What Is the Difference Between Firefox & Portable Firefox?
The primary difference between Firefox Portable and the normal, installed version of Firefox is portability. Although the function of each program remains identical, the use of each may differ, depending on your personal requirements or situation. Some normal configurations must be tweaked to accommodate the nonpermanent nature of Firefox Portable.
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Removable Media
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Firefox Portable is designed for use on removable media, such as USB flash drives. This allows you to carry your browser, add-ons, bookmarks and passwords with you as you travel. If you constantly migrate between work, school and home computers, this portability offers the utmost convenience.
Backing Up
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Although the normal, installed version of Firefox allows you to export settings and bookmarks, Firefox Portable allows you to copy the entire program folder to immediately back up everything -- including bookmarks, configurations, add-ons and updates. This allows you to back up Firefox Portable directly from Windows Explorer, without requiring the use of Firefox's Export or Sync tools. This additionally allows your Firefox Portable program to be easily transferred between computers.
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Installing
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The normal Firefox program requires installation to be functional, which means it adds entries to your Windows Registry and makes a few minor system changes. Firefox Portable does not require installation. Instead, the installation file merely extracts all the necessary files onto your hard drive without making any system changes. Although this is neater, it also means you have to manually add Start menu entries or set Firefox Portable as the default browser, if you prefer those options.
Uninstalling
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Because Firefox Portable is not installed on your system, uninstalling it only requires deletion of the program folder to remove it. In contrast, the normal Firefox program must be uninstalled using the Control Panel feature Add/Remove Programs in Windows XP or Programs and Features in Windows 7 or Vista.
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