Firefox 43 64 bit

ronbo613

Golden Member
Jan 9, 2010
1,237
45
91
The last few Firefox updates have not been good to me. Can you go back to a working 32 bit version if the 64 bit model doesn't fly? How about having a 32 bit and 64 browser installed at the same time?
 

middlehead

Diamond Member
Jul 11, 2004
4,573
2
81
I switched to Waterfox to get 64bit when Mozilla wouldn't, if mainline has it now I might be tempted to switch back
 

VirtualLarry

No Lifer
Aug 25, 2001
56,570
10,196
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Same download filename, for both x64 and x86 versions? Sure that the 64-bit download link isn't just a placeholder, for when they release a real 64-bit version? Don't understand why they would be the same filename, and not have "64" or "x64" in the filename.
 

VirtualLarry

No Lifer
Aug 25, 2001
56,570
10,196
126
Doesn't handle radio streaming well, using Mozilla's built-in media handling. It skips.
 

Chiefcrowe

Diamond Member
Sep 15, 2008
5,049
193
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So if I DL the 64 bit version and install over the 32 bit, will that upgrade the browser and keep all my settings? Not quite sure of the best way to go from 32 to 64bit, even now and I wonder if there is some kind of guide?
 

Ketchup

Elite Member
Sep 1, 2002
14,558
248
106
So I just downloaded from the 64-bit Windows English link, and everything stayed the same. My Sync and profile was used, just as it was previously. But it also defaults to the Program Files (x86) directory.

Edit: this was only on Windows 10. In Windows 7, it creates a new folder in the Program Files directory, and both the 32-and 64- bit versions are available.
 
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Dahak

Diamond Member
Mar 2, 2000
3,752
25
91
So I just downloaded from the 64-bit Windows English link, and everything stayed the same. My Sync and profile was used, just as it was previously. But it also defaults to the Program Files (x86) directory. So it either doesn't mean what we think it means, or the link is pulling the wrong file.

It looks like if you have the 32-bit install, it will install to the same folder.
I just tried the 64-bit installer on a machine that does not have Firefox on it and it goes into the proper folder


I have not tried on my main machine, as apparently add-ons do not work

@Ketchup -- if you look at task manager, does the firefox process show a *32 or not
if not its running the 64-bit version
 

Ketchup

Elite Member
Sep 1, 2002
14,558
248
106
Very odd. So I did the install on the host machine, it installed it in the regular Program Files folder, and will run 64-bit (it leaved the 31-bit in tact if you still want to use it). They both pull up my profiles without issue. And task manager correctly shows the 64-bit process running.

So I am not sure why the install on my Windows 10 (64-bit) didn't do this. Oh well. That's what VM's are for.
 

Puffnstuff

Lifer
Mar 9, 2005
16,173
4,868
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Apart from the different links how are you supposed to know which one you are using? When I select help-about Firefox it doesn't state anything other than the version number.
 

Ketchup

Elite Member
Sep 1, 2002
14,558
248
106
Apart from the different links how are you supposed to know which one you are using? When I select help-about Firefox it doesn't state anything other than the version number.

Programs and features (and the missing x86 in task manager) will tell you if you are running the 64-bit version.

But I agree. 64-bit in a production release is kind of a big deal for Mozilla. Put it on the darn About page!
 
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Elixer

Lifer
May 7, 2002
10,371
762
126
Programs and features (and the missing x86 in task manager) will tell you if you are running the 64-bit version.

But I agree. 64-bit in a production release is kind of a big deal for Mozilla. But it on the darn About page!

Yeah, at the very least, they could have added a "Update to the 64-bit release" link or button on the about page.
 

Puffnstuff

Lifer
Mar 9, 2005
16,173
4,868
136
Programs and features (and the missing x86 in task manager) will tell you if you are running the 64-bit version!

Thanks Ketchup, that was exactly what I needed to know and it appears that I'm running the x64 client now.
 

MongGrel

Lifer
Dec 3, 2013
38,466
3,067
121
Might have to try it out again, was using x64 and had problems with it awhile back myself and reverted to x32.

But I'm still being a bit of a Windows 10 guinea pig and have some newer things on there might have clashed also.
 
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Joepublic2

Golden Member
Jan 22, 2005
1,097
6
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64-bit version is faster than for 32bit, especially for webGL.
http://blogs.unity3d.com/2015/12/15/updated-webgl-benchmark-results/

FF 45 64bit wipes the floor with pretty much any other browser as well.

Maybe in benchmarks run with one tab open. It's nowhere near chrome as far as actual usability goes. It's still essentially a single threaded program in the year of our lord 2015, locking up the entire browser and all my tabs when flash starts to act up or when it's rendering a badly designed web page. They should spend less time rooting out thoughtcrime in their org and more, you know, actually programming.
 

mikeymikec

Lifer
May 19, 2011
19,032
12,204
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A far more direct way of confirming whether your version is 64-bit, run it, and run Task Manager to see whether its process is labelled as Firefox.exe *32 or just Firefox.exe.

IIRC Win10's TM doesn't tell you about 32-bit processes, so run Process Explorer, right-click on the process in question and click on Properties. 'Image' will say 32 or 64-bit.

What's the purpose of a 64 bit browser when a 32 bit browser does the same.

I can't say I'm in a mad hurry to try it. Some benchmarks show the 64-bit version is quicker, and as someone else pointed out a 64-bit process can address more RAM (frankly however if I saw Firefox on my current machine using 4GB RAM I'd start looking for an alternative!).
 

John Connor

Lifer
Nov 30, 2012
22,757
617
121
Yeah, I mean Chrome is horrendous with RAM, but to have a browser address more than 4 GB is beyond stupid.

Maybe in 10 years a browser will use 4 GB of RAM. Right now I'm using 189 MB and I bet if I opened YouTube and a few other things I'd clock 500 MB max! 4GB?!