Hi   !

If in the 3-bar menu => Options => Advanced => Update tab you have unchecked all five options, then maybe you could do this :

Type in the address bar   about:config   (press Enter) (promise to be carefull, if asked) Type in the search box :   app.update Then look for the preferences :

app.update.auto

app.update.enabled

app.update.silent

and set their values to   false

thanks for the suggestion . . but each of these showed up as "false" and I must assume that on previous occasions they would have indicated the same, yet Firefox has continuously ignored the settings somehow . .

And you are sure that 'Use a background service to install updates' under the 'Update tab' in 'Advanced' is also unchecked   ?

(Just want to make sure)

See :   https://support.mozilla.org/nl/kb/wat-mozilla-maintenance-service

A bit late, but it just occurred to me that this is not just about Firefox updating, but way more : You say :

"inserted "welcome" tabs etc and I need to then re-insert my homepage, reconfigure my bookmarks/toolbar add on program settings, etc. "

It probably won't be possible to provide a screenshot of these 'welcome tabs'   -   could you describe what they look like  ?

The background service box was unchecked (I do them all.) As for the tabs . . I can immediately tell when Firefox has done its little game when I fire up my computer and hit the Mozilla icon to go on the Internet . . instead of my Hotmail page (set as default for opening) I get a Firefox welcome page of some sort, plus it adds two tabs at the front of the toolbar, pushing my first choice two tabs to the right. I delete them, so I can't give a screenshot. I think one tab is for "favorite places" or such like, and the other has to do with Firefox in some manner, but I don't recall the exact details. (Will do screenshots next time it happens, unless the problem magically solves itself -- unlikely given its predictable behavior thus far.

Separate issue :

You need to update your Flash (latest version : 26.0.0.137). I just noticed that your system detail show Shockwave Flash 25.0.r0, which can cause problems

You can download a Flash installer here:

https://get.adobe.com/flashplayer/

Make sure to uncheck any unwanted extras that Adobe might be offering to include in the download

Would you please take a look at this article :

https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/firefox-says-its-just-updated-every-time-it-starts

Does anything here look / sound familiar  ?

No, that doesn't apply in my case . . but I did just now update Adobe Flash so we'll see if that has any effect, in due time . .

Thanks

Maybe that is caused by this hidden system extension - Application Update Service Helper 2.0 (aushelper@mozilla.org)

I think that will override any user set settings made in Firefox. See this for information about that system add-on. https://www.ghacks.net/2016/11/04/application-update-service-helper/

Here's another blog about "system add-ons": https://www.ghacks.net/2016/03/29/mozilla-system-add-ons-controls/

When you run the current Firefox release (54.0.1) then you shouldn't see updates.

It is more likely that you have other problems if you lose settings and other profile data.

There is software like Advanced SystemCare with its Surfing Protection feature that can protect files in the Firefox profile folder against changes. If you have such software then check the settings or uninstall this software.