MozillaZine

Software Update

From MozillaZine Knowledge Base

The Software Update feature allows you to automatically update your Mozilla application and add-ons. Software Update is available in Firefox, Thunderbird, and SeaMonkey 2 (not yet released). This article describes how to configure and run Software Update and discusses problems that can occur during or after an update.

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Checking for updates

By default, Software Update periodically checks for program and add-on updates and asks you what to do. You can modify these settings in your Options/Preferences via the "Advanced -> Update" preference panel (Firefox and Thunderbird) or the "Software Installation" panel (SeaMonkey 2). If you want to force an update check, choose "Help -> Check for Updates...".

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The update process

When an update is found, follow the on-screen instructions to download and install the update. The application will need to restart to apply the update, but you can choose to restart later by pressing the Later button.

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Software Update not working properly

Some Software Update problems can be fixed by downloading the latest version of Firefox or Thunderbird from www.mozilla.com and installing the new version "on top of" your current version [1] [2].

If the problem continues, you can manually reset the Software Update feature by closing Thunderbird or Firefox and deleting the active-update.xml and updates.xml files and the updates folder from these locations (using Firefox as an example):

  • The installation directory (e.g. C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox)
  • (Firefox 2.0.0.2 and later) The location where Firefox stores temporary application data for your operating system (e.g., in Windows 2000/XP, C:\Documents and Settings\<username>\Local Settings\Application Data\Mozilla\Firefox\Mozilla Firefox and, in Windows Vista, C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Local\Mozilla\Firefox\Mozilla Firefox). Important: In Windows 2000 and later this location is hidden. Read this if you need help viewing or searching Windows hidden files and folders.

This will solve a number of Software Update problems, including:

  • Updates reported when running newest version
  • "Check for Updates" is not available in the Help menu ("Downloading..." is shown) after an "AUS: Connection timed out" message [3]
  • In Firefox 1.5 and Thunderbird 1.5, the update download may get stuck at paused [4]
  • "Software Update Failed. One or more files could not be updated" message when starting Firefox or Thunderbird. [5] [6]. This can occur on systems with limited user accounts (bug 374900, bug 383518).
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Software that can cause updates to fail

Other software that is active on your system, including those listed below, can disrupt the update process and cause the message, Software Update Failed. One or more files could not be updated. See this forum topic for other causes and solutions.

  • Logitech QuickCam: Disconnect your Web camera, right-click the QuickCam icon in the system tray and select 'Exit" (or open the Windows Task Manager and end the "QuickCam" process, e.g., "QuickCam10.exe") then try the update again. [7] [8] [9]
  • Spybot S&D TeaTimer: Disable TeaTimer as follows, then try updating again (more information here).
  1. Go into Spybot - Mode - Advanced Mode - Tools - Resident.
  2. Uncheck the following: Resident "TeaTimer" (Protection of over-all system settings) Active.

Other possible causes include:

  • Virus scanners, including Comodo Antivirus [10] NOD32 AntiVirus [11] and AVG AntiVirus [12]
  • Spyware scanners, including SpySweeper [13] and Spyware Blaster [14]
  • Aqua Dock software [15]
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AUS Update XML File Malformed 200

The message, AUS: Update XML File Malformed (200) can sometimes appear during a check for updates. This is a "catch-all" update error which can occur for different reasons such as being in "offline" mode, network problems, or not being signed on with your Master password (if you've set one up) before the update check [16]. Software Update requires a secure connection so, if you are also receiving errors on webmail login pages, bank sites or other secure (https) sites (e.g. https://addons.mozilla.org) see Error loading secure sites.

If Software Update errors persist, you can download the latest version of Firefox or Thunderbird from www.mozilla.com and install it "on top of" your current version, instead of using the Software Update feature.

Related bug reports include:

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Problems after an update

The following issues can occur after a Firefox or Thunderbird update (see the linked articles for details).

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Configuring Software Update

Software Update options are under "Tools -> Options -> Advanced -> Update" (Firefox and Thunderbird) or "Edit -> Preferences -> Software Installation" (SeaMonkey 2).

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Update channels - Advanced

Updates can be retrieved from a number of different update channels. This determines what kind of updates you will receive. The current update channels are:

  • release: The release channel will provide stable release versions, including security updates (e.g. Firefox 2.0, 2.0.0.4 etc. and their release candidates).
  • beta: The beta channel lets you receive every beta, release candidate, and release version of the product (e.g. Firefox 1.5 beta 1, Firefox 1.5 RC 1, Firefox 1.5, etc.).
  • nightly: The nightly channel allows you to update to every nightly test build that is produced. There are nightly channels for the trunk (Firefox & Thunderbird 3 builds), and the Mozilla 1.8 branch (Firefox & Thunderbird 2.x builds).
  • default: This channel is used when there is no channel information, for example if you build Firefox or Thunderbird yourself. There are no updates on this channel.

Please be aware that the nightly, and to a lesser extent beta, channel may install builds that have serious bugs. The application may be non-functional and/or result in your profile being corrupted. See Profile_backup for information to safeguard your data, and see the daily builds threads at the Mozillazine forums for the current status of the builds: Firefox, Thunderbird .

The installer/zip/tar/dmg that you last used to install Firefox or Thunderbird determines what update channel you start on. It does this by installing the file "channel-prefs.js" into <installation directory>\defaults\pref. To check which channel you are on, look in about:config at app.update.channel. Note that you cannot change channel using about:config. Instead, you can use the Update Channel Changer extension (go to Help -> Check for Updates -> Change Update Channel). Alternatively, you can edit the channel-prefs.js file with a text editor.

If you tried to change the channel by editing channel-prefs.js and there is no app.update.channel pref in about:config, or it has not changed, then the "channel-prefs.js" file needs fixing. Either install the Update Channel Changer, or open <installation directory>\defaults\pref\channel-prefs.js in a text editor like Notepad, making sure that it has two lines like this (for the nightly channel): 

//@line 2 "/cygdrive/c/builds/tinderbox/Fx-Mozilla1.8/WINNT_5.2_Depend/mozilla/browser/app/profile/channel-prefs.js"
pref("app.update.channel", "nightly");

Only the // on the first line is important because it is a comment. If the value in about:config has still not changed, then right click and reset the preference - this removes the profile value that is masking the application one.

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Update URLs - Advanced

Early in the testing cycle of the new software update, testers were required to enter a special update url into the preference app.update.url. This is no longer the case and in fact now that preference is almost ignored. Only the setting from the file firefox.js (or all-thunderbird.js) in the installation directory is used. This is so the application always uses the same updates regardless of what user profile you are running with.

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External links

Retrieved from "http://kb.mozillazine.org/Software_Update"