Firefox forced update?

[JonInMiddleGA]

Just discovered I had unwillingly been updated to Firefox 3.5.2 and had that damnable Google Toolbar installed without once being asked for approval permissions or anything else.

I've never had a forced update from them, all my auto-update settings are turned off, etc. WTF?

[sterlingice]

That's odd. I have 3.5.5 and no Toolbar and all my updates work just fine

SI

[RomaGoth]

That's odd. I have 3.5.5 and no Toolbar and all my updates work just fine

SI

Same here.

[dawgfan]

Just discovered I had unwillingly been updated to Firefox 3.5.2 and had that damnable Google Toolbar installed without once being asked for approval permissions or anything else.

I've never had a forced update from them, all my auto-update settings are turned off, etc. WTF?
You're sure nobody else used the computer and did a manual update?

[JediKooter]

Get out of the house now!!! Don't ask questions, just get out man, get out!!!!

[path12]

That's odd. I have 3.5.5 and no Toolbar and all my updates work just fine

SI

Ditto.

[JonInMiddleGA]

You're sure nobody else used the computer and did a manual update?

That part I'm very sure about.
A) Nobody in my house would risk touching my computer
B) I've been here completely alone (not counting the cats who are also smart enough to avoid the pc) since about 11 this morning & this happened very distinctly in about a half hour span this afternoon.

I shut down the browser for a bit, opened it back up & was shocked to see the standard "you've upgraded to x.x.x." splash page as well as a "welcome to Google toolbar" splash page in a second tab.

Reason that it's an issue is that 3.5.x was a dismal failure for me (crashed every few minutes, would load only about half the web-based games I play, etc) and I was lucky enough to have someone here link me to a old 3.0.x install (I think that was it, I'll have to look back in the thread about "The West" to see). which at least worked.

But what freaked me out most was that I don't recall ever getting upgraded by them without manual approval before & I've been careful about making sure I avoided it because of those issues. Which means I've probably gotten spanked by some unintended install that fucked with my settings but I haven't the foggiest where/when/what/how.

[Kodos]

I bet those guys from Boston are behind this!

[RomaGoth]

That part I'm very sure about.
A) Nobody in my house would risk touching my computer
B) I've been here completely alone (not counting the cats who are also smart enough to avoid the pc) since about 11 this morning & this happened very distinctly in about a half hour span this afternoon.

I shut down the browser for a bit, opened it back up & was shocked to see the standard "you've upgraded to x.x.x." splash page as well as a "welcome to Google toolbar" splash page in a second tab.

Reason that it's an issue is that 3.5.x was a dismal failure for me (crashed every few minutes, would load only about half the web-based games I play, etc) and I was lucky enough to have someone here link me to a old 3.0.x install (I think that was it, I'll have to look back in the thread about "The West" to see). which at least worked.

But what freaked me out most was that I don't recall ever getting upgraded by them without manual approval before & I've been careful about making sure I avoided it because of those issues. Which means I've probably gotten spanked by some unintended install that fucked with my settings but I haven't the foggiest where/when/what/how.

FWIW, I had a lot of problems with earlier versions of 3.5 as well, but 3.5.5 has been fine, no crashes or anything. I know this doesn't explain why you suddenly upgraded to it, but you might as well give it a chance I suppose.

*shrug*

[flere-imsaho]

The only explanation is that your computer wants the Google Toolbar. I wouldn't fight it, if I were you. Piss the computer off, and all of a sudden you find your entire Quicken file has been emailed to somewhere in Russia.

[JonInMiddleGA]

FWIW, I had a lot of problems with earlier versions of 3.5 as well, but 3.5.5 has been fine, no crashes or anything. I know this doesn't explain why you suddenly upgraded to it, but you might as well give it a chance I suppose.

But that kind of adds to the weirdness, I got forced to 3.5.2

[Pumpy Tudors]

The updates are coming from inside the house! I REPEAT, THE UPDATES ARE COMING FROM INSIDE THE HOUSE!

[JonInMiddleGA]

Piss the computer off, and all of a sudden you find your entire Quicken file has been emailed to somewhere in Russia.

Fuck 'em, there's so little money flowing through here lately that I haven't needed Quicken in several years. My accounting system doesn't have to be any more complex than a couple of glass jars any more.

[JediKooter]

Listen to Pumpy!! GET OUT NOW!!!

[dawgfan]

But that kind of adds to the weirdness, I got forced to 3.5.2
Indeed, very odd. I can't ever recall a Firefox version update that didn't give me a manual prompt to upgrade or not, and while I don't recall ever having to decide whether or not to install the Google toolbar, it hasn't ever been installed by Firefox either.

I'm on 3.5.5 as well...

[path12]

Indeed, very odd. I can't ever recall a Firefox version update that didn't give me a manual prompt to upgrade or not, and while I don't recall ever having to decide whether or not to install the Google toolbar, it hasn't ever been installed by Firefox either.

I'm on 3.5.5 as well...

I can't swear to it, but I'm pretty sure I've had to uncheck an install Google toolbar box every time I've updated.....

[Logan]

The updates are coming from inside the house! I REPEAT, THE UPDATES ARE COMING FROM INSIDE THE HOUSE!

Doobie, doobie doooooo.....

[Sweed]

I've always had to confirm an upgrade with FF. Not sure but I think it asked about a google bar when first going to 3.5.5 which I of course turned down.

I do know one thing for sure, I hate fucking tool bars and especially ones I have to option out of, really pisses me off.

[dawgfan]

I can't swear to it, but I'm pretty sure I've had to uncheck an install Google toolbar box every time I've updated.....
I guess I can't remember either. The one I'm certain of is having to uncheck installing Yahoo toolbar stuff whenever I update Java.

[Glengoyne]

Something infuriating. The update/download for Firefox 3.5.x has a click box, defaulted to checked, asking if you want to install the google toolbar.

[terpkristin]

Something infuriating. The update/download for Firefox 3.5.x has a click box, defaulted to checked, asking if you want to install the google toolbar.

Really? I'm surprised I haven't ranted about it. ;)

One of my biggest pet peeves of late is that when iTunes has an update, it always tries to force Safari (for Windoze) on me.

/tk

[DanGarion]

It's obvious that you are wrong...

[DanGarion]

Or right...

[JonInMiddleGA]

Since ending up with 3.5.5. I periodically get an error message about the following script which has unexpectedly stopped running (or something to that effect)
Script: chrome://browser/content/tabbrowser.xml:447

Frankly I'm not entirely sure what the hell is trying to run, why the hell it's running, why the hell it's stopping, or much else about it.

About all I've been able to figure out so far -- other than my browser grinds to a virtual halt prior to receiving that message -- is that I'm not the first person to encounter this message, it seems to go back to version 3.0.x
according to this messageboard post
http://support.mozilla.com/nl/forum/1/131247

Unfortunately the solution suggested by other users doesn't apply to me since the I don't seem to have whatever the auto-play extension they suggest removing installed. And if you notice, another user has asked about the same problem with 3.5.x to no avail.

Any gurus know WTF this is about?

[RedKingGold]

GET TO THE CHOPPAH!

[Rizon]

That's odd. I have 3.5.5 and no Toolbar and all my updates work just fine

SI

Same

[Celeval]

Unfortunately the solution suggested by other users doesn't apply to me since the I don't seem to have whatever the auto-play extension they suggest removing installed. And if you notice, another user has asked about the same problem with 3.5.x to no avail.

Any gurus know WTF this is about?

What extensions do you have installed? Line 447 in that file for 3.5.5 is some code which is notifying (and waiting on) registered listeners of a tab that there has been some sort of change to the tab (progress downloading, perhaps).

The autoplay extension noted in the link refers to line 1700, which is in an entirely different area of the code, so likely not directly related.

As for the auto-update... there's a setting within Firefox which manages that. Go to Tools -> Options -> Advanced -> Updates; there should be something near the bottom which lets you choose "Ask me what to do" when there is a new Firefox update (as opposed to "Automatically Download and Install the Update".

[JonInMiddleGA]

What extensions do you have installed? Line 447 in that file for 3.5.5 is some code which is notifying (and waiting on) registered listeners of a tab that there has been some sort of change to the tab (progress downloading, perhaps).

Adblock Plus
Greasemonkey (currently disabled)
Java Quickstarter
Move Media Player
PDF Download
RealPlayer Browser Record Plugin
Skype Extension for Firefox (currently disabled)
UserZoom Extension (currently disabled)
Video Downloader (currently disabled)

Although I never noticed it before, while typing up this list I noticed that this version of Skype has been blocklisted by FF due to stability problems & I'm going to follow their recommendation & uninstall it.

As for the auto-update... there's a setting within Firefox which manages that. Go to Tools -> Options -> Advanced -> Updates; there should be something near the bottom which lets you choose "Ask me what to do" when there is a new Firefox update (as opposed to "Automatically Download and Install the Update".

Yep, which is set to "Ask me" and has been basically for as long as I've been using FF. That's why the sudden appearance of 3.5 shocked me so much.

Thanks for taking a look, I appreciate the help.

[Schmidty]

What's wrong with the Google toolbar? I use it and it's fine. Is there something malicious and terrible about it?

[JonInMiddleGA]

{shrug} I've already got more than enough crap on my pc I don't need. & there's really nothing in the Toolbar that I need.

[Celeval]

Uninstalling the toolbar is always an option.

As for the extensions, if the error comes up on even a semi-regular basis, I'd start disabling/uninstalling extensions one by one and seeing what gets rid of it. Try the less popular ones first, as something like AdBlock would have reports of an issue all over.

The only one of those I've used and had any sort of issue with is Greasemonkey - I've seemingly had performance issues even with it disabled, but that could be coincidental.