Tuesday, January 9, 2018
How to Download Firefox through FTP using Command Prompt
How to Download Firefox through FTP using Command Prompt
Problem:
IE wont work. Needs to download Firefox thru command prompt.
Resolution:
Now, heres how to install Firefox without using Internet Explorer:
To start FTP, click on the Start menu, then "Run..." and enter:
ftp
Then click "OK."
When the ftp> prompt appears, type:
open releases.mozilla.org
Then press Enter. You will be connected to the Mozilla Firefox FTP download site.
Note that you will need to press Enter after every command that follows.
When prompted for your username enter: anonymous As your password enter: your email address
When the ftp> prompt reappears enter these commands, one at a time, pressing enter after each one and waiting for a response from the server:
cd pub/mozilla.org/firefox/releases
cd latest-2.0
cd win32
Now, to see a list of languages and countries that Firefox is available for, type:
ls
If you live in the United States or you prefer your interface in U.S. English, your next command is:
cd en-US
If you prefer another language, cd to that directory instead.
Next, to find out the name of the current version of the Firefox installer, use one more "ls" command:
ls
This last "ls" command will show you the exact name of the installer for the current version of Firefox 2.0, among other files. You are looking for the filename that ends with .exe. AS OF THIS WRITING, it is:
Firefox Setup 2.0.0.6.exe
But you need to use the ls command to see what the current version is instead of relying on this.
Next, type the command:
binary
To make sure the file is moved as a program and not as a text file, which would ruin it.
Were almost ready! But if we downloaded the file now, it would not wind up on your desktop. It would show up in your home folder instead... and you probably dont even know what that means! Fortunately, the desktop "lives" right inside your home folder, so we can use the lcd (Local Change Directory) command to go there:
lcd Desktop
Finally, were ready to type:
get "Firefox Setup 2.0.0.6.exe"
If that is the setup program name you found with the ls command.
(The quotation marks are important!)
Now: relax! The file will take a while to download. On a dialup modem it could take a very long while. Go get a cup of coffee.
When the ftp> prompt comes back without an error message, type:
quit
Close or minimize your application windows and youll find that the Firefox installation program is now waiting for you on your desktop! Double-click that file to install Firefox.
In the future, of course, you can start Firefox from the Start menu. There is no need to install it every time, and you can drag the installer to the trash can when you are completely finished installing Firefox.
Again, if Internet Explorer is well and truly broken, it is still a good idea to reinstall Windows. Your computer may have serious spyware problems that will gradually prevent other programs from working properly too. But installing Firefox by FTP can be a useful workaround in the meantime.
"What if FTP cant connect?"
You probably have an Internet connection problem which has nothing to do with your web browser. Double-check your connection to your Internet Service Provider.
