How to Revert to Firefox 2

Firefox is a popular open-source web browser developed by Mozilla. As of May 2011, the latest version is 4.0 and the oldest version Firefox maintains is 3.6. Each Firefox upgrade incorporates new features, but if you're having compatibility issues it may be wise to revert back to Firefox version 2.0. The solution is to completely uninstall your current version then reinstall version 2.0. So as to not lose all your bookmarks and other preferences along the way, it's important to first back them up so you can import and reinstate them after the reversion.

Instructions

Backup Preferences

1. Close Firefox if it is open. Then click on the Windows button to open the Start Menu. In the search box, type "%APPDATA%\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\" (without the quotes) and hit Enter on your keyboard. The one folder you see, which ends with ".default," is your Firefox profile folder.

2. Right-click your profile folder and click "Copy" from the drop-down menu.

3. Go to your Desktop and paste the copy of your profile folder there.

Uninstalling Current Version

1. Click the Windows button to open the Start Menu, then click on Control Panel.

2. Click on "Uninstall a program" under "Programs" to open the list of installed programs.

3. Scroll down the list to "Mozilla Firefox" and double-click it. Follow all on-screen instructions to remove your current version of Firefox.

Install Firefox 2.0

1. Open another web browser, such as Internet Explorer or Google Chrome, and surf to Oldapps.com/firefox.php?old_firefox=26#download

2. Click on "Download Firefox 2.0" then save the file to your Desktop.

3. Double-click the Firefox 2.0 setup file from your Desktop and follow all on-screen instructions to install Firefox 2.0.

Import Your Profile

1. Type "%APPDATA%\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\" (without the quotes) and hit Enter on your keyboard.

2. Delete the profile folder that installed with Firefox 2.0.

3. Copy and paste your original profile folder from your Desktop back into the profiles folder.

4. Clean up by closing the Windows Explorer window and deleting the profile folder copy and the Firefox 2.0 setup file from your Desktop.

References

• Oldapps.com: Old Version of Firefox 2.0
• Firefox Help: Backing Up Your Information
• Mozilla: Download Firefox 3.6
• Mozilla: Get Firefox