Firefox in one folder
Hello,
How to force firefox to use only one directory like opera 12.17 and older did ?
Opera keeps everything in one folder Below example from my pc C:\Documents and Settings\internet1\My Documents\Opera profil and cache of Opera: C:\Documents and Settings\internet1\My Documents\Opera\profile
Firefox use 3 directories
C:\Documents and Settings\internet1\Application Data\Mozilla C:\Documents and Settings\internet1\Local Settings\Application Data\Mozilla\Firefox C:\Documents and Settings\internet1\My Documents\Firefox
How to run firefox in 1 folder only: C:\Documents and Settings\internet1\My Documents\Firefox?
Cheers
Gewysig op
Gekose oplossing
The first suggestion by philipp was the best, but you went off in you own direction by using 7-Zip and extracting the files rather than using it as intended and built. I just "knew " that something like that would happen based upon what you said in your initial posting. Which is why I didn't want to involve this forum in an extended session where you don't follow the posted answers and create a multitude of additional support postings to ask how to fix what you broke.
Here's the "drill" to follow exactly.
Using the PortableApps version of FirefoxPortable_35.0.1_English_.paf.exe, and "install" it to a USB Stick. Nothing is written to the Windows Registry and nothing is created outside the one main folder.
Once it is "installed", drag the one folder that is created (using either move or copy) from the USB Stick to exactly where you want that one folder to be on your hard drive.
Then open that one folder and right-click the FirefoxPortable.exe file, and use Send To -> Desktop (create shortcut) - which is for launching Portable.
That one folder will contain that exe file, the help.html file, along with three folders, name App, Data, and Other..
Then use Portable Apps - Firefox support for help when you need to figure out how to install any Plugins that you need, when "Portable" can't find the necessary DLL files needed for some Plugins. Other Add-ons like extensions and search plugins are install directly to the Profile, so those won't be an issue.
All Replies (19)
I highly advise you not to do that exactly as you propose! Putting "everything" in one folder is too risky! Putting Firefox Profile files in with the data, files, and images that you save via Firefox, is a ripe case for potentially losing that data.
Yes, it is possible to relocate your Profile from the default location, and when you do that the ~\Local Settings\Application Data\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\profile_name\ folder files and folders will automatically be in the Profile folder, although not in a folder separate from your actual Profile files and folders.
But I'm not going to instruct you how to do that - I'll leave that for someone else. I have answered too many support questions over the years where the user fiddled with an alternative Profile location, and accidentally lost the entire contents of the folder where they moved their Profile to, along with their Profile data.
Thx for answer. I'm not United States president so i don't have any important data.
Can you instruct me how to do this ?
try to use a portable version of firefox (those are not provided by mozilla itself but independent third-parties) which can be installed into one single folder: http://portableapps.com/apps/internet/firefox_portable
philipp portable version still use 3 directories. You should check before answer. main, local settings, application data
Gewysig op
no, firefox portable doesn't make use of the local settings or application data folder - it leaves no data outside of the installation folder: http://portableapps.com/forums/support/firefox_portable/faq
Try downloading Firefox Portable from the developer of that version. http://portableapps.com/apps/internet/firefox_portable
I don't know what firefox-usb.com supplies - if it is their own version that they created, I sure a hell wouldn't trust it. Portable Apps has been around for over 10 years now, and trust them.
... and the Profile folder is in the FirefoxPortable program files folder in a /Data/profile/ folder.
I don't want install anything.
http://portableapps.com/apps/internet/firefox_portable save profil and cache to one folder only when you use "Firefox Portable launcher" instead of original exe.
When you use orginal exe included in "http://portableapps.com/apps/internet/firefox_portable" Firefox still create new directories: local settings, application data.
Can you tell me how to configure already installed firefox to use 1 folder ?
Gewysig op
fbrzuzka said
When you use orginal exe included in "http://portableapps.com/apps/internet/firefox_portable" Firefox still create new directories: local settings, application data.
Please see the screenshot of the FirefoxPortable_35.0.1_English.paf..exe that I downloaded this morning and just installed in the folder where I save the Firefox programs that I have downloaded. -> D:\Firefox\Firefox Programs\
D:\Firefox\Firefox Programs\FirefoxPortable\ is the "program files" folder. The files for the AppData\Mozilla] path for the ~\Profile folder contents AND the the Local Settings\App Data\Mozilla secondary ~\Profile folder contents are both where I said they should be - in the ~\FirefoxPortable\Data\profile folder
As i told before orginal exe still create this 2 directories.
Check attached img where to find orginal exe in this pack
Portable Apps exe is suspected, fake antivirus alert.
Google it: portableapps.com virus | portableapps.com trojan
check image 2 location of fake exe
Portableapps is only overlay.
My question again: Can you tell me how to configure already installed firefox to use 1 folder ?
Googled - see this about false positive trojan / virus detection for Portable Apps, as discussed by Portable users, that I saw as the 3rd item in the search. http://portableapps.com/node/15769 Those false positives have been happening for the genuine Firefox stub installer, too;, as reported in this forum all too frequently - been going on for close to 6 months iirc. These damn AV vendors need to "get with the program" when software vendors add new type installers to their programs.
Your first screenshot looks like a genuine Firefox installation based upon the folder names and the file names that are showing, not Portable. Firefox Portable has 3 folders and 2 files in the top level folder. App, Data, and Other folders - with FirefoxPortable.exe and help.html as the 2 files - the files that do appear in the 2nd screenshot.
As far as the 2nd screenshot, I have no idea why that desktop folder received a name of $RO, but those files are FirefoxPortable files - but the 3 folders are missing, unless Windows is hiding those 3 files.
The Desktop is not the place to be installing any program. Over the years we have had too many unhappy users who created a Profile on their desktop and when they went to fix it they managed to delete every file and shortcut that had been on the Desktop before pulling that "stunt". And "we" always get blamed.
I am even more reluctant now to tell you how to use one folder as I was this morning, after seeing those screenshots. I don't want to help create a support nightmare here after explaining something that is over your head
My final suggestion here is to head over here: http://forums.mozillazine.org/viewforum.php?f=49 A forum that isn't directly affiliated with Mozilla, but has a lot of advanced users who might be willing to help you.
(FirefoxPortable_35.0.1_English.paf) is only unpacked with 7zip not installed
You have no idea how to cfg FF to use only 1 folder
I don't use any antivirus software only limited account.
one question and still no answer...
i ask @forums.mozillazine.org http://forums.mozillazine.org/viewtopic.php?f=38&t=2910029
I was trying to use firefox.exe -profilemanager but still 2 extra folders in AD and LS
even with profil manager and browser.cache.disk.parent_directory still use AD and LS http://essayweb.net/miscellany/firefox_cache.shtml
In my opinion to run FF in one folder i have to change source code and make new compilation.
Someone can tell me how to configure already installed firefox to use 1 folder ?
Gewysig op
Only profiles in the default location have a separate cache folder. Use a shortcut with an absolute path to the Firefox profile folder or create the Firefox profile folder elsewhere.
Always make sure to specify the location of a new and empty folder that doesn't have other files.
i try with "firefox -CreateProfile "JoelUser c:\internet\joelusers-moz-profile" and now profil location = c:\internet\joelusers-moz-profile but still 2 not needed folders in AD and LS of course i deleted them, check again and they always come even when profil is in "c:\internet\joelusers-moz-profile"
That last screenshot shows that all the files and folders are in that one location.
Isn't that what you want?
Firefox still needs the profiles.ini file to register profiles and may create a new profile in the default location if profiles.ini isn't found and you click a link in an external program.
You can specify an absolute location for the Firefox profile folder in the profiles.ini file (IsRelative=0) and Firefox should use that location for all files and folders.
I want all files in one directory.
Tell me how to permanently remove this 2 marked folders, force firefox to don't use them or move this 2 folders to 1.
Gewysig op
Gekose oplossing
The first suggestion by philipp was the best, but you went off in you own direction by using 7-Zip and extracting the files rather than using it as intended and built. I just "knew " that something like that would happen based upon what you said in your initial posting. Which is why I didn't want to involve this forum in an extended session where you don't follow the posted answers and create a multitude of additional support postings to ask how to fix what you broke.
Here's the "drill" to follow exactly.
Using the PortableApps version of FirefoxPortable_35.0.1_English_.paf.exe, and "install" it to a USB Stick. Nothing is written to the Windows Registry and nothing is created outside the one main folder.
Once it is "installed", drag the one folder that is created (using either move or copy) from the USB Stick to exactly where you want that one folder to be on your hard drive.
Then open that one folder and right-click the FirefoxPortable.exe file, and use Send To -> Desktop (create shortcut) - which is for launching Portable.
That one folder will contain that exe file, the help.html file, along with three folders, name App, Data, and Other..
Then use Portable Apps - Firefox support for help when you need to figure out how to install any Plugins that you need, when "Portable" can't find the necessary DLL files needed for some Plugins. Other Add-ons like extensions and search plugins are install directly to the Profile, so those won't be an issue.
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