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Disable Firefox Automatic Updates on Virtual Machine

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  • Last reply by ideato

mgates2
mgates2
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I am using Firefox version 18.0.2 on a virtual Windows 7 machine to run automated tests against. In order to keep a stable testing environment, I do not want Firefox auto-updating (we plan to do updates manually). I have tried turning this setting off under options > advanced > update by selection the "never check for updates" option, but Firefox still updated to 35.x. I reinstalled 18.0.2 and tried checking the about config.

app.update.auto is false. app.update.enabled is false. app.update.service.enabled is false. app.update.silent is false.

I also tried replacing the values for app.update.url and app.update.url.details with empty strings after finding that as a suggestion online. Still, Firefox is auto-updating to 35.x.

My assumption is that the changes I'm making are only effective for the user profile they are made on. Is this right? I'm guessing the auto-updates are happening under another user profile. So is there a way to disable auto-updates for all users?

Any help is greatly appreciated.

I am using Firefox version 18.0.2 on a virtual Windows 7 machine to run automated tests against. In order to keep a stable testing environment, I do not want Firefox auto-updating (we plan to do updates manually). I have tried turning this setting off under options > advanced > update by selection the "never check for updates" option, but Firefox still updated to 35.x. I reinstalled 18.0.2 and tried checking the about config. app.update.auto is false. app.update.enabled is false. app.update.service.enabled is false. app.update.silent is false. I also tried replacing the values for app.update.url and app.update.url.details with empty strings after finding that as a suggestion online. Still, Firefox is auto-updating to 35.x. My assumption is that the changes I'm making are only effective for the user profile they are made on. Is this right? I'm guessing the auto-updates are happening under another user profile. So is there a way to disable auto-updates for all users? Any help is greatly appreciated.

All Replies (1)

ideato
ideato
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Hello mgates2, for firefox before Australis(29.0) it is not always work the preferences you are set to false ! Try to use the next code in a user.js file in your profile (you have to create the user.js file):

// turn off application updates: user_pref("app.update.enabled", false);

http://kb.mozillazine.org/User.js_file

(you already have it that way in about:config but the important is the user.js file, firefox first read from user.js file)

And you guess correct, needs a user.js file in every Profile with that pref to lock out any accidental updates.Also you have to delete the maintenanceservice.exe file and the maintenanceservice_installer.exe file from the Firefox program files folder, see more and why here.


An alternative way is to download and work with Firefox version 18.0.2 portable, no worries for updates,.... profiles.....etc :-)


thank you