Avatar for Username

Search Support

Avoid support scams. We will never ask you to call or text a phone number or share personal information. Please report suspicious activity using the “Report Abuse” option.

Learn More

This thread was archived. Please ask a new question if you need help.

Auto-update wont work on all machines in small lab (same buil/version every machine)

  • 3 replies
  • 2 have this problem
  • 1 view
  • Last reply by FredMcD

JoeBonni
JoeBonni
more options

Hi there,

I run a small lab of iMacs for my Uni and they all have the exact same build of Apple OS X (10.9.5) and version of FF (currently 32.1). I have written an Apple Script that opens FF, clicks on "About Firefox" from the Firefox drop down menu, pauses 30 seconds while the machine auto downloads the update, closes Firefox, then reopens FF and voila, the update is done. However, this only works on some machines in the lab and not others. The problem that I'm running into is that on some machines, when “About Firefox" is "clicked" by the script, indeed a new window launches and checks for updates and if in need of an update the new window automatically downloads the new files and asks for a restart (which the script then takes care of). However on other machines, after “About Firefox” is "clicked" by the script, the new window checks for updates but instead of downloading any necessary new files, the new window only indicates that FF needs to be updated and then only offers a link to click to get the updates rather than auto-downloading the needed update files and asking for a restart. Every machine in the lab has the same build (I helped build them myself 9 months ago) and I am testing this script in the same admin mode and log-on with all preferences for the OS and for FF exactly identical and yet sometimes the "About Firefox" window auto-downloads files and other times it doesn't and only offers a link.

I have included two screenshots, one of the About Firefox windows auto-downloading, another showing the “Updates Available” response from the new window. I am also happy to send along the script but since most people are, justifiably, hesitant to receive Apple Scripts from unknown sources I’ll hold off for now until I hear back.

I do how you can help me solve this problem or perhaps there are other (simpler?) solutions to managing upgrades across a small lab that I have completely missed in my incessant Googling?

Any and all help will be appreciated.

-- Peace, Joe Bonni (Bognanni)


Edit: removed personal details as this is public and not private emails.

Hi there, I run a small lab of iMacs for my Uni and they all have the exact same build of Apple OS X (10.9.5) and version of FF (currently 32.1). I have written an Apple Script that opens FF, clicks on "About Firefox" from the Firefox drop down menu, pauses 30 seconds while the machine auto downloads the update, closes Firefox, then reopens FF and voila, the update is done. However, this only works on some machines in the lab and not others. The problem that I'm running into is that on some machines, when “About Firefox" is "clicked" by the script, indeed a new window launches and checks for updates and if in need of an update the new window automatically downloads the new files and asks for a restart (which the script then takes care of). However on other machines, after “About Firefox” is "clicked" by the script, the new window checks for updates but instead of downloading any necessary new files, the new window only indicates that FF needs to be updated and then only offers a link to click to get the updates rather than auto-downloading the needed update files and asking for a restart. Every machine in the lab has the same build (I helped build them myself 9 months ago) and I am testing this script in the same admin mode and log-on with all preferences for the OS and for FF exactly identical and yet sometimes the "About Firefox" window auto-downloads files and other times it doesn't and only offers a link. I have included two screenshots, one of the About Firefox windows auto-downloading, another showing the “Updates Available” response from the new window. I am also happy to send along the script but since most people are, justifiably, hesitant to receive Apple Scripts from unknown sources I’ll hold off for now until I hear back. I do how you can help me solve this problem or perhaps there are other (simpler?) solutions to managing upgrades across a small lab that I have completely missed in my incessant Googling? Any and all help will be appreciated. -- Peace, Joe Bonni (Bognanni) Edit: removed personal details as this is public and not private emails.
Attached screenshots

Modified by James

All Replies (3)

FredMcD
FredMcD
more options

That is a known issue.

Download Firefox Full Installer For All languages And Systems {web link}

JoeBonni
JoeBonni Question owner
more options

FredMcD said

That is a known issue. Download Firefox Full Installer For All languages And Systems {web link}

Fred,

Thanks so much for the reply. Amy way you could elaborate on the "known issue" aspect? Is there another thread I missed? Some sort of Knowledge base article? also, I'm not sure why you linked to the page you did. FF is installed on all my machines and I can of course download the latest version every couple of weeks and push it to all my lab iMacs using ARD, so I'm confused as to why you linnked me to FF's installer page - is there something I can do with the installer that will alow auto-updates that I'm missing/not aware of?

Again, thanks for the heads-up and any further elaboration on either further info on the issue or how I might use the installer to auto-update all my machines will be appreciated.

FredMcD
FredMcD
more options

Bug 1125910 - Firefoxv35 Not Update v35.0.1 https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=1125910

When I tried to update my Firefox, the automatic was not working. I created the above bug report. Later, others also had the same issue. Downloading the full installer is the best way.