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Firefox 32bit vs 64bit Manual Update

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  • Igcine ukuphendulwa ngu SAI157

SAI157
SAI157
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So, as we know Firefox is available in 64bit version as well. I was wondering how manual update would work now (.mar file method).

Is there a way determine progmatically or flag set by Firefox to tell if current installed version is 32bit or 64bit version, so proper .mar file be used.

If 32bit machines had only 32bit Firefox installed, and 64bit machines had 64bit Firefox, it would have been easy update.

But what if 64bit computer has 32bit Firefox installed?

Or is there a better way to update Firefox manually depending on which version they have installed.

So, as we know Firefox is available in 64bit version as well. I was wondering how manual update would work now (.mar file method). Is there a way determine progmatically or flag set by Firefox to tell if current installed version is 32bit or 64bit version, so proper .mar file be used. If 32bit machines had only 32bit Firefox installed, and 64bit machines had 64bit Firefox, it would have been easy update. But what if 64bit computer has 32bit Firefox installed? Or is there a better way to update Firefox manually depending on which version they have installed.

All Replies (4)

cor-el
cor-el
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What update URL is used if you check that with the Live Http Headers extension and open "Help > About" to initiate a check?

If you update manually then you would have to make sure to retrieve the correct file. 

Win64: os=win64
Win32: os=win

See also your older question "MAR file location changed?"

You would have to make sure to place the correct MAR file as update.mar in the folder with the updater.exe and updater.ini file.

SAI157
SAI157 Umnikazi wombuzo
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cor-el said

That is correct. But in a network where users may have 32bit or 64bit Firefox version installed, how would I determine if I need to download 32bit or 64bit mar file (deploying in an enterprise environment).

Is there a key in the registry that says which version of Firefox is installed (32 bit/64bit in addition to just version number ie 43.0 and etc) that help me choose which mar file to use.

cor-el
cor-el
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The only difference is the installation path listed in the uninstall registry key with (x86) for a 32 bit version.

  • (32 bit Windows) "C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\"
  • (64 bit Windows) "C:\Program Files (x86)\Mozilla Firefox\"
SAI157
SAI157 Umnikazi wombuzo
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cor-el said

Fantastic! So, I can just check the path of the installation and then download the mar file accordingly. I would assume there would not be two instances of Firefox installed on the machine. (32bit and 64bit?)

Update 1: Looks like above is not the case. I had 32bit and installed 64bit - now both are installed.


Update 2: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Mozilla\Mozilla Firefox has the information for 43.0.1 (x64 en-US) only. Not 43.0.1 (x86 en-US)

Update 3 So below is where FF information is stored in the registry 64bit FF on 64bit machine 

”HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Mozilla\Mozilla Firefox”

32bit FF on 64bit machine ”HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Mozilla\Mozilla Firefox”


Lastly - There is some information in Control Panel > Uninstall program for Firefox. Once its selected, at the bottom of the Windows following information is stored:

Product version: Help link: Support link: Update information: Size: Comments

Where is this information stored for Firefox?

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