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Update file will not download on dial-up internet.

  • 18 replies
  • 2 have this problem
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  • Last reply by cor-el

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I live in a remote and rural location. Dial-up internet is the only option. Broadband is not available.

The large Version 44.0 update file download will not remain on-line because of rural dial-up limitations.

I've tried a good quality Download Manager software. But the Firefox Update Version 44.0 webpage will not allow the RESUME command needed for a large file download using dial-up internet.

I cannot upgrade to Broadband. I cannot download the Version 44.0 file---it produces a corrupted file--or webpage refuses RESUME command.

A creative workaround from an open-minded Firefox savvy individual is requested.

Thank you in advance :)

I live in a remote and rural location. Dial-up internet is the only option. Broadband is not available. The large Version 44.0 update file download will not remain on-line because of rural dial-up limitations. I've tried a good quality Download Manager software. But the Firefox Update Version 44.0 webpage will not allow the RESUME command needed for a large file download using dial-up internet. I cannot upgrade to Broadband. I cannot download the Version 44.0 file---it produces a corrupted file--or webpage refuses RESUME command. A creative workaround from an open-minded Firefox savvy individual is requested. Thank you in advance :)

Chosen solution

In my last post, I said that I would return to this Support Forum and log in the success of co-rel’s different approach—and my own appreciation—should I find success.

I have, indeed succeeded in downloading the iGetter software. It is a superb download manager! It has a very nicely updated and improved resume function. It also is free; and does not pester the user to “upgrade” the product to a paid version. How civilized!

The Firefox Setup 52.2.1esr.exe file has been saved onto my hard drive--after a many-days-long download process that was very well managed by the iGetter software.

Thank you, cor-el, for referring me to this excellent software.

The Firefox Setup 52.2.1esr.exe file has worked well, and upgraded the previous Firefox 12.0 version to Firefox 52.2.1 very successfully.

Firefox 52.2 has also successfully upgraded itself on my dial-up internet connection unimpeded.

co-rel, my friend, you have my profound gratitude

Read this answer in context 👍 2

All Replies (18)

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Some protection programs don't like the update/install stubs. Go here for the full installer.

http://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/all/ Download Firefox For All Languages And Systems

https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/get-latest-version-firefox-windows-xp-vista

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FredMcD said

Some protection programs don't like the <strike>update</strike>/install stubs. Go here for the full installer. http://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/all/ Download Firefox For All Languages And Systems https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/get-latest-version-firefox-windows-xp-vista

The stub installer is Not a update but just a online installer for the same end result as the full setup does as I have mentioned to you countless times.

Also you posted the wrong article for the last one as it should be https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/end-support-windows-xp-and-vista

Modified by James

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Koshare said

I live in a remote and rural location. Dial-up internet is the only option. Broadband is not available. I've tried a good quality Download Manager software. But the Firefox Update Version 44.0 webpage

Why Firefox 44.0 ? and there is no official Firefox Update Version 44.0 webpage.

For Windows XP and Vista you should use the Firefox 52.0 ESR (Extended Support Release) as Firefox 53.0 and later including the 54.0.1 as suggested by FredMcD with his first url will not work.

https://www.mozilla.org/firefox/organizations/faq/

The current Firefox 52 ESR version is at https://www.mozilla.org/firefox/organizations/all/

The ESR channel generally gets eight updates and the last security/stability update 52.8.0esr will be out when Firefox 60.0 is Released in May 2018.


If you cannot download the Firefox setup reliably on dialup then perhaps you could find somebody who does have a PC with faster internet so you can download the setup and transfer the file with a USB flash drive.

Note if you miss any partial updates in Firefox then you may get a full update.

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It has been my experience that "Full Installers" usually take over the downloading processing--expecting a broadband time frame. The very long time frame required by this process file download will then not remain on-line because of rural dial-up limitations.

Is there a way to download this Full Installer system using a Download Manager with a RESUME command?

Thank you.

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It is up to the server on whether they allow resume but for a small file in broadband sense like 43MB they may not.

You can try at say https://archive.mozilla.org/pub/firefox/releases/52.2.1esr/win32/ as the en-US version is https://archive.mozilla.org/pub/firefox/releases/52.2.1esr/win32/en-US/Firefox%20Setup%2052.2.1esr.exe

or maybe https://download-installer.cdn.mozilla.net/pub/firefox/releases/52.2.1esr/win32/

As I said maybe somebody you know or a library or such may allow you to download the Firefox setup file onto a USB flash drive so you can then copy it over to your PC.

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Also, I am using Windows XP, SP3

My research indicates that Firefox does not work well with Windows XP past Version 44--whatever may be promised.

Many of the limitations of those of us in remote rural areas are effected by Rural Poverty. Most all of our technological choices are informed by what is available--and what will work well with our available hardware. Much of our own creative electronic imagination is directed towards keeping our limited infrastructure in working order.

The only available PCs with faster internet are the Public Libraries'. For very good reasons, Public Libraries do not allow downloads from the internet onto thumb drives.

Please attempt to understand the very real and significant infrastructure limitations we experience in the very remote and very technologically neglected American rural West--particularly near the Indian Reservations. Urban solutions don't work here. We also cannot afford the latest gizmos.

Creative workarounds are very much respected here.

Thank you :)

Modified by Koshare

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Using another computer, Download Firefox onto a thumb drive. After, plug the thumb into your system.

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There are a lot of external download managers that support resume.

Best is first to test this by interrupting the download after a few minutes and check if you can resume the download.

Modified by cor-el

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The problem with the RESUME commands is not the Download Managers. I have access to two different very good downloading soft wares. Both have good RESUME command’ support.

The problem is apparently with the webpages (or servers) that seem to sabotage downloads attempted with dial-up systems either by refusing downloads attempted with Managers using RESUME commands or by terminating the dial-up download too soon--causing irreparable corrupted files.

A few decades ago, with dial-up, one could download files sized 200MG or more using good Download Manager soft wares. In those days the Websites (or servers) didn’t interfere.

Part of my question implies the next question: “Does any one know of a website (with a "cooperative" server) that both offers the Version 44.0 executable download, as well as, allows downloads without interference?

Or,alternately, "Does anyone know where one could purchase a CD hard copy of these updates?" These appears equally impossible to locate.

Please try to remember that in many “Undeveloped” areas. There is No Broadband available, except for the wealthy.

Thank you in advance :)

Modified by Koshare

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The situation you find your self in with slow bandwidth can only be cured when you get better service. With that there is nothing we can do other than suggest go to a friends or go the library with the url and download the full installer to a USB Drive.

We wish you the best but there is nothing that we can do to help you further.

Please let us know if this solved your issue or if need further assistance.

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“Never answer the question that is asked of you. Answer the question that you wish had been asked of you.” -- Robert McNamara


 :)

Modified by Koshare

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Note that Firefox updates are send as .mar files that would special treatment to install them yourself manually.

There can be timeout issues when a download stalls for some reason, but I don't think that the Mozilla updates servers would be affected by this since you could live in an area with bad internet connection or use some unstable mobile connection. I don't know whether the built-in updater can handle resume if you would close Firefox while an update is downloaded or the download is interrupted otherwise, but I would assume that this is supported (there is a status file in the updates\0 folder).

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Koshare said

“Never answer the question that is asked of you. Answer the question that you wish had been asked of you.” -- Robert McNamara  :)

Please note : This has been flagged for removal.

Issue is understood and directions to help are being ignored.

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Thank you very much, cor-el, for taking my questions seriously.

And thank you also for your apparent respect. It is much appreciated. You have my respect also.

I will download the iGetter software; and add it to my two other download managers: the old reliable Download Manager, and the newer Internet Download Manager. I will see if it performs better under the contemporary circumstances.

The more extensive information you have linked concerning the nature of MAR files, as well as a few different approaches to their installation might well come in handy if there ever is, indeed, a successful (unimpeded) dial-up download.

This different approach will take a few days, at least.

But if this is successful, I will certainly return to this Support Forum and log in your success—and my own appreciation.

I will certainly return.

Thank you.

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If you can download small incremental updates then

Note that .mar updates are only useful for minor updates. If you need to skip versions then you will need a full version download, so best in your case is to never skip an update as that will require to download full versions.

See e.g. this for available updates:

Full version of the Current Firefox ESR release on the CDN server:

You can see that a full version MAR update is considerably larger than the full version (51 versus 43 MB).

This minor update is only 9 MD: firefox-52.2.0esr-52.2.1esr.partial.mar Updating from Firefox 12 to the current release would require quite a few intermediate versions, so best is to get the full version and consider a new profile to have a clean start. Best is to keep the old version and the old profile to be able to access/export your personal data, so do a custom install in a separate folder and do not start Firefox after the installation has finished.

See:

Note that the current release uses different files to store specific data. Importing a bookmarks HTML backup should work. For passwords you would need signons.sqlite and key3.db and use the feature to import the SQLite version (current versions use logins.json and key3.db).

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Dear Koshare...

Your issues are similar to mine, because I also live in a very remote rural area and use dialup. If you ever feel like taking some time, energy and research to step outside your current box, you might try installing a Linux OS and then using FF through Linux. I use Linux Mint OS (check it out) on a Windows 7 computer, 64-bit. You can either let MInt take over your entire computer (trust me, you won't miss much, if anything) or dual boot Windows and LinuxMint, like me. I keep Windows on only 50GB of my 640GB hardrive just because some websites (very very few) still require it. LinuxMint is set up to read all my files on the Windows side as well... and it does everything Windows does and much more. Dialup is very efficient using FF (and Chrome) on LinuxMint.

Check it out: linuxmint.com or other Linux OS's which might suit you better.

Linux is a fun world... and it's very secure, a pleasure to use and free to boot :-D

Thanks for reading.

LinuxMint fan

Modified by jaderiver

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Chosen Solution

In my last post, I said that I would return to this Support Forum and log in the success of co-rel’s different approach—and my own appreciation—should I find success.

I have, indeed succeeded in downloading the iGetter software. It is a superb download manager! It has a very nicely updated and improved resume function. It also is free; and does not pester the user to “upgrade” the product to a paid version. How civilized!

The Firefox Setup 52.2.1esr.exe file has been saved onto my hard drive--after a many-days-long download process that was very well managed by the iGetter software.

Thank you, cor-el, for referring me to this excellent software.

The Firefox Setup 52.2.1esr.exe file has worked well, and upgraded the previous Firefox 12.0 version to Firefox 52.2.1 very successfully.

Firefox 52.2 has also successfully upgraded itself on my dial-up internet connection unimpeded.

co-rel, my friend, you have my profound gratitude

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You're very welcome and thank you for your kind words.