Unable to install themes or extensions: Difference between revisions

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==Unexpected installation error -203==
==Unexpected installation error -203==
Installing themes or extensions may fail with the message, ''Unexpected installation error -203''.  Follow the  [[#Corrupt_extension_files|above directions]] to remove corrupt extension files.  [http://forums.mozillazine.org/viewtopic.php?t=627172]
Installing themes or extensions may fail with the message, ''Unexpected installation error -203''.  Follow the  [[#Corrupt_extension_files|above directions]] to remove corrupt extension files.  [http://forums.mozillazine.org/viewtopic.php?t=627172]
If you use ZoneAlarm or CA Firewall,  disable it and temporarily enable Windows Firewall to allow the installation [http://forums.mozillazine.org/viewtopic.php?p=3204129#3204129]If the problem persists,  your profile may be corrupt ([https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=361358 bug 361358]).  Use the [[Profile Manager]] to create a new profile  [http://forums.mozillazine.org/viewtopic.php?t=627824] (or manually delete or rename the default profile folder and [[profiles.ini file]] so that a new default profile is created  [http://forums.mozillazine.org/viewtopic.php?t=627499]) and [[transferring data to a new profile|transfer your data to the newly-created profile]].
If the problem is not resolved and you use ZoneAlarm or CA Firewall,  disable it temporarily (enable Windows Firewall in the interim) to allow the installation [http://forums.mozillazine.org/viewtopic.php?p=3204129#3204129]If the problem persists,  your profile may be corrupt ([https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=361358 bug 361358]).  Use the [[Profile Manager]] to create a new profile  [http://forums.mozillazine.org/viewtopic.php?t=627824] (or manually delete or rename the default profile folder and [[profiles.ini file]] so that a new default profile is created  [http://forums.mozillazine.org/viewtopic.php?t=627499]) and [[transferring data to a new profile|transfer your data to the newly-created profile]].


==Extension not installed after restarting - Firefox 1.5==
==Extension not installed after restarting - Firefox 1.5==

Revision as of 01:15, 13 February 2008

You may not be able to install or update Firefox themes or extensions for a number of reasons, including:

Not compatible

Extensions and themes only work with certain versions of Firefox. Attempts to install incompatible extensions will result in an error saying "Extension Name could not be installed because it is not compatible with Firefox x.x.x.x. (Extension name will only work with Firefox x.x.x.x)" Mozilla Add-ons will often have the latest, most compatible versions.

Software installation disabled

Websites are only allowed to prompt you to install an extension or theme if you have the functionality enabled and if you have allowed that specific site to do it.

Enabling software installs

Some users may have disabled the software installation option based on security issues which have since been resolved [1]. To re-enable:

Firefox 1.5: If you previously disabled this option and then updated to Firefox 1.5, the disabled setting will be carried over but the option to enable software installation will no longer exist in the user interface. If you see a yellow message bar that says "Software installation is currently disabled. Click Edit Options... to enable it and try again." you will need to:

  1. Type about:config in the Location Bar and hit enter.
  2. Type xpi in the Filter box and find xpinstall.enabled in the list.
  3. Make sure its value is set to true (double-click will toggle).[2]

Firefox 2: The yellow message bar says, "Software installation is currently disabled. Click Enable and try again". Just click the Enable button on the right side of the message bar.

Allowing the site to install

When a site that's not allowed to prompt you to install software attempt to do so, you'll receive a yellow bar that says "Firefox prevented this site (www.example.com) from asking you to install software on your computer." To allow the site to prompt:

  1. Click the Edit Options on the yellow bar
  2. Click Allow
  3. Click Close

Then click on the install link of the extension or theme again.

Downloaded theme or extension will not install

Some web sites offer the option to download a theme or extension instead of installing it. The downloaded file will have a ".jar" or ".xpi" extension. Do not try to open these files directly. After the download is complete, drag the downloaded .jar or .xpi file icon from the desktop (or other location) and drop it onto an open Firefox "Add-ons" window ("Extensions" or "Themes" window in Firefox 1.5 and earlier).

Note that the installation may fail with no user feedback if software installation is disabled (see above).

Download Error -228

This error message may be caused by having the Firefox cache disabled. To re-enable:

Firefox 1.5: Tools -> Options -> Privacy -> Cache Firefox 2.0: Tools -> Options -> Advanced -> Network

Make sure the cache is at least 1 MB (50 MB is the default setting).

Firewalls or spyware screeners may also cause this issue. If you use the CA firewall, Windows Defender, or the resident option of Spybot S&D ("Teatimer" feature), temporarily disable it to see if your system will now allow the extensions or themes to install [3].

Failing that, a workaround is to right-click the download link, select "Save Link As..." and download the .xpi or .jar file to your computer. You can then manually install it by dragging the file icon onto an open Firefox window [4].

Note: The Download Error -228 message may also be seen if the required .xpi or .jar file is not actually present on the server site. You can simply try again at a later time or check other download links on both the same site and a different site, before assuming that your own setup is at fault. [5]

Another solution is disabling Network Monitor Driver. On Windows XP go to Control Panel, Network Connections, Right click your connection, Properties, uncheck network monitor driver, hit ok.

Invalid file hash

If you receive the error, "Firefox could not install the file at <URL> because: Invalid file hash (possible download corruption)" when clicking an "Install" link, try the following:

  • Reload the page or clear the Firefox cache: "Tools -> Options -> Advanced -> Network / Cache -> Clear Now" (Firefox 2) or "Tools -> Options -> Privacy -> Cache -> Clear" (Firefox 1.5), then try again. [6]
  • If installing from addons.mozilla.org, the problem could be with the addons.mozilla.org database (bug 345505). Try restarting Firefox to see if the extension or theme was installed despite the error [7]. You could also try installing at a later time or from an alternate location such as the author's homepage [8].
  • Manually install the extension (right-click the install link -> "Save Link As"-> save the .jar or .xpi file, then drag the file icon onto an open Firefox window). Note: If a manual install also fails, an antivirus (or other software that monitors downloads) may be corrupting the file. You could try saving the file on another computer, then copy it over and manually install it on the problem computer. [9]

Corrupt extension files

Files that store information about the extensions you have installed can sometimes be corrupted. Deleting them can fix a number of extension issues; they will be regenerated the next time you start Firefox. [10][11]. Exit Firefox completely, then open your Firefox profile folder (read the linked article for its location) and delete* these three files:

extensions.ini
extensions.cache
extensions.rdf
  • Note : Although unwanted files/folders can be deleted, renaming them is generally considered a safer option. This achieves the same result, but allows the user to retrieve any possibly required information from them later on. In the case above, rename the above 3 files as , 'extensionsOLD.ini', 'extensionsOLD.cache', 'extensionsOLD.rdf'

Unexpected installation error -203

Installing themes or extensions may fail with the message, Unexpected installation error -203. Follow the above directions to remove corrupt extension files. [12] If the problem is not resolved and you use ZoneAlarm or CA Firewall, disable it temporarily (enable Windows Firewall in the interim) to allow the installation [13]If the problem persists, your profile may be corrupt (bug 361358). Use the Profile Manager to create a new profile [14] (or manually delete or rename the default profile folder and profiles.ini file so that a new default profile is created [15]) and transfer your data to the newly-created profile.

Extension not installed after restarting - Firefox 1.5

If you get a dialog box to confirm installation but the extension isn't listed after choosing to install (or if you update an extension but it's still the previous version after restarting), exit Firefox. Go to the Firefox profile folder and look inside the "extensions" folder. If you find a staged-xpis subfolder, delete it. Reopen Firefox and try again [16].

JavaScript disabled

If you click a web page "Install" link and nothing happens, make sure that JavaScript is enabled in your Firefox options and that another installed extension isn't blocking JavaScript.

Conflicts with other extensions

Another installed extension may interfere with the installation of new extensions. Install the new extension in Firefox Safe Mode as a workaround.

All-In-One Sidebar extension

You may not be able to install new extensions if the All-In-One Sidebar extension is installed. Uninstall and reinstall the latest version of this extension and disable the opening of the extensions window in the sidebar [17].

Conflict with Windows High Contrast - Accessibility options

It seems if you are using Windows Accessibility options to adjust your Display to a High Contrast resolution, you may not be able to activate your themes [18]. To work around this, you should be able to deactivate the High Contrast, install the theme, select the theme, restart Firefox and then reactivate the High Contrast.

See also