Run Your Web Browser From USB Drive

Filed in: Downloads, Mozilla, Tips — September 12th, 2004

I want to run Firefox from my USB drive, so that I can have my very own browser wherever I go. Besides, running web browser from USB drive ensure that you do not leave any private data(e.g: password, cookies, etc) on the PC you accessed.

Firefox comes with portable support that allow you to install it on remote storage, such as USB drive, since version 0.9.x. However, the process to make it works is quite troublesome and lacks of Firefox extensions support.

Thanks to John T. Haller! He created a custom package of Firefox — Portable Firefox, which can be easily installed and run on remote storage. Plus, it supports extensions!

Installation and Use:

  • To install, download Portable Firefox zip file and unzip it to the root directory of your USB drive. It will create a “firefox” folder.
  • To use Firefox on your (USB)drive, launch it with the PortableFirefox.exe file in the “firefox” folder.

    Note: DO NOT launch the firefox.exe file directly! Else, It will not load “profile” in USB drive.

Note on Firefox Extensions Installation:

  1. Extentions’ XPIs must be downloaded to your PC before installing. To install, opened XPI file in Firefox by clicking File -> Open File…
  2. Close and Restart Firefox after installing an extension.

Now wherever I online also can use my favorite browser with my custom settings, without worry leaving any track to others! :grin:

For more information on Portable Firefox, please refer to http://johnhaller.com/jh/mozilla/portable_firefox/. Portable Thunderbird also available!

P/S: John T. Haller is a nice and friendly guy. He promptly responsed my enquiries on Portable Firefox. :)

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  • wid

    sorry to bother ur bz schedule as malaysia’s top blog but i’m interested abt firefox n i’ve
    download it like ur instruction but when i open my winzip file there’s no firefox.exe file
    how??can u be more specific thankxxx…ur blog its really informative n help people alot..

  • wid

    sorry to bother ur bz schedule as malaysia’s top blog but i’m interested abt firefox n i’ve
    download it like ur instruction but when i open my winzip file there’s no firefox.exe file
    how??can u be more specific thankxxx…ur blog its really informative n help people alot..

  • http://www.liewcf.com/ LcF

    Please get the latest PortableFirefox version from the homepage:
    http://johnhaller.com/jh/mozilla/portable_firefox/

    I just download the latest version, there is firefox.exe. Please note that you launch Portable Firefox by clicking PortableFirefox.exe, not firefox.exe.

  • http://www.liewcf.com LcF

    Please get the latest PortableFirefox version from the homepage:
    http://johnhaller.com/jh/mozilla/portable_firefox/

    I just download the latest version, there is firefox.exe. Please note that you launch Portable Firefox by clicking PortableFirefox.exe, not firefox.exe.

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