h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I have an iBook, and the most recent version of OSX it will support is Jaguar, so I hope the solution to my problem isn't to update the OS (I'm pretty sure it's an operator error problem, though.)

I've tried several times to update from Firefox 1.0.6 to Firefox 2. What I thought was my problem was that my dialup connection kept dropping just as my download almost completed (generally 90%+ complete). However, I've recently had access to broadband, and I took advantage of that fact to download Firefox. Now I can't install it! (Yes, I deleted the partial download attempts) I've opened the downloaded file, agreed to the terms, gotten an icon with with the Firefox logo on a drive, and tried dragging things to the harddrive icon. I think I need simple, step-by-step directions, or else told if I'm trying to do something impossible. The downloaded file is currently sitting on my desktop. When I open it and accept the terms, the next window that opens has an illustration that seems to imply that I should drag Firefox to the Applications folder. At the top of that window, it says '1 item, 0 KB available'

If anyone needs more info, I'll be glad to get it.

Firefox 2 could be Tiger only...

No, it'll run with Jaguar and above: http://kb.mozillazine.org/Installing_Firefox#Mac_OS_X

Simple step by step instructions, as requested (including the steps you know about already):

1. Double click the downloaded file (this is a ".dmg" disk image archive)
2. Agree to the terms, and wait for the disk image to finish opening and "mounting"
3. You now have an open folder with Firefox in it. Drag Firefox to your regular old "Applications" folder (or any folder, really. "Applications" is just a convenience). However do NOT drag it to the dock (that's the row of icons along the bottom or side of your screen. You can do that later, after it's all working correctly).
4. Eject the "disk image" - you should see that it appears to be an extra disk and you can drag it to the trash. The folder with Firefox should disappear.
5. Open your Applications folder, and double click Firefox.
6. If everything works, throw away the downloaded ".dmg" file (if you try and empty the trash and it says something about the file being in use, you didn't do step 4 properly)
7. If you want a Firefox icon in your dock, you can do that now.

The ".dmg" file is a special kind of archive, when you open it you get a "virtual disk" almost as if you had inserted a CD or a flash drive. If you try to start up Firefox from that virtual disk, you'll run into problems so you have to make sure you are starting your new copy of Firefox from "Applications". Ejecting the disk image makes sure you don't get the wrong one.

The mistake I've seen most people make is to drag firefox from the disk image directly to the dock. That doesn't copy the software, it only makes a pointer to the disk image, so you end up launching the wrong copy of firefox when you click the icon in the dock. Make sure you copy firefox first, then drag *your* copy (from "Applications" if that's where you put it) to the dock.

I did that! I think. Didn't work (Or maybe my homepage is cached, and I really *do* have Firefox 2 on here now... Nope, still says to upgrade on the bottom of the page.)

This may sound dumb, but do I have to get rid of the current copy of Firefox I have first?

Ahem. Go to "Help -> About Mozilla Firefox" and tell us what it says...

Mozilla/5.0 (Macintosh; U; PPC Mac OS X Mach-O; en-US; rv:1.7.10) Gecko/20050716 Firefox/1.0.6

How are you launching Firefox, Amy?

Watch out for the Wolion as you sneak into the cave, and remember your paper lantern!

I launch it by clicking on the icon in the dock... which leads to the old one Guess I should try closing Firefox and trying to open it from elsewhere, huh

I've got my hand (up to the shoulder) under the wolion, so I don't know how I could look much closer

Yup. you need to remove that icon from the dock and drag the new copy there instead.

Good luck - I'm off to watch "Shark"... (It's been on "pause"... )

I fixed it

Now, why didn't I figure out/somebody tell me that it was the icon from the open folder/window/whatever that I needed to drag? I dragged the stacked drive folder thingy several times instead

Thanks

You're welcome.