How do I completely delete (not just disable) HP Smartprintbutton 1.0
It cannot be deleted by any method of which I am aware. There a is newer version of this extension called HP Smart Print Version: 2.1.0.235. And it works very well. So I am referring specifically to HP Smartprintbutton 1.0. The creator Liu Zhen had a website which unfortunately is no longer operating, so no help there. I've spoken to HP phone support but received no useful information. HP Smartprintbutton 1.0 does not cause any problems. And it is disabled so I can just leave it 'as is'. But it caused me to start thinking: suppose there were a troublesome extension or addon that had to be removed. How could I go about it? I there a general procedure to do it? If not, shouldn't a general method be provided? Better yet, how about a removal button for ALL addons and extensions! This could be a prerequisite to allowing their installation.
Chosen solution
Contact Microsoft - the "rules" for the Registry are written by them. Firefox just uses what's there.
IMO, it's all HP's fault. They do a poor job of keeping that "Smart Print" application / add-on up to date. I used Smart Print from {like} 2003 thru 2009, and saw it quit working with an update not being made available for many months at a time, if not years. Their uncaring attitude about that "free" application made me look to other brand printers when I needed a new one. Free or not, when it comes with a new printer CD-driver pack and they don't keep it up-to-date with their other drivers, as a consumer I felt cheated or ignored. And their lack of drivers for Linux for too many years forced me to try Brother as an alternative.
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Extensions which are installed externally to your personal settings folder generally do not have a Remove button. In some cases, they are in a shared folder, and in other cases they are in an unrelated location that Firefox discovers in the Windows registry. Tracking it down may take some searching. You could try the following spots, but first, look up the "ID" of the extension because often that is the folder name (or beginning of the file name) you will be looking for.
To look up an extension ID you can use the Troubleshooting Information page. Either:
- "3-bar" menu button > "?" button > Troubleshooting Information
- (menu bar) Help > Troubleshooting Information
- type or paste about:support in the address bar and press Enter
As you scroll down the page you will come across a table of all installed extensions showing their ID.
Some places to check for that extension include:
- C:\Users\username\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Extensions (note: the AppData is hidden by default)
- C:\Program Files (x86)\Mozilla Firefox\browser\extensions
- C:\Program Files (x86)\Mozilla Firefox\components
- Registry: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Mozilla\Firefox\Extensions
Thank you for your solution. It worked. I found the entry in the registry at : HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Mozilla\Firefox\Extensions. I deleted the entry and the addon/extension no longer appears. I still recommend that Mozilla establish policy so that this kind of thing cannot occur. I think better control of plugins needs to be established so that the user can readily control the plugins installed in his/her Firefox browser. To whom should such a request be made? Or could you propose it (assuming you agree with the idea)?
Chosen Solution
Contact Microsoft - the "rules" for the Registry are written by them. Firefox just uses what's there.
IMO, it's all HP's fault. They do a poor job of keeping that "Smart Print" application / add-on up to date. I used Smart Print from {like} 2003 thru 2009, and saw it quit working with an update not being made available for many months at a time, if not years. Their uncaring attitude about that "free" application made me look to other brand printers when I needed a new one. Free or not, when it comes with a new printer CD-driver pack and they don't keep it up-to-date with their other drivers, as a consumer I felt cheated or ignored. And their lack of drivers for Linux for too many years forced me to try Brother as an alternative.
Let's distinguish between plugins and extensions.
Plugins
Firefox 30 switched most plugins from "Always Activate" -- allowing any site to use them -- to "Ask to Activate" -- requiring sites to get your permission to use them. You can confirm or modify this on the Add-ons page. Either:
- Ctrl+Shift+a
- "3-bar" menu button (or Tools menu) > Add-ons
Extensions
I think Firefox was updated many versions ago to ask your permission to activate extensions it discovers in those external folders and/or the registry, but I haven't researched it in detail. If you do not enable them, they remain listed on the Add-ons page (Extensions category) but inactive.
How would you suggest changing this arrangement? You can make features suggestions on this page: https://input.mozilla.org/feedback
Even though Firefox ALWAYS asks permission to install a a plugin or extension, this action will NOT completely resolve my issue. Why? Because plugins and extensions will not always perform as the user would anticipate. The developer documentation is too brief. So the user might want to remove the plugin or extension after installing it. In addition, the plugin or extension might break, and have to be removed and then reinstalled to correct a problem. I suggest that a standard procedure be established for the removal of all plugins and extensions. This would be a single procedure from the user perspective only, and would not be intended to limit the developer's flexibility to exploit the features of Firefox. Try to keep branches within the procedure to a minimum. Finally, publish the procedure and include it within the help file.