hello, since you don't have a concrete issue/problem you want to solve, this place here (a primarily user run support forum) probably isn't the best place to open a general discussion about mozilla policies or approach to updates.

if you want to give feedback to the people at mozilla directly, please use the following venue: https://input.mozilla.org/feedback.

Sorry, buy I do have a concrete issue. And your answer does not help in the least. Why? Because when I follow your link I get this message......."Oh! So, you want to offer us feedback on Firefox. Thank you, but you'll need to be on the latest version.

To do that, simply go to our download page and install/update to the latest version of Firefox!" Now as you may realise, if you have read my first post above, I have no intention of being forced to accept your latest version. Further to the saga, I installed Opera this afternoon and found it not only much quicker, but there seems to be no pressure at all to conform to someone else's wishes as to which version to run.

sorry i didn't know that the feedback page is only working for current versions - this was not my intention in sending you there...

it is certainly a better choice to use an up-to-date opera version than an outdated firefox version with known security vulnerabilities!

I am not going to update beyond v3 because RoboForm will not support further updates unless it's "lifetime" subscribers pay extra upgrade. Even with the Roboform adapter, the newer versions of Firefox does not work. So I am stuck with v3.6.xx. Now there's the annoying v12 update that pops up. From what I've been reading, v12 also freezes so it's buggy. I've tried Lastpass and that doesn't work because it won't properly import all the data I have in Roboform. Now I have Chrome installed with Roboform Lite plug-in. Chrome seems to work with that plug-in but their bookmarks are horrible compare to Firefox. So I'm stuck between the 2. I dread the day when v3 will be totally unsecured and it will crash on every site (not that it's been doing forever). So Firefox, please listen to your customers. I love you Firefox but your updates are forcing me to search elsewhere.

Update: I'm writing this in Chrome now. My xMarks just froze on me. It was freezing a month ago but I thought the problem went away when I just left the PC alone for 15 minutes and let it sync but now that doesn't seem to work. So I had to spend several days to find a work-around to that problem. Seems I can export desktop FF bookmarks into htlm and upload it onto DropBox, and then download it onto my netbook FF bookmarks but not before manually deleting all of it. See how a simple 5 second operation has turning into a hour. So I'm beginning to hate Firefox...not that it's bad but that it has the attitude to say screw it's users if they don't upgrade. But Chrome's bookmarks are awful. I type the url and it takes 15 sec to show up...seems Chrome combine google search w/url really slows down the typing.

I'm going to try to call Leo Laporte's Tech Guy radio show this weekend. He's always praising Chrome and dissing FF but there's some features FF really good and some features Chrome really suck at. I don't think I missed out on any functions but people should know these are the conditions on the streets.

I've tried Lastpass and that doesn't work because it won't properly import all the data I have in Roboform.

You can't be the only person in this situation. Has anyone come up with a solution for migrating, or is it because Roboform has a lot more functionality than Lastpass?

As chipmalee's posting above points out, V12 is not working well for all of us. In fact my partner's netbook slowed to an impossible speed when she accepted the bullying tactics and updated Firefox. Just a thought...... does anyone think it would be possible to modify FF (via code or whatever) to remove the troublesome nagging to update? I would not advocate doing this if it is illegal or somehow breaks the user's agreement but I am just trying to think of a way around the problem. The "official" problem solvers here just trot out the dogma about improved security.

Bullying tactics?? Just turn updates off in preferences

Options > Advanced -> Update = Never check for updates; (not recommended ...

Been there, done that, didn't work. Nor has it worked for others on the many forum threads I have been reading.

That pref has always worked for me, as long as it was set in every Firefox Profile and every User Logon Account (each of which have their own Profile). All you need is one Profile where you forget to set that pref and Firefox will check for and install an update within the first few minutes of that Profile being used.

Thanks the-edmeister, but there is only one user profile set in my installation. Is it possible that somehow there may be more than one? I did the installation myself and no one else ever touches my PC. Is there a way to find out how many profiles have been set up? And I am still wondering Why or How Firefox managed to do the update without my acceptance.

You can't be the only person in this situation.

I've spent several days researching it and have seen 1 answer that a LastPass employee answered but they had no idea what the poster wanted to say. The poster basically said "you miss my point". It's hard when you have all these things going wrong because of 1 browser. The problems all add up and you become overwhelmed. Also LastPass has these text instructions saying just do this and your data will transfer. But it doesn't and you are left with the question, how much time do I want to spend on this. And also without a video or screenshot showing the problem, LastPass' employee can never understand the crisis we are going thru.

Chrome has a RoboForm Lite plugin which is a little slow because it has to pull data from RoboForm cloud. The FF plugin is just placing RoboForm in the toolbar but then Robo doesn't work beyond v.3.

jscher2000, my friend, things are not getting better with these updates. Things are just being updated for the sake of being update to match the way the latest websites are written. Have you ever try to crack a dvd but the latest software doesn't work? Try a software several generations back and it might work. It's not the protection is getting better but it's everyone is jumping on the latest protection craze.

And I am still wondering Why or How Firefox managed to do the update without my acceptance.

Heavystuff, you might have accidentally hit the wrong button. But what is insidiousness about v.12 update is that there is no check box not to remind you again. I remember when v.4 came along, there was a "do not remind again" box. I checked that and only updates of v.3 would pop up.

Speaking from experience, once you upgraded to v.12, do not go back to v.3 unless you want to lose all your passwords and bookmarks. I did that when I tried to go back from v.4 to v.3 in order to use RoboForm. It was horrible!!! I lost all my passwords and preferences...basically it was like reinventing the wheel. OK...did I already spent an hour writing this? Hope some things prove productive.

"Speaking from experience, once you upgraded to v.12, do not go back to v.3 unless you want to lose all your passwords and bookmarks. I did that when I tried to go back from v.4 to v.3 in order to use RoboForm. It was horrible!!! I lost all my passwords and preferences...basically it was like reinventing the wheel." Thanks for the warning chipmalee but I always keep a copy of my current bookmarks in a separate file to use in emergencies so I was prepared when this happened. Additionally. I don't keep any passwords or password managers on my PC. I feel they are not worth the risk. I also don't use any address books or suchlike because I don't want to be used as an unwitting relay point for spam or malware. I just want to be left in peace to use FF 3.6 without being hassled to accept updates.

Me too! On V12 now, don't know how to revert, not a techie. But BBCiPlayer doesn't work, uninstalled and re-installed properly several times. Hotmail doesn't embed images, looks fine, but the recipient gets a little grey square and the little square is also there in my Sent Folder. FF is fine with this for BTYahoo and Outlook works OK. So too does IE 8 with Hotmail.

I also lost Iplayer went I was hijacked by FF12. To get back to the earlier version I wanted I did the following... Downloaded and saved the correct version from oldapps.com, (there are lots of other sources). Then uninstalled FF12 in the Windows add/remove programs list. Then did a search for all files and folders with Firefox in the address and manually deleted them all. Ran my defrag utility and another one to deal with any left over junk files, etc. Then I did a fresh install of version 3.6 and imported my bookmarks that were backed up on a memory stick. Hey presto! Everything that had gone belly up with FF12 was working again, including BBC Iplayer. Fingers crossed that the nag boxes don't start again for the update from Hell.

Anyone needing a copy of an old version of Firefox, please be aware of the risks, but note there is an official link for older versions, intended for testing purposes and it may be found in the article:

• Install an older version of Firefox

BBC iPlayer has often been troublesome.

The fact that iPlayer uses FlashPlayer may cause particular problems at the moment, as the current FlashPlayer 11.3 may be troublesome on Firefox

• Adobe Flash plugin has crashed - Prevent it from happening again

Hi djyll, you wrote:

On V12... Hotmail doesn't embed images, looks fine, but the recipient gets a little grey square and the little square is also there in my Sent Folder.

It depends on how you attach/embed the image. (I tested in Fx13.)

If I attach the image as a picture, it works.

If I copy a file from a Windows Explorer folder or the desktop and paste into the message, then Firefox/Hotmail embeds a data URL. It looks normal while I'm composing the message, but Hotmail strips it out when I send it and replaces it with the gray square.

If I right-click and copy an image on a website, and then paste it into the message body, Hotmail insert an image tag that links back to the source of the image.

Does that match your experience?
Followed up on this issue here: https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/930024

Thanks John, nice to know when sw is broken.

Thanks Jacher, replied to your other post (I think!)

Here we go again. I have been using my freshly installed FF3.6 now two days later Firefox does it again. It has automatically updated to FF12 WITHOUT MY PERMISSION! I am sorry Firefox lovers, but this is totally wrong. It effectively makes certain applications non functional on my PC. In any other scenario this would be illegal but it seems that since Firefox in its infinite (and opressive) wisdom insists in taking over the administration of my PC I have no alternative but to dump it for a different browser. I will also be warning everyone else via every forum I post to, that Firefox has taken on Big Brother status and will try to control the use of peoples' computers. New World order????????

Hi Heavystuff,
Sorry you are having problems with your Firefox settings.

(as already mentioned upthread)
Firefox is NOT forcing all users to upgrade.
To stop upgrades see

• Update Firefox to the latest release_how-do-i-configure-update-....
  (It is a long article and scroll)

Firefox 3.6 is not secure so Firefox is encouraging users to upgrade, and by default upgrades from fx3.6 to fx12 then prompts to upgrade to the current latest version. Knowledgeable users aware of the risks are free to run whatever version or versions they choose. I have multiple versions and my Firefox 3.6 is not being forced to upgrade.

If you wish to stick with Firefox 3.6 I hope the above advice helps.