1

How do you install Firefox or Opera in such a way that the installed version is completely independent of other installs of the same browser.

This is Windows specific. I'd like to use my own installer to install a browser which will be run in "chromeless" mode to allow the user to access a web-app.

I want the installed browser to not be disturbed by other installations of the same browser whether they come along later or sooner.

Can someone point me at directions/examples for this ?

I've seen Launching Firefox into “chromeless” mode from command prompt but it doesn't address the issue of installation independence.

EDIT: Having seen Brad Pattons reply I realised I missed something out of this question. I want the browser in question to have auto-updates turned on so that it recieves security patches etc. For this reason I don't think a 'portable app' approach is useful (unless there's something about those I don't know ?)

3
  • This sounds a lot like a SSB - wierdly enough, while they were pretty common at one point, with options like prism, I can't think of any right now
    – Journeyman Geek
    Apr 10, 2013 at 5:33
  • 2
    Interesting you should say that because last night I came across that acroynm (which I'd never heard before) and as you say it seemed to be quite a thing five years ago and not so much now. If others are interested the wikipedia page en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Site-specific_browser gives an overview but there doesn't seem to be much that's cross-platform and "not Chrome" (not willing to involve myself any more with Google than I already am). Apr 10, 2013 at 23:55
  • You can just install Firefox in another directory, can't you? Apr 13, 2013 at 21:13

2 Answers 2

3

No need for third-party 'portable' installers for Opera. The standard Opera installer allows you to install a standalone installation:

Opera stand-alone installation

This should auto-update just like the regular installation.

1
  • Great answer, thanks very much. It's so long since I installed my 'normal' copy of Opera I was unaware of this option. It certainly allows you invoke a 'Current Version' check so I'm guessing it will indeed do its own one automatically. Thanks again.
    – glaucon
    Apr 11, 2013 at 0:02
0

Use the versions of those browsers meant to be run on a flash drive (aka the portable versions) but put them on the local drive. They are designed to be self-contained with hooks into the registry, etc.

2
  • Thanks for your reply. I had thought about the approach however I'm not sure I can get auto-updating of the browser to work using those ? I had meant to put that in the question as a need. I've done that now. Thanks again for your answer.
    – glaucon
    Apr 10, 2013 at 2:09
  • You can upgrade (see here) but it will be a manual process. Given the way most installed programs work I'm not sure there is another way to accomplish what you want. Maybe some else will have a different answer. Apr 10, 2013 at 2:13

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .