You may need to exercise care if using unsupported versions of firefox i.e. other than Firefox 3.6 that means anything earlier than the current release Firefox 7.0.1 they could involve security risks to your system or data.

Any such risk is probably mitigated if used within the local system.

Use a custom install, or choose a Beta or Aurora channel install so that the additional version is installed in its own path. You will then need to set up a new profile, so that each version is able to use a unique profile. Then start the additional version using the no-remote command line argument, or as the shortcuts argument.

I am not entirely sure what the safety feature is that is causing you a problem is it

• https://developer.mozilla.org/en/using_remote_xul
  • and see https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/remote-xul-manager/

See

• http://kb.mozillazine.org/Using_multiple_profiles_-_Firefox
• http://kb.mozillazine.org/Opening_a_new_instance_of_your_Mozilla_application_with_another_profile

Hope that helps

I'm not looking for different profiles in the -=same=- version of Firefox, but looking to run -=separate=- versions.

The need is to allow the user to select and -=load=- an image from their hard drive. This image is then 'measured' by a scale than can be dragged over the apropriate points.

A second page allows overlaying of the user's first image to another - also on the user's computer.

Most of this is done OFF LINE - or would be if the later browsers didn't 'fix' a non-problem. When the Windows 'file selector is invoked, the return is truncated and the file 'not found'. In 2.0.0.20, the proper call is returned.

Thanks!

>> I'm not looking for different profiles in the -=same=- version of Firefox, >> but looking to run -=separate=- versions.

Doesn't make any difference the answer is still the same, did you read the MozillaZine links that John99 provided, you can ONLY have one default browser. Your separate versions of Firefox and profiles that are not the default firefox and profile must all use -no-remote or you will be in trouble.

Using multiple profiles - Firefox - MozillaZine Knowledge Base

http://kb.mozillazine.org/Using_multiple_profiles_-_Firefox

Version 2 was the same way..

More Information & Pictures -- Running on Windows 7

• User:Dmcritchie - MozillaZine Knowledge Base
  http://kb.mozillazine.org/User:Dmcritchie
  • ff_colorized_profiles.png (PNG Image, 1280x768 pixels) - Scaled (79%)
    (Shows several versions of Firefox running at the same time)
    http://dmcritchie.mvps.org/icons/ff_colorized_profiles.png
  • Color Toolbar(s) to identify profile (DM*) - Themes and Skins for Browser
    http://userstyles.org/styles/9514/color-toolbar-s-to-identify-profile-dm
• Windows 7 Home Premium
  http://dmcritchie.mvps.org/windows-7/win7.htm
  • win7_quicklaunch_large.png (PNG Image, 1366x768 pixels) - Scaled (79%)
    (Shows my Quick Launch & folders Running on Win7 -- yes you can still have Quick Launch on Win7)
    http://dmcritchie.mvps.org/icons/win7_quicklaunch_large.png

Firefox does not limit the number of versions that you run. Any version being run needs a profile, and normally locks the profile. Once you have multiple profiles you may run multiple instances of firefox, and you may run two or more different versions concurrently, or two or more instances of the same version.

You use no-remote to start the second process independently of the first. I am by the way able to open files on my hdd with recent versions of Firefox, I am not sure I understand that aspect of your problem. Attached image of two different versions of Firefox running.

I managed to get to two of the 'links' [not clickable and not stripe/paste] and the 'explanation' was far over my head about "XUL", sorry!

As for "no-remote" FF 'internal' help has "No Matching Items Found". Going to: http://support.mozilla.com/en-US/search?q_tags=desktop&product=desktop&q=no-remote returns 130 possibles, dealing with crashing, slow loading, not accessing a webpage, tab problems ... I suppose I could spend a day loading each one ...?

I'd be happy to stay with 2, but newer webpages are nor being parsed properly, so I need to move on for what little I need from the web.

Probably the best solution is to move the 'hobby' stuff to another computer and use a 'local area connection'. I'll see [when I can get to town and DL the latest/greatest] if the 'picker' works again. I tried 4 'versions' of 3 and the early of 4 and gave up.

BTW - separate item but as you'll read this ... can Flash be disabled in the new versions?

Thanks!

I am not sure I follow all of what you say.

no-remote
This is a switch, or argument that is added to an instruction or command
the use of this is explained in the mozillazine articles such as

• http://kb.mozillazine.org/Opening_a_new_instance_of_your_Mozilla_application_with_another_profile

Where it says:

In Firefox 2 and above, you can use the -no-remote command line option to start a new Firefox process that is invisible to the first process. [1] By using -no-remote along with the -P option to select a different profile, you can open multiple instances of Firefox at the same time, using separate profiles. [2] Selecting a different profile from the one used in the first process is necessary because profiles are "locked" when in use.
Important: Never use -no-remote to start the "default" profile 

Using two versions or instances of firefox is considered an advanced topic. You are doing something that most users will not attempt, so some explanations may not be straightforward. The subject is probably not considered on topic for the kb or this forum, but only marginally so; (in my opinion) it is not abusing Firefox, merely not using it in the way the majority standard users do.

@techrat(owner), I added more information and pictures to my first reply to keep it together.

The link to http://kb.mozillazine.org/Command_line_arguments from "Opening a new instance of your Mozilla application with another profile" may not be real obvious, but it is another reference you are perhaps missing. You won't find information about -no-remote in the user support articles because they are only addressed to 80% of the users, and basically that is why the references here are to MozillaZine, because they are a lot more in depth.

The better answer to your unrelated Flash question would be depend on why do you want to disable Flash. You can disable the plug-in. You can stop Flash from automatically starting (for the most part) when a web page is opened through about:config with...

media.autoplay.enabled   user set  boolean   false

For more information on Flash see

http://kb.mozillazine.org/Flash#Enabling_and_disabling_Flash

@John99 when working with multiple versions and/or profiles I find including the "Command Line" column useful (needed) to show information for how Firefox was started in the Windows Task Manager ("Ctrl+Shift+Esc" in Win7) or in Process Explorer (www.sysinternals.com). Thanks for the link to sysinternals.com in your picture -- it got my attention because of the Processes Tree view of subtasks like plugin-container.exe

Process explorer gives more information than Task Manager, even its icon on the task bar is more informative, but Task Manager, does quickly give simple info.

Thanks for the two links on command line and flash. I disable flash as this area is still in the late 90's - eg: "DSL, What's that?" "Cable TV and Internet ... ???" <G>

I'll get in and DL a later version and set that at default, then try having 2.0.0.20 as separate with -no-remote.

BTW, the 'solved it' buttons also don't 'click' in 2!

It is a long time since I used 2, have you got javascript enabled ?
And you will need to be logged in

Apparently Firefox 2 supports javascript http://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/2.0/releasenotes/

Yes to both, especially javascript, as the pages for the 'hobby' are very dependent upon it.

It's one of the 'quirks' of 2 being seen recently along with links not being 'clickable'. Another is that I couldn't enlarge your screen shot.

No problem, I'll work on getting the updated FF next month. Too big to manage to DL without getting kicked off [already tried twice].

Thanks!