June 17 is Firefox 3.0 Download Madness Day

[Wiz Feinberg]

On June 17, 2008, Mozilla Foundation is going to release the finished version of Firefox 3.0 and is hoping to set a Guinness World Record for the number of "browser" downloads on that day. If you already use Firefox this will be a fairly simple upgrade for you. Just make sure your options are set to automatically download updates to the browser itself, or manually check for an update sometime tomorrow. If you are new to Firefox we are here to help assimilate you (We are the Borg. You will be assimilated!).

You can download the latest version of Firefox here.

[Wiz Feinberg]

Good luck connecting to the Firefox 3 Headquarters and download sites this afternoon. The shit has hit the fan and millions of people are trying to download Firefox 3.0 at the same time. The server can't take the action!

The server at www.spreadfirefox.com is taking too long to respond.

[Jack Stoner]

My FF, when I click on check for updates, comes back as no new updates found.

[Jon Light (deceased)]

My "check for updates" is timing out.

[Wiz Feinberg]

My "check for updates" is timing out.

As is mine. The Firefox websites are all overloaded at this time. Their call for users to download at the same time is such a success that nobody is able to get onto the download site anymore, until the rush subsides.

When I go to the usual Firefox Downloads page it still shows version 2.0.0.14 as the available version. There is a link on the right sidebar to help set a World Record for downloading Firefox 3, but that page will not load at this time.

LMFAO

[Wiz Feinberg]

When I try to load this page: http://www.spreadfirefox.com/worldrecord I get a blank page. The source code is devoid of any content. The httpd server is down and out!

[Wiz Feinberg]

I just got this reminder email from Mozilla...

Today you'll make history with Firefox

Are you ready to make history? Are you ready to set a World Record? Today is Download Day. To become part of the official Guinness World Record you must download Firefox 3 here http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox?p=downloadday by 17:00 UTC on June 18, 2008, or roughly 24 hours from now.

As has been the case, that link leads to a dead page, for now. I will keep trying until I get in. I want to be a part of History! Too bad the parrot is bleeding demised!

Http/1.1 Service Unavailable

Update at 14:39 EST: When the download page does load it still leads to version 2.0.0.14, as does the other languages/platforms page. They forgot to update the links to download version 3!

[Jon Light (deceased)]

Late parrot notwithstanding, this reeks of fratboy/jock /chestslammin' mentality (on Mozilla/FF's part) and it knocks them down a bunch of notches in my estimation. Screw 'em. If they are either dumb enough not to know the risks of their 'challenge' or if they are too testosterone addled to care, in my mind they are now too dim to trust. I await the next browser that is free and clear of this stupidity (or a changing of the guard).
On the other hand if I could be convinced that there is a sort of subversive yippie mentality behind it all, I might change my thinking. It's not like the inability to download 3.0 is ruining my day. (My cat barfing on my gig bag took care of that already.)

[Wiz Feinberg]

On the other hand if I could be convinced that there is a sort of subversive yippie mentality behind it all, I might change my thinking.

That is exactly what this is all about. The developers are not what you would call mainstream suit types.

[Jon Light (deceased)]

Alright then! Old time hockey! Toe Blake, eh?

[Wiz Feinberg]

Part of this download madness is Mozilla trying to stick it to Microsoft. MS has browser dominance because IE is bundled with every version of Windows since 95. When Firefox began getting the attention of a noticeable percentage of netizens - Microsoft downplayed its significance. They may not have the same opinion tomorrow afternoon.

BTW: Firefox was originally named Phoenix, because it was a project that arose from the ashes.

[Wiz Feinberg]

The links have just been updated. You can now download Firefox 3.0 from this location: http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/?p=downloadday

You can download Firefox in other languages and OS platforms here.

[Wiz Feinberg]

After happily upgrading to Firefox 3.0 I discovered that not one of my add-ons or plug-ins was compatible with this version, at this time. Some of these add-ons are must-haves for what I do, so I am rolling back to version 2.0.0.14 until my main add-ons are updated. Other than that I like the new browser.

[Wiz Feinberg]

If, like me, you decide you want to rollback to a previous version of Firefox, or any other program fro that matter, you must follow these good practices.

When the new version doesn't work out, using an Administrator level account, go to Settings > Control Panel > Add/Remove Programs. Find the program in the list and use the Remove button to uninstall it, leaving your profiles and settings intact.

Reboot, then login to your Admin account and install the version you prefer to use. Make sure to allow "anybody who uses this computer" to access the program, if that option is present during setup.

You may have to reeducate your firewall, if it was set to challenge program md5 changes.

I mention this because I first tried to just install the older version over the new one and it led to instant crashes in FF 2.0.0.14. Once I ran a proper uninstall, reboot, reinstall, everything was fine again.

[Jon Light (deceased)]

Yeah--I had a big headache last year when I tried to roll back a FF update---done incorrectly, no doubt.

My best idea today----I think I'll wait on 3.0. I like some of my add-ons and I don't feel like losing them just right now. I'll look forward to your reports on their progress on extension upgrades.
As always, thanks for taking the bullet for us.

[Bill Ford]

Just downloaded latest version, less than 5 min to dload, and install. Things look a little different, lost my weather setup,looks OK tho.

BF

[Steinar Gregertsen]

Just installed it, and to my big surprise the websites that used to be slow thanks to AVG 8 now run super smooth. Checked the FF add-ons, and the AVG Safe Search and Security Toolbar show up as disabled.

[Wiz Feinberg]

Just installed it, and to my big surprise the websites that used to be slow thanks to AVG 8 now run super smooth. Checked the FF add-ons, and the AVG Safe Search and Security Toolbar show up as disabled.

That is one good improvement that makes it worth upgrading. AVG's security add ons work much better when they are disabled by the browser itself!

[Bent Romnes]

Wiz,
I had a couple curious things happen re 3.0 version
Although I had Firefox set for auto. update, it never notified me. When I clicked on "Check for updates" I was told no updates were available.
I then dl'd 3.0 by clicking on your link.

When I went to install, Spyware Doctor(which is no longer current on my PC)notified me that it had detected adware and gave me the option to block, which I did.

Also, Firefox told me that I had to close Firefox browser, which I did, but still Setup persisted that I had it open. I re-booted, got the same warning from SPW Doc, blocked again and was told to close an imaginary open browser again. This happened once after re-boot. On the second attempt, Firefox installed without problems.

Is there anything here I should be concerned about?

[Wiz Feinberg]

Bent;
Sometimes, for mysterious reasons, a miniature browser instance may be open and not visible on the screen. This happens occasionally during certain types of downloads. You can find out if any program is running invisibly by opening Task Manager and clicking on the the Applications tab, where a list of foreground apps will appear. If you don't see the mystery item there go to the Processes tab and look for it there. If you have closed all visible instances of Firefox, but one or more appear as Processes, right click on them in the list and select End Process.

I have no idea why SWD flagged FF3 as Adware; it is probably an infamous False Positive. Update your SWD definitions and scan the downloaded Setup file for FF3.

[Jack Stoner]

I downloaded it this morning, download didn't take very long and the upgrade went without problems except for my add in skin I had. I haven't checked the games (cards) to see if it will work with FF3, it didn't flag it as incompatible.

[Wiz Feinberg]

The Guinness World Record was set on June 17, 2008, for 8,002,530 Firefox 3.0 downloads in one 24 hour period. I want to thank all SGF members who helped set this record. You are now an official part of history.

Huzzah!
You can obtain a certificate of appreciation from Mozilla, for your personal collection, here.

PS: It doesn't matter if you uninstalled FF3 afterward, due to add-ons not being compatible. They counted the number of actual complete file downloads, not installations.