native MP3 support”, and other things that I don’t need and will probably use up a lot more memory. Details on Ghacks – https://www.ghacks.net/2019/12/03/firefox-71-0-release-information-last-firefox-release-of-2019/
I really wish they would only do what is necessary to keep the browser secure. My FF 70.0.1 works just fine. From the looks of this topic, there’s still a 40% chance the 71 update will cause some kind of problem. Maybe they are trying to imitate MS.
Being 20 something in the 70's was so much better than being 70 something in the insane 20'sCharlie
AskWoody PlusDecember 8, 2019 at 3:21 pm #2016650Here’s more bad news! Am I the only one interested in this? Check this out:
https://borncity.com/win/2019/12/04/firefox-71-68-3esr-profile-issues-and-bugs-during-upgrade/
Guess I’m staying with FF 70.0.1 until something gets fixed. Be sure to read the comments on this site. They’re not good.
Being 20 something in the 70's was so much better than being 70 something in the insane 20's-
This reply was modified 5 years, 5 months ago by
Charlie.
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Microfix
AskWoody MVP -
Charlie
AskWoody PlusDecember 8, 2019 at 3:39 pm #2016654Yeah, I didn’t realize that until after I submitted it and then saw what came up. Sorry, but it’s still very important and people need to be warned. I’ll watch and wait for more info. on this. Thanks for the reply.
Being 20 something in the 70's was so much better than being 70 something in the insane 20's -
mledman
AskWoody PlusDecember 8, 2019 at 8:55 pm #2016771The profile bug only occurs if you or your IT dept. created a policies.json file.
https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/customizing-firefox-using-policiesjson
This article is for IT Admins who want to configure Firefox on their organization’s computers.
To implement this policy support, a policies.json file needs to be created. This file goes into a directory called distribution within the Firefox installation directory. This directory is not usually included by default, so you may need to manually create this directory.
Win 11 home - 24H2
Attitude is a choice...Choose wisely1 user thanked author for this post.
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bbearren
AskWoody MVPDecember 4, 2019 at 3:23 pm #2014743I have Firefox update automatically. I’ve had no problems, no issues. It just works. I don’t even know what version I’m on without checking Options, which I did when I read the blog post this morning.
Always create a fresh drive image before making system changes/Windows updates; you may need to start over!We all have our own reasons for doing the things that we do with our systems; we don't need anyone's approval, and we don't all have to do the same things.We were all once "Average Users".-
David F
AskWoody Plus
anonymous
GuestJohnW
AskWoody Lounger-
EP
AskWoody_MVP -
JohnW
AskWoody Lounger -
JohnW
AskWoody LoungerDecember 5, 2019 at 9:07 pm #2015323You may want to review this list of Firefox releases. Although it has not been common to release a “xx.1.x”version, that is not unprecedented.
https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/releases/
For example: Firefox 24.1.0, 31.1.0, 38.1.0, 52.1.0, 60.1.0, and most recently 68.1.0.
Although those are ESR releases, never say never! 🙂
Windows 10 Pro 22H2
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EP
AskWoody_MVPDecember 29, 2019 at 3:55 am #2037341forget about a 71.0.1 release JohnW. it’s not gonna happen anytime soon as Mozilla is now close to releasing a 72.0 version on the first week of January 2020.
release date of FF 72 is scheduled on 1st Tuesday of Jan. 2020 as noted here:
https://wiki.mozilla.org/Release_Management/Calendar1 user thanked author for this post.
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carpintero
AskWoody LoungerBill C.
AskWoody PlusDecember 5, 2019 at 12:05 am #2014896With Firefox, I am NOT a “seeker”. I find if there is an issue, the address it fast and that waiting a few days is prudent.
Agoldhammer’s comment on Post #2014603 about the social media trackers is great news. I currently use the extension called Facebook Container for that and it really helps. If the native FF application includes the functionality of containerizing the Facebook tab, that will be good, although the Facebook Container extension also works for online purchasing and other secure activities.
My Thunderbird and Firefox profile backup is a weekly thing and makes syncing my Linux and Windows version so they appear and work identically without having a formal online Firefox syncing account.
mn–
AskWoody LoungerDecember 5, 2019 at 4:28 am #2014964Have received notice of at least one user not being able to start Firefox at all after the autoupdate, listed as version 71… localized version, one of the smaller European languages. Not a business user, no policies.json or the like.
Not letting that update through for those with centralized management.
One case of update to 68.3 on the ESR side so far, no problems with that one except for sample size…
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mn–
AskWoody LoungerDecember 7, 2019 at 8:17 am #2016046Have received notice of at least one user not being able to start Firefox at all after the autoupdate, listed as version 71… localized version, one of the smaller European languages. Not a business user, no policies.json or the like.
Well, cannot blame Firefox for this one, turned out to be a hardware fault. Was a spinning HDD that developed bad blocks at the same time.
Replacing with a SSD.
1 user thanked author for this post.
anonymous
GuestDecember 6, 2019 at 11:08 am #2015551anonymous
GuestDecember 6, 2019 at 12:19 pm #2015590Had BSOD for the first time on this computer the day after Mozilla updated. Was the only new thing put on this computer in nearly a month. Rechecked for virus, malware, etc – all clean. Guessing the update sent something sideways – hopefully just temporarily as I seem to be good now. Don’t know if anyone else had the same issue…
(Windows 7 pro)
1 user thanked author for this post.
gerald
AskWoody LoungerDecember 12, 2019 at 2:14 pm #2018660Hi,
I just updated Firefox 71 on Window 7 Pro. Would not open. Uninstalled. Installed the previous version no problem. Windows user account control launches via Firefox updater. Once you agree, Firefox no longer works.
I’m currently running Firefox 71 on Ubuntu 19.10, Manjaro Gnome, Manjaro Cinnamon. No problems as of yet.
I’ve basically retired Windows 7 except for it being on a spare SSD and its on my laptop. Not sure what Mozilla did to create the Win7 issue but I try again next week to see if they got it fixed.
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mledman
AskWoody PlusDecember 12, 2019 at 4:58 pm #2018763Maybe this from Mozilla?
Some Windows users who had previously installed and uninstalled Comodo antivirus software may not be able to start Firefox. Information on how to resolve this issue is described on support.mozilla.org or in the support knowledgebase.
Win 11 home - 24H2
Attitude is a choice...Choose wisely1 user thanked author for this post.
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lmacri
AskWoody PlusDecember 12, 2019 at 6:36 pm #2018817Maybe this from Mozilla? Some Windows users who had previously installed and uninstalled Comodo antivirus software may not be able to start Firefox. Information on how to resolve this issue is described on support.mozilla.org or in the support knowledgebase.
Please note that mledman’s quote is taken directly from the (revised???) FF 71 release notes at https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/71.0/releasenotes/. According to the Techdows article Fix Firefox 71 Does Not Start After Update and Firefox Forum Moderator philipp’s post at https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/1274248#answer-1270830 the FF 71 startup failure can be caused by a Comodo file named IseGuard64.dll, IseGuard32.dll (or something similar) that is typically located in C:\Windows\system32\. This problem .DLL file may be present with currently running or previously uninstalled Comodo products.
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64-bit Win 10 Pro v1903 build 18362.476 * Firefox ESR v68.3.01 user thanked author for this post.
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geekdom
AskWoody_MVPDecember 18, 2019 at 9:45 am #2021052Mozilla has been issuing almost daily Firefox beta updates within the last several weeks.
What’s going on?
On permanent hiatus {with backup and coffee}
offline▸ Win10Pro 2004.19041.572 x64 i3-3220 RAM8GB HDD Firefox83.0b3 WindowsDefender
offline▸ Acer TravelMate P215-52 RAM8GB Win11Pro 22H2.22621.1265 x64 i5-10210U SSD Firefox106.0 MicrosoftDefender
online▸ Win11Pro 22H2.22621.1992 x64 i5-9400 RAM16GB HDD Firefox116.0b3 MicrosoftDefender-
anonymous
GuestDecember 18, 2019 at 11:03 am #2021092Your daily updates of FF’s nightly (as they call the channel) builds is probably part of their increased release cadence plan.
For those not familiar with it, Mozilla plans, as has been stated by @Carl-D above in post 2014753, to go to a 4 week release pace for their versions of Firefox.
January’s release will be 5 weeks after December’s, and February’s will be 5 weeks after January’s but March’s will only be 4 weeks after February’s. The 4 week pace will then be maintained until Mozilla decides differently.
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EP
AskWoody_MVPDecember 29, 2019 at 3:57 am #2037342and Mozilla’s fast pace of releasing new Firefox versions starting in 2020 is much faster than Microsoft’s “two feature updates a year for Win10” policy – about TEN to TWELVE “feature updates” a year for Mozilla Firefox
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This reply was modified 5 years, 4 months ago by
EP.
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This reply was modified 5 years, 4 months ago by
EP.
1 user thanked author for this post.
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This reply was modified 5 years, 4 months ago by
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WildBill
AskWoody PlusDecember 29, 2019 at 6:21 am #2037381I still haven’t encountered any problems since Firefox updated me to 71.0. Again, an individual consumer & not a corporate user. With updates scheduled to hit Hot & Heavy in 2020, I’ve changed to “Check for updates but let you choose to install them”. Automatic updates for Firefox haven’t bit me yet… but better to be safe than sorry.
Bought a refurbished Windows 10 64-bit, currently updated to 22H2. Have broke the AC adapter cord going to the 8.1 machine, but before that, coaxed it into charging. Need to buy new adapter if wish to continue using it.
Wild Bill Rides Again... -
Cybertooth
AskWoody PlusDecember 29, 2019 at 10:21 am #2037403“Keep fixing it till it breaks.” Already, two of the three browsers on my Kubuntu Linux system (Brave, Chromium) will open for just a couple of minutes and then close themselves without warning. Been happening for a couple of weeks. If Mozilla’s frenetic pace of changes breaks Firefox before Chromium fixes whatever they did, then I will literally have no way to get on the Internet on that computer.
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This reply was modified 5 years, 4 months ago by
Cybertooth.
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