Fig 1.0 Double click on the firefox set up file (Instalation Wizard) to continue
| INSTALL FIREFOX |
Firefox is a web browser that is currently enjoying success as being the second most popular web browser.
The order of usuage is currently Internet Explorer 7, Internet Explorer 6 (with Internet Explorer 8
coming out around December 2008/January 2009), Firefox, Opera, Flock and Safari. The last three can
change position according to monthly popularity (usuage) and downloads for example whereas Internet
Explorer and Firefox tend to stay number one and two respectively. Saying this though. Firefox is
actually number one if you consider Internet Explorer 7 and Internet Explorer 6 to be individual/independant
web browsers. Internet Explorer (7 and 6 combined) is only number one because it is bundled with Windows,
and therefore has an automatic audience, but people are beginning to realise that Firefox is more flexible
in the way it operates. The ability to download and manage ADD-ONs (Extension programs/tools) is one
example and more precisely the ability to pick out ADD-ONs that cater for you/your needs. For example.
There are many extensions that cater for the website designer - Extensions that allow them to check
their coding, do word counts and so on. There are extensions for different Audio/Video formats and you
can also switch off a webpage's element (i.e. block flash movies).
In this example I have assumed you have already downloaded the Firefox Setup
file (Installation Wizard) by clicking on its website's FREE DOWNLOAD button, either by visiting
its website directly http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/ or via a search (i.e. search Google for
firefox). In this example I have downloaded the Firefox Setup file, and some firefox extensions
(ADD-ONs), onto my Websites (E:) flash drive using my local internet cafe. If you need to see an
example of saving (downloading and saving) a file from a website see the beginning of the previous,
QuickTime, section.
To install Firefox begin by double clicking on the Firefox Setup 3.0.3.exe file, which contains both
Firefox and the files needed to install it - the Installation Wizard. Doing so will bring up a standard
security requester (Fig 1.1 below) that asks you if it is okay to RUN (execute/launch) the set up file.
If you trust the Mozilla Corporation click on the RUN button to continue, otherwise cancel everything
by clicking on the CANCEL button.
The installation wizard in this example is a whole download, which means the software (firefox) and
the installation wizard (set up files/instructions) have been built side-by-side, as one file, for
downloading. This is because Mozilla can afford the bandwidth (download units) needed for each
download. Many companies these days have decided it is best to download the installation wizard
seperately so that it can carry out eligibility checks first - Is your computer running Windows? Do
you have enough Memory and so on. Therefore avoiding a whole download (bandwidth costs to them and you).
Normally you RUN an installation wizard because you want to download the software straight away.
However. There may be times when you want the software downloaded later and only want the installation
wizard saved now (i.e. you might only want to carry out the eligibility checks, perhaps on your computer
and a friend's computer - Remember though. Eligibility checks may need an internet connection and
therefore may not be possible otherwise. Hence why it is best to RUN the installation wizard at the
time and not later. In other words, the SAVEd installation wizard file might not work as mentioned if
it needs a constant internet connection to the software's server throughout the installation process
for example). With Mozilla allowing you to download firefox as one file (a whole download) you have the
benefit of installing it on multiple computers, with the same downloaded file (i.e. you could download
it from an internet cafe onto your flash drive and then install it on your friend's computer later).
After clicking on the RUN button (Fig 1.1 above) the set up file extracts the installation instructions/components
for the installation wizard and firefox. So the set up file in this case is really a compressed (shrunk)
file that needs to be decompressed (expanded), like a .zip file. Once it has decompressed the above UAC
(User Account Control) security requester appears - Click on its CONTINUE button to continue.
User Account Control (UAC) is a feature of Windows Vista that helps to prevent unauthorized changes to
the computer, such as deleting a system file or installing software. When attempting to install Firefox
the UAC security requester above appears and automatically blocks you off, because it wants to know if
you are the one attempting to install Firefox and not a piece of malicious software for example. In the
above case simply click on the CONTINUE button to continue, or on the CANCEL button to cancel the
installation process.
The next window to appear (below) is the first Installation Wizard window - its Welcome message. Simply
click on its NEXT button to begin the actual installation of Firefox.
At any time throughout the installation process you can click on the Cancel button, if a Cancel button
is available of course. However. One thing to bare in mind is that even if you click on a Cancel button
the installation process might have gone too far for it to be stopped, cancelled and/or reversed. So
think very carefully before deciding to install any thing onto your computer.
After the Welcome message comes the above License Agreement where you must agree to the Terms &
Conditions before continuing.
Read the License Agreement carefully. Although these tend to contain useless information, they usually
explain Copyright issues or Usage issues that clarify who can use the software and who cannot. So if,
for example, you are told that a certain piece of software is Free and/or Free To Use you may want to
clarify this by reading the agreement. Some installation wizards do not allow you to continue, by
fading out the CONTINUE button, until you have read (scrolled down) the license agreement. With
Firefox, when you have read the agreement, if you agree with it simply put a tick next to I ACCEPT THE
TERMS IN THE LICENCE AGREEMENT before clicking on the NEXT button to continue.
The next window gives you a choice on whether or not you want to customize the installation with regards
to picking which Folder firefox uses for its installation files and future updated files and which icons
to create (Desktop icon, Quick Launch Toolbar icon and/or Start Menu folder). If you want the installation
wizard to decide these things for you simply leave the STANDARD option set and then click on the NEXT
button to continue (continue to Fig 1.9 below). In this example I will go through the two custom stages.
Another option to consider is whether or not to have Firefox as your default web browser. Leave the
USE FIREFOX AS MY DEFAULT WEB BROWSER option ticked if you want firefox to become your normally-used
(default) web browser, otherwise untick that option to leave your current web browser (i.e. Internet
Explorer) as your normally-used (default) web browser.
In Fig 1.7 above, you do not have to BROWSE for a different folder for the installation files just because
you chose to use the CUSTOM option. The above BROWSE option is simply giving you the choice. If there are
any custom options you do not want to change simply leave them as they are, on their default settings.
By default the options in Fig 1.8 below are all set (switched on/ticked). They are to do with where you
want the firefox shortcut links putting, if anywhere. You can have a shortcut link put on the Desktop,
in the Start Menu (ALL PROGRAMS) and/or on the Quick Launch Toolbar. If you do not want a shortcut link
creating in one of those places simply untick its option before clicking on the NEXT button to continue.
In Fig 1.9 above you are given a summary of the destination folder for the installation files, on the INSTALL window. That window appears regardless of the installation settings you chose in Fig 1.6 above. Meaning. If you chose a STANDARD installation instead of a CUSTOM installation either way you will end up on the INSTALL window. Click on its INSTALL button to continue. When firefox has finished installing click on the FINISH button (above) to complete the installation process. If you leave the LAUNCH FIREFOX NOW option ticked Firefox will be launched after clicking on the FINISH button.
| THE IMPORT WIZARD |
When firefox is launched for the first time you are greeted by the Import Wizard. This is a wizard launched
by Firefox, and not from the now completed Installation Wizard (set up file) which closed when you clicked
on the FINISH button in Fig 1.11 above. Therefore. Any options you change/apply or do not change/apply
using this import wizard cannot affect the firefox installation, because firefox is now installed.
The first option of the import wizard is the option to import settings from Internet Explorer, or Opera
if you have it installed. In this example I chose to import my Internet Explorer settings - Bookmarks
(Favorites), History, Passwords and so on. If I did not want to import any settings at all I would of
clicked on the DON'T IMPORT ANYTHING radio (circle) button before clicking on the NEXT button to continue.
The next option asks you what Home Page you want to use with firefox. The home page is the first webpage that is downloaded and displayed when you open firefox. You can choose between the Firefox home page and the home page of the web browser (i.e. Internet Explorer) you are importing from. In this I am importing from Internet Explorer and will therefore be importing www.google.com as my home page, because that is the home page (webpage) I use (have set up) in internet explorer. When you have selected your home page option click on the NEXT button to begin the Import process.
When the import process has completed click on the FINISH button to close the Import Wizard window. Now firefox is ready for use without any more set up. Or is it? If you want to use WMV (Windows Video) files, for example, with firefox you will need to download and install the Windows Media Player firefox ADD-ON (Extension) first. ADD-ONs are explained and exampled in the next section along with other general usuage examples.
Above is an example of firefox displaying this website's index page, with the HTML Code Validator ADD-ON installed. The ADD-ON displays a tick mark in the bottom-right corner of the browser when a website's code has passed the W3Schools (Internet) HTML Standard, which is a useful add-on that can be found on the firefox website.
Microsoft product screen shot(s) reprinted with permission from Microsoft Corporation. As stated here by the Microsoft Corporation.
All HTM files in the yoingco.com folder and its sub-folders are (c) John White, August 3rd 2005 - 2008. All Rights Reserved. FREE Vista Helpline: Contact John