hot news: Computer Tips From A Computer Guy

Senin, 06 Desember 2010

Computer Tips From A Computer Guy

Posted: 06 Dec 2010 03:43 AM PST

Firefox has become one of the most popular web browsers, even beating out Internet Explorer in total users. By default, Firefox checks for updates automatically for the main application itself, add-ons, and search engines. Learn how to take control of how Firefox updates these application elements.

Why Control Firefox Updates?

It’s happened to everyone. You are working on an important project when suddenly a pop-up appears telling you that a new update is available for the software you are using. This is not only annoying, it interrupts your workflow and makes you less efficient.

Firefox has built-in options to let you take control over what updates the application checks for and how these updates are downloaded and installed. This is especially useful if you have many add-ons installed in Firefox and want to control when updates to these add-ons are installed.

Controlling Firefox Updates

Log into Windows 7 and open up the Firefox browser. On the menu, click on Tools>Options.

On the Options window, click on the Advanced tab and then on the Update tab on the secondary tab level.

This is where you specify how Firefox checks for, downloads, and installs updates for the Firefox browser and both add-ons and search engines. Locate the section of the window labeled Automatically Check for Update To. Here you will find three options:

Firefox – This is the Firefox application itself. Checking this box allows Firefox to search for updates to the main application.

Add-ons – These refer to any add-ons you have installed in Firefox. If you have many add-ons, unchecking this option is a wise idea to avoid constant notifications and reminders that there are updates for your add-ons.

Search Engines – These refer to the search engines you use for searching from within Firefox. Typically, it is best to keep this option checked so you have access to the most recent search engine updates.

Under those options is a section of the window labeled When Updates to Firefox are Found. There are two options here:

Ask Me What I Want to Do – This is the default option. If you check this option, Firefox will interrupt you to tell you that there are application, add-on, and search engine updates available for you to download and install. Which type of updates you will be notified about depends on which of the three options you checked above.

Automatically Download and Install Updates – This option offers the least intrusive method of downloading and installing updates. However, it offers you no control over which updates are installed; you must assume that you always want the latest updates if you choose this option.

On this window, there is also a Show Update History button. Clicking it opens a new window that shows you your update installation history. Although not useful to the casual user, this list can help you diagnose application, add-on, and search engine errors in Firefox.

Taking control of how Firefox downloads and installs application, add-on, and search engine updates is simply a matter of checking or unchecking a few options. By default, Firefox is set to check for application, add-on, and search engine updates automatically but does not automatically install them.

By default, Firefox asks you what you want to do with the updates available. Changing these default options lets you take control of Firefox updates and avoid annoying interruptions to your web browsing experience.