07-06-2009, 02:06 PM

I noted a while ago that although I was religiously updating my versions of Apple software, Firefox etc, other users on my iMac still accessed the old versions. I wasn't too bothered as they rarely use my machine and I put this as a job to do 'at some point in the future'

Bad Move.

I recently upgraded to Firefox 3.5 from 3.0.x. Unfortunately, I have discovered that this in incompatible with one of my bank accounts which I cannot now access. No problem I thought, I'll restore the version from last week from Time Machine. Having done this I see that Time Machine only has Firefox 2.0.0 complete with all my old bookmarks and none of my more recent stuff.

Any ideas why Time Machine should not have backed up Firefox 3.0.x which has been on my account for months and regularly updated as updates became available? I daren't check the situation regarding my other apps.

Perhaps I now ought to find out why apps in other accounts are not being upgraded when I upgrade the one on my account. I can't believe that I'm holding copies of each app for each user - something must be set up wrong somewhere. Again, any ideas anyone?

07-06-2009, 09:38 PM

Originally Posted by Sawday

I noted a while ago that although I was religiously updating my versions of Apple software, Firefox etc, other users on my iMac still accessed the old versions. I wasn't too bothered as they rarely use my machine and I put this as a job to do 'at some point in the future'

Bad Move.

I recently upgraded to Firefox 3.5 from 3.0.x. Unfortunately, I have discovered that this in incompatible with one of my bank accounts which I cannot now access. No problem I thought, I'll restore the version from last week from Time Machine. Having done this I see that Time Machine only has Firefox 2.0.0 complete with all my old bookmarks and none of my more recent stuff.

Any ideas why Time Machine should not have backed up Firefox 3.0.x which has been on my account for months and regularly updated as updates became available? I daren't check the situation regarding my other apps.

Perhaps I now ought to find out why apps in other accounts are not being upgraded when I upgrade the one on my account. I can't believe that I'm holding copies of each app for each user - something must be set up wrong somewhere. Again, any ideas anyone?

If you are updating your software regularly, then no one should be able to access the old versions. Unless you aren't deleting the old versions. Where exactly are you putting your downloaded apps? In the root Apps folder, or in YOUR Apps folder? Also, in your Time Machine settings, do you have any folders in the exclusions list?

07-07-2009, 01:37 PM

Thanks for your reply 'lifeisabeach'. When I saw your note about exclusions list I thought that must have something to do with it, but no, Applications folder is not listed there.

I have now managed to load 3.0.1 from Firefox website which is good news and it's definately in the root applications that Firefox is being updated - my user one is empty as are the user ones.

However, on logging on as each user in turn, their Firefox did an update and displayed the 'You are running Firefox v 3.0.1' which had not happened before and I cannot find version 2 anywhere now except on Time Machine.

I'm wondering now if was a bug pre leopard which is now fixed. I note that we are all can access the same version of Safari and iPhoto now so whatever the problem was it looks as though it's now fixed.

When my banking software has resolved it's difficulties with Firefox 3.5 I'll try the update again and check the version the other users access.