Trying to install Firefox 3.0 problem

[Dougal]

Hi guys - this should be easy for you gurus;
I downloaded firefox-3.0.8.tar.bz2 from Mozilla and go into console and type run the command 'tar xjf firefox-3.0.8.tar.bz2 once I cd to the Desktop where the file was downloaded to. However, when I go to run firefox 3.0 I am still running version 2.0. I have deleted the Firefox directory before I start the install to see if this was the problem but, that did not do the job.
I am at your mercy...

[bigtomrodney]

What version of Ubuntu are you using? Intrepid Ibex (8.10) pushed out Firefox 3.0.8 as part of the regular system updates.

If you are installing from a tarball the way you are, you need to establish whether it is the binaries (i.e. prebuilt and ready to use) or the source (you'd have to build that yourself). Either way it's generally recommended that if installing a newer version you should remove the old one.

But even moreso than that, it's much better to stick to your package manager. You can tell Ubuntu to consider upgrading to newer distros in which case it will download the latest version of everything and have you fully up to date.

[jmadero]

definitely install from the repository and not from the tarball, rarely will you need to install from a tarball or source for anything unless maybe you're trying an alpha of something (like I am running the newest release of thunderbird).

[JK3mp]

Yeah its in the updates for Intrepid and Hardy i believe. Updating from there stops it from that. I've had that, but i just had a second firefox option so i could use ff2 or ff3 :-S

[whiteman]

The version I installed Ubuntu 8.10, came with Firefox. I prefer Opera though. Best browser around. Automatically does torrents, and t has that great "fill in the blanks preferences" thingy. Saves time from having to retype your name, address etc etc on applications, etc. But Firefox is no problem. I would think that Add/remove would look for it.

[jmadero]

I've never gotten flash to work successfully in Ubuntu, ever.....followed so many instructions and just won't do it I still prefer firefox but opera does have some benefits, without flash though, it's a no go for me

[Dougal]

Thanks for the suggestions guys. Just been experimenting with Linux as I am still a newbie and sussed the libraries were not installed. Sorry I cheated a little by saying it was Ubuntu but, couldn't get a response from the Freespire community. Freespire is the only version I can get to run on this old laptop at the moment but, I have asked for suggestions and advice for my new one as posted, which should arrive within a week or so and really looking forward to getting Ubuntu on it.
Great response - thanks again.

[JK3mp]

Thanks for the suggestions guys. Just been experimenting with Linux as I am still a newbie and sussed the libraries were not installed. Sorry I cheated a little by saying it was Ubuntu but, couldn't get a response from the Freespire community. Freespire is the only version I can get to run on this old laptop at the moment but, I have asked for suggestions and advice for my new one as posted, which should arrive within a week or so and really looking forward to getting Ubuntu on it.
Great response - thanks again.

Np, Hopefully you have a good experience with ubuntu. Its a solid distro for people newer to linux and i think you'll like it.

[Dougal]

Thanks for the encouragement JK3mp. I have been down the Ubuntu road before at work and it was good - sort of, till the system just stopped booting into Ubuntu. I was running 8.10 apparently quite well and had no warning of anything going wrong. Then next day I had serious startup problems. I was worried because it was my work PC which I had dual booted with Windows Vista and had to do some work. So, got hold of Supergrub which allowed me to rectify the bootloader and boot into Windows.
I have not revisited Linux at work since.
So, I will be focusing all my attention on Linux at home...

[JK3mp]

Best of luck!