Note: for Mac OS X, use the Command key in place of Control for all shortcuts listed.

Written by Ghacks.net

I’m still using Firefox and I thought it would be nice to share some advanced configuration tips that helped me a lot with you. This article was inspired by Lifehackers Top Firefox 2 config tweaks but adds advanced tips to the mix. Rest assured that the configuration tweaks will not list the same tips that you see on every other site nowadays, I promise new unseen tips.

I should probably start with some basic information on how you edit the Firefox configuration at all. This is actually pretty simple: Enter about:config in the address bar and hit enter. A large preferences list should appear. Every option has a preference name, a status, a type and a value.We are using the name to find the option in the large list. Status defines if it is still the default value or has been edited by the user, type defines which values are accepted in the value field. For boolean it would be true or false, integer a number and so on. To filter the list enter part of the name into the Filter text field, the results get updated on the fly. On to the tweaks..

Change location of bookmarks file

• key: browser.bookmarks.file
• default: not existing, create new String by right-clicking and entering the above key
• value: path to bookmark.html, for instance e:\bookmark.html

You might want to change this if you want to use a removable drive to store your bookmarks for instance.

Middlemouse Paste

• key: middlemouse.paste
• default: false
• change to: true

Setting this option to true makes it possible to paste text into any text field in Firefox.

Hide Go Button

• key:browser.urlbar.hideGoButton
• default:false
• change to:true

If you set this value to true the Go button will be removed giving you more space in that bar. No one uses the go button anyway, just hit enter, this has the same effect.

Click Selects all in url bar

• key:browser.urlbar.clickSelectsAll
• default:true
• change to:false

This is useful if you often copy only part of the url. The default behavior selects the complete url first if you click into the url bar and you have to click and select again to copy part of the url only.

Open Search Results in a new Tab

• key:browser.search.openintab
• default:false
• change to: true

Opens the search results always in a new tab instead of the currently active tab.

Spellcheck for textareas

• key:layout.spellcheckDefault
• default:1
• change to: 2

This activates the spell check for textareas and input fields as well.

Autofill in url bar

• key:browser.urlbar.autoFill
• default:false
• change to:true

Known urls are automatically completed while entering them.

Disable extension compatibility check

• key:extensions.checkCompatibility
• default: not existing, create new Boolean with the above name
• value: false

Setting this value to false means that Firefox will not check installed extensions for compatibility. Great during updates, could lead to problems with incompatible extensions though.

By Lifehacker.com

Firefox is that great Web browser that everyone’s talking about. If you’re not using it yet, you should be.
In this exclusive Lifehacker feature, you’ll discover the top 10 reasons why you should consider using Firefox as your primary browser. It’s a great program. Here’s why.

Firefox is that great Web browser that everyone’s talking about. If you’re not using it yet, you should be.

In this exclusive Lifehacker feature, you’ll discover the top 10 reasons why you should consider using Firefox as your primary browser. It’s a great program. Here’s why.

10. It’s free. Completely, utterly free. You don’t have to pay a penny to download it. Firefox is a product of the Mozilla foundation, a tax exempt non-profit foundation, which was established to create innovative open-source software. Mozilla is completely funded by donations. So if you like Firefox–and I bet you will–consider throwing a few dollars in their direction.
9. It runs on everything. Windows? Yes. Macs? Yes. Linux? Yes. You’ve got a recent computer? Firefox will almost certainly run on it.
8. It’s small. It takes up very little disk space, so it’s a quick, simple download. Unlike certain other browsers, it’s not a bloated dinosaur.
7. It’s expandable. You can add almost any functionality you want via plug-ins. There’s a huge community of Firefox developers out there offering nifty software extensions that you just plug into your browser. You can remove Google spam. You can adjust the way your fonts are shown. You can watch the current weather forecast. Firefox’s extensions manager lets you see what items you’ve installed and you can remove them with just a few clicks.
6. It’s secure. Firefox doesn’t run ActiveX components or VB script. This makes it far less vulnerable to malicious hacking than Explorer. Also, it’s been tightly coded, meaning fewer vulnerabilities to attack. Want more security? Consider adding a JavaScript monitoring extension.
5. Switching is easy. Firefox is smart enough to help you transfer your existing bookmarks, cookies and other settings from your current browser when you install.
4. It’s skinnable. Firefox’s look and feel is completely customizable. Use the Themes Manager to download and manage any of hundreds of skins.
3. Google is built-in. You don’t have to waste your homepage on Google, when you can search directly from the Firefox control bar. Go ahead and pick a home page you really like. Personally? I recommend Lifehacker.com.
2. It’s well respected. Firefox has been named PC World’s Product of the Year, Softpedia’s User’s Choice, Forbes’ Best of the Web, SC Magazine’s “Editor in Chief” award, CNET Editor’s Choice, Laptop Magazine Editor’s Choice, PC-Welt’s Readers Choice Best Internet Tool, and more. They all like it. Won’t you?
1. It’s got tabs. If you’ve ever dealt with a gadzillion open Explorer windows at once, you’ll know what I mean when I say that organizing your Web tasks and windows is a critical path for getting work done. Firefox’s tabbed interface allows you to collapse all those windows onto a single screen and move quickly (and easily) back and forth between your different Web site “worlds”. One site still downloading? Just tab on over to another in the meantime. It works beautifully, compactly and neatly.

I’d go on and on and on about why you should choose Firefox, but I’ve already used up all the spots in my top 10 list. Download yourself a copy and give it a spin. You won’t regret it.

— Erica Sadun

Firefox [Mozilla Foundation]

Judges: Rafe Needleman, Peter Butler and Elsa Wenzel

For years, Microsoft Internet Explorer has enjoyed near dominance of the Web
browser space — but not any more. Since the release last year of Mozilla
Firefox 1.5, Firefox has been steadily eroding Internet Explorer’s claim of
superiority. According to information from NetApplications.com, in October 2004
Internet Explorer had 92 percent of the market; in September 2005 that dropped
to 86 percent; and as of
September 2006 Internet Explorer’s market share dropped to 82 percent, with
Firefox’s rising to 12.5 percent. In two years Microsoft ceded 10 percent of its
audience to its competition.

So how do the latest versions of each browser compare? For this prizefight, we
looked at
Microsoft Internet Explorer 7, Microsoft’s first new Internet browser since
2001, and
Mozilla Firefox 2, Mozilla’s update of its popular Firefox 1.5 browser
released in November 2005. I’ve already had my two cents’ in the above reviews,
so I’ve turned over this prizefight to my colleagues at CNET who specifically
cover the Web services beat.

About the judges:

Rafe Needleman, editor at large for CNET, covers new online
applications and is launching a new CNET Web site about them: Webware.com.

Peter Butler is senior editor for CNET in charge of Download.com
reviews.

Elsa Wenzel is an associate editor for CNET who reviews hulking office
suites, tiny apps, and Web services.

Round 1: Installation

Here’s where we examine the overall process of upgrading or installing the
two browsers.

Our individual judges’ ratings are based on a 0-to-5-point scale, which
results in a final score of 0 to 15 per round.

Player	Rafe	Peter	Elsa	Total
Internet Explorer 7	2 Installing IE 7 requires a reboot and takes forever. Plus the download is giant, and you have to turn off your virus scanner. My installation went smoothly, but I got the feeling IE was reprogramming my computer’s DNA as it worked.	1 The IE 7 installer asks users to temporarily disable their antivirus and antispyware protection, which doesn’t inspire confidence. Installing IE 7 requires Windows validation, a restart, and a connection to Microsoft servers, which significantly slows down the process.	2 IE 7’s installation recommended that we back up important files, close all programs, and eventually restart, while Firefox asked us only to close the old Firefox. And Microsoft checked that we were running a valid copy of Windows XP before we could download IE 7, which felt intrusive (if not insulting) next to the hands-off Firefox installation. But I’m not crazy about IE 7 or Firefox creating browser icons by default for my Windows XP desktop, Start Menu folder, and Quick Launch bar; you’ll have to uncheck those during installation if you don’t want the shortcuts.	5
Firefox 2	5 Firefox, on the other hand, is a small download and installs in about 30 seconds, no reboots or gene sequencing required.	4 Installation of Firefox 2 was much faster and easier, completing in a minute or two. It scanned my old version for incompatible extensions, then updated any that were available. Firefox 2 did not include my custom-created search engines, only those defaulted by Mozilla. Any custom engines need to be manually moved into the Searchplugins directory.	4 Firefox was a faster download, plus it migrated every toolbar and all but one of my dozen bookmarklets from Firefox 1 without a hitch.	13

Winner: Firefox 2

Round 2: Look and community
Here’s where we look at navigation, as well as overall look and feel. But the
online world is rapidly becoming a community. Which browser best embodies the
community aspect of the Web?

Player	Rafe	Peter	Elsa	Total
Internet Explorer 7	4 The two browsers both look very good. IE 7 is a bit slicker than Firefox, and it takes more chances with the interface, pushing the standard menu items off to the side. It may take users a few moments to learn where everything is, but it is a thoughtful redesign.	4 Departing from the classic look of version 6 by hiding the menu bar, IE 7 allots more space to the main browser window. The full-screen view is particularly well designed — tabs and the address bar disappear until you hover over them, creating a true full-screen window. The tabs are clunkier than necessary.	4 Internet Explorer’s status as the browser people love to hate is unlikely to change anytime soon. IE 7’s drastic redesign is likely to alienate users initially rather than wow them, even though it’s now easier to find functions via graphical icons — once you stop looking for the now-gone drop-down menus of its predecessor. IE 7 thoughtfully offers more customisation than in the past, such as the ability to add more search engines to its search field.	12
Firefox 2	5 Firefox doesn’t have a radical visual refresh, but it does have some new UI features, such as a "word wheel" in the search bar. Firefox destroys IE in the extension and plug-in department. There are hundreds of tools for Firefox to enable all manner of customising. IE has extensions too, but not like Firefox.	5 Hovering over a tab in Firefox 2 now highlights it, and each tab has its own close button, which was previously possible only with add-ons. Most themes aren’t yet available for Firefox, but one of my favorites, Littlefox, works OK. Selecting a new theme now prompts Firefox to ask whether you want to restart the browser to see the effects. Customisation for Firefox 2 via add-ons is a major bonus.	5 Firefox’s open-source status and myriad add-ons give it a community edge over IE 7.	15

Winner: Firefox 2

Round 3: Tabbed browsing
Tabbed browsing has become a part of the Internet browser world. Microsoft just
added it to Internet Explorer 7, but Mozilla has had it in Firefox for years.
Which one implements this feature the best?

Player	Rafe	Peter	Elsa	Total
Internet Explorer 7	4 With the latest versions, both browsers treat tabs similarly. You can close tabs with their own little close boxes and open new tab windows by clicking in the tab bar (IE 7 makes it more obvious by displaying a tiny, empty tab). Both highlight the active tab subtly (too subtly for my taste), and let you drag tabs around and save open tabs. Differences: Firefox makes it easy to reload all tabs; IE has a thumbnail viewer.	3 IE 7 includes a New Tab button to the right of your last open tab that takes up unnecessary screen space. I couldn’t find a way to remove it. IE 7 bunches two Favorites icons, all open tabs, and the standard browser toolbar in the same row of real estate. A helpful tab preview icon displays thumbnails of all your open tabs for any window.	4 Is it my imagination, or does Firefox open a new tab about a millisescond faster than IE 7 does? At the same time, IE 7’s blank tab can help users discover tabbed browsing.	11
Firefox 2	4 One change in Firefox 2 that is a step backward from the last version: If you open a lot of tabs, Firefox shrinks their size a little and puts arrows at the left and right of the tab bar so that you can scroll back and forth. The previous version shrunk tabs a lot, so you could fit many more into the tab bar. I’m dinging Firefox’s score for that one. IE 7 has the same problem.	4 Firefox adds a new Close Tab button to each open tab but didn’t add thumbnail previews (a feature that can be added via Firefox extension). It would be nice to incorporate more features from Tab Mix Plus, such as the ability to customise how Ctrl-Tab switches tabs.	5 Firefox’s tiny drop-down menu next to its tabs is a convenient shortcut for finding recently viewed pages, and its layout offers more room for tabs — although once we had a dozen tabs open, we were forced to scroll awkwardly to view the thirteenth tab and beyond. Luckily, though, if Firefox crashes, you can restore those tabs, which IE 7 can’t do.	13

Winner: Firefox 2

Round 4: Cool new features
Microsoft had five years to dream up a new Internet browser; Mozilla’s been
updating its popular Firefox browser pretty regularly in the last few years.
Which offers the coolest new features?

Player	Rafe	Peter	Elsa	Total
Internet Explorer 7	3 There are fancy little flourishes in both browsers (IE has page zoom; Firefox has a spelling checker), but the big news in new browser features right now is RSS reading. Both browsers recognise when a page has an RSS feed, and both will parse XML and display a readable page instead of code when they see it.	3 RSS feeds: Once you’ve subscribed to a feed via IE 7, it’s easy to see, sort, manage, and read your subscriptions from a two-panel interface. Firefox’s Live Bookmarks do a similar job, but not as neatly. I only wish IE 7 detected available feeds better.	3 Neither IE 7 nor Firefox do a terrific job of showing off their new features. Many of IE 7’s new features are old tricks for Firefox. At least IE 7’s RSS icon gave us a hint about its ability to surface newsfeeds; that icon appears within the Firefox address bar only when you land at a Web site with an RSS feed. But once we subscribed to some feeds, we couldn’t find them within IE 7. Firefox, on the other hand, displayed them by default on a toolbar and within its Bookmarks folder.	9
Firefox 2	4 Firefox does a much better job of managing feeds: It will let you subscribe in Firefox’s own reader, which awkwardly makes bookmarks of headlines, or in Google, Bloglines, Yahoo, or any reader application you have on your PC. IE will subscribe itself only to feeds, and it doesn’t display RSS content as reliably as Firefox.	3 In Firefox 2, I love the Manage Search Engines dialog, but I’d say the Session Saver feature is the biggest improvement. I know that many people who accidentally quit the browser will love it.	4 Firefox’s RSS features are even more flexible since (as Rafe mentions) they can let you subscribe with a third-party newsreader. Overall, however, I found the RSS features somewhat clumsy in both browsers and easy for RSS newbies to overlook. IE 7’s easy ability to zoom in on a Web page makes for better browsing if you have vision problems. Ctrl-T does the same trick within Firefox, but most users may not memorise such keyboard shortcuts. Firefox also checks your spelling, which could save you from embarrassing yourself in a hasty e-mail or blog post.	11

Winner: Firefox 2

Round 5: Security and performance
You can’t surf the Web these days without fretting about online villains eager
to take your money or your identity. Which browser offers the best?

Player	Rafe	Peter	Elsa	Total
Internet Explorer 7	3 I have to defer to security gurus in this category. Historically I’ve been impressed with how seamless installing security patches to Firefox has been. As far as privacy, both products now let you quickly erase tracks from your browser, which is good.	4 A phishing filter within IE 7 checks the Web pages you visit using heuristics and a whitelist of legitimate sites. IE 7 lets you clean out your history, temporary files, and Web cookies with one button, but it’s not easy to delete specific files in those groups. Another nice browsing-security touch is the "Web page privacy policy" feature. The past history of exploitable security holes in IE is a factor to consider.	3 At least during setup, IE 7 appears to care about security by giving you the choice to install a phishing filter. Firefox doesn’t make its security offerings obvious during setup. Both browsers allow you to clear cookie crumbs that show the sites you’ve seen, but we found such features tricky to find within IE 7’s new interface.	10
Firefox 2	3 Firefox makes it a one-click operation, though, which is much better. On the other hand, it’s far too easy to reveal all your stored passwords in Firefox. You can put (another) password in front of this feature, but most people won’t, leaving their passwords easily visible to anybody who gets on to their PC.	4 Also adding antiphishing measures, Firefox 2 offers a choice to check sites from a preexisting blacklist or via Google. Firefox 2 also offers more customisation than IE 7, letting you specify which warning messages you’ll receive and allowing you to view all your cookies in a list.	5 Firefox’s stronger reputation for security and Mozilla’s practice of addressing vulnerabilities soon after they’re discovered precedes its latest update.	12

Winner: Firefox 2

he winner is…

Total points
Internet Explorer 7: 47
Firefox 2: 64

Winner: Firefox 2

Firefox 2 still rules the browser roost for now, despite a much improved
version of Internet Explorer. The most obvious new feature for IE 7 (tabs) has
been in Firefox forever, and the security additions from Microsoft aren’t enough
for us to allay concerns over new possible exploits. Lastly, the extensibility
of Firefox 2 is its knockout punch, and IE’s add-ons cannot compare. The
flexibility and customisability of Firefox might be best suited to more advanced
Web users, but it has earned its spot at the top of the browsers.

By Robert Vamosi From http://www.cnet.com.au

This article contains instructions to uninstall Firefox and remove it from your system. Make sure you complete the last step, removing the user profile data, if you wish to completely remove Firefox or perform a clean reinstall.

Note: You should set another default browser if you are not going to reinstall Firefox and it is currently the default. You can use the information in this article as a general guide.

On Mac OS X

Drag the Firefox application to the Trash.

On Linux

Remove the firefox Installation directory, usually: /usr/lib/firefox-<version>. For example, if using Firefox 1.0 it would be: /usr/lib/firefox-1.0

On Windows

• Open the Windows Control Panel and double-click Add/Remove Programs. Select Mozilla Firefox (<version>) in the list and click “Remove” to run the uninstaller. Even if this first step fails, as it may in some cases, continue on with the rest of the uninstall instructions.
• Delete the Firefox Installation directory, located here, by default: C:\Program files\Mozilla Firefox
• If you installed the Quality Feedback Agent component (aka Talkback), open the %APPDATA%\Talkback\MozillaOrg\ folder and delete all “Firefox<somenumber>” folders found, for example, “Firefox10″ “Firefox15″ and “Firefox2″.
• Firefox 1.5 and later: Delete the “Firefox” folder containing the profile “cache” folder and “XUL.mfl” file located here: C:\Documents and Settings\Windows login username\Local Settings\Application Data\Mozilla\Firefox. On Windows 2000 and later the “Local Settings” folder is hidden by default.
• If necessary, remove the “Mozilla Firefox” shortcuts in the Windows Start -> Programs menu by right-clicking and deleting the entries. (This step should not be needed unless the Add/Remove Programs uninstaller in the first step failed.)

The Firefox uninstall will leave behind some Windows registry entries, which can be cleaned up using Windows regedit or a 3rd party registry cleaner. Note: registry editing is a potentially hazardous undertaking!.

You may also need to manually change some file associations or icons in your Windows “Folder Options -> File Types” even after setting a new default browser

Removing user profile data

This step is recommended for users who are uninstalling Firefox in preparation for a “clean reinstall”.

This will remove the Firefox user profile data, which includes bookmarks, passwords, cookies, preference settings and added extensions. Back up your profile data so that you can restore it later, if you wish, then delete the entire Firefox folder (which will include the “Profiles” subfolder and the files “profiles.ini” and “pluginreg.dat”) from the default Firefox profile path. Note that, in Windows 2000 and later, you can use “Start -> Run -> (type in) %APPDATA% -> OK” to open the hidden Application Data or AppData folder,

Source: http://kb.mozillazine.org/Uninstalling_Firefox