Firefox 2 and 3? At the same time?! Blasphemy!

As web developers we do a lot of browser testing. It would be nice if everyone used the same browser (Firefox 3, for example) but they don’t. Believe it or not, there are still people out there who are using Firefox 2, which is why we need a way to install and run this now outdated web browser. Unfortunately, Firefox does not make this easy. To install and run Firefox 2 at the same time as Firefox 3, you’ll need to follow the guidelines below. These instructions assume that you already have Firefox 3 installed, and that you are using a PC. If you do not have Firefox 3 installed, go to http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/ to download and install before continuing.

To run both Firefox 2 and Firefox 3 on your PC:

• Download and install Firefox 2
  http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/all-older.html
• Be sure to install in a different folder from Firefox 3.
• Select custom installation.
• Make sure installer creates no desktop shortcuts or quick start icons.
• Uncheck Run Firefox 2 at the end of installation.

Create second Firefox profile.

• Go to: Start> Run.
• Enter firefox.exe –ProfileManager.
• Create a new profile (ex – one called Firefox2, and one called Firefox3)

Edit and create shortcuts

• Open the properties for existing Firefox 3 desktop shortcut
• Change the target to look like this:
  "C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe" -P Firefox3 -no-remote
  where “Firefox3” is the name of the profile to be used with the Firefox3 application.
• Go to the directory where you installed Firefox2.
• Create a new desktop shortcut.
• Edit the target in the properties menu, making sure to add
  -P Firefox2 -no-remote after firefox.exe”
  again, replacing Firefox2 with the name of the profile you created.

For more info, see tutorials:

• http://lifehacker.com/software/firefox/geek-to-live--manage-multiple-fir...
• http://www.dailygyan.com/2008/02/how-to-run-firefox-2-and-firefox-3-on.html