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Change config fils location from "Document and Settings" to other location

joostvandeelen
joostvandeelen
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I work ass ICT manager in a hospitable and a lot of users like to use Firefox. The problem is that we have a quota manager installed on every system with a maximum profile size limit of 30 MB. The company will not, under any condition, increase this size limit. This creates the problem that users who do have Firefox installed always have to big profiles and can not work anymore.

The main question in this is: can we configure Firefox so that the user settings (and other parts of Firefox) are not written to the "C:\Documents and Settings\[user]" but to another (always available for the user) location?

Another option would be like a portable version of Firefox (Like Google Chrome Portable) but I do not believe Mozilla actually has a portable version? (supported by Mozilla self and only complete storage of al necessary files in one local folder including user settings)

I work ass ICT manager in a hospitable and a lot of users like to use Firefox. The problem is that we have a quota manager installed on every system with a maximum profile size limit of 30 MB. The company will not, under any condition, increase this size limit. This creates the problem that users who do have Firefox installed always have to big profiles and can not work anymore. The main question in this is: can we configure Firefox so that the user settings (and other parts of Firefox) are not written to the "C:\Documents and Settings\[user]" but to another (always available for the user) location? Another option would be like a portable version of Firefox (Like Google Chrome Portable) but I do not believe Mozilla actually has a portable version? (supported by Mozilla self and only complete storage of al necessary files in one local folder including user settings)

joostvandeelen modificouno o

Chosen solution

Firefox uses two locations in Documents and Settings on XP for the profile folder.
One in Application Data for the main profile and another in Local Settings for the cache and the phishing protection database.

Does that second location also fall under that disk quota?

You can only make Firefox use a profile in a different location if you start Firefox by specifying the location of the Firefox Profile Folder in the desktop shortcut, but that can cause problems if you click a link in another program and Firefox isn't running.

Otherwise you would need to prepare a file profiles.ini that points a location (empty folder; that folder needs to exist) elsewhere on the hard drive to be used for the Firefox profile.

See also:

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All Replies (5)

the-edmeister
the-edmeister
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While not an official Mozilla product, but as close as it gets, Portable Firefox is allowed to use the official Firefox branding, unlike any other "community build", ever.
http://portableapps.com/apps/internet/firefox_portable

It is possible to move the entire Profile folder to a different location, but I don't know that is done upon installation of Firefox, or by a batch file for sys admins dealing with a large number of users. When cor-el comes in later, he may be able to offer some suggestions or point you to documentation for doing it.

joostvandeelen
joostvandeelen Question owner
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I could of course search the entire registry for entry's for Firefox, but the chance that Firefox would not work or have malfunctions is a to big of risk to roll out into the company. Therefore any suggestions are welcome. Thanx!!

cor-el
cor-el
  • Moderator
  • Top 10 Contributor
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Chosen Solution

Firefox uses two locations in Documents and Settings on XP for the profile folder.
One in Application Data for the main profile and another in Local Settings for the cache and the phishing protection database.

Does that second location also fall under that disk quota?

You can only make Firefox use a profile in a different location if you start Firefox by specifying the location of the Firefox Profile Folder in the desktop shortcut, but that can cause problems if you click a link in another program and Firefox isn't running.

Otherwise you would need to prepare a file profiles.ini that points a location (empty folder; that folder needs to exist) elsewhere on the hard drive to be used for the Firefox profile.

See also:

joostvandeelen
joostvandeelen Question owner
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Dear Cor-el,

Thanx for your answers, it’s a lot of help. I'm sorry I could not find the articles you referred to before, then I would not have had to post this question.

The quota manager does not look at the "Local Settings" folder so that's no problem. It is not stored to the server profile so al data in there is deleted at logoff. This does not present any problems.

Taking a look at the articles, I think writing a batch file for editing the INI file, creating a new folder location and moving the current profile will do fine in our company.

Thanx again, you just made a lot of users very happy :D

the-edmeister
the-edmeister
  • Moderator
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Please click the Solved It button next to the answer that answered or solved your Firefox support issue, it appears when you are logged in, so this thread gets marked as Solved to help other users who may have this same problem.