Options, Sync are different between 2 PCs running 29.0.1
Well I have taken snapshots (and modified them) to clearly show the problem. Please see the album with them here:
http://s1168.photobucket.com/user/Richard_Benton/library/Firefox%20Sync%20Options
Just in case you have a problem viewing the information, I will try and explain the issue in words too:
I have been trying to use Firefox sync between two PCs, both running Windows 7 Home Premium and the latest Firefox (version 29.0.1). The problem is that Firefox on the second (newly installed) machine does not display "Manage Account" dropdown list, like on my older machine, so there is no method available to choose the options:
- View Quota - Change Password... - My recovery Key - Reset Sync...
It is quite possible that it is a Windows 7 problem, rather than Firefox, as it still has to finish downloading and installing the next 150 odd Windoze update (already down lots and rebooted).
There are some other issues apparent in the snapshots including:
1. The "good" options on my older machine have an icon on the left of my email address, whereas the "bad" one does not.
2. Both Firefox installs are using a Master password, but I only have the option to sync Passwords, on my older machine (which I understand should not be now available?), whereas the new machine has "greyed out" the option with a blue ? mark on the right for information.
For added information, I have not installed any Add-ons or extensions to the Firefox on the new machine yet, although I have exported the bookmarks from the old machine and imported them on the new one, as the sync did not appear to be working even though they are both meant to be logged in.
Note also that I have used Firefox sync for a long time and sync to both Mercury browser in my iPad Air (using the Mercury Connect 1.2.3 extension) and Safari on my iPad Air (using the iCloud Bookmarks 1.2.12 extension) and both of these seem to work well.
All Replies (3)
You need to upgrade the Richard-HP computer to the newest Sync.
Well, first of all, thank you for the information, although I am somewhat surprised about the whole sync updates, as well as the layout changes.
It seems that what I labelled as the "bad" sync options, appearing under the new computer install, is in fact the new implementation. After reading more information about it, it appears to be designed to make things simpler by just logging in with Firefox Sync account on the new device without needing to use pairing codes.
Unless I am missing something (?), then there no long appears to be a method of selecting one of the "Sync Options" (available when you select "Manage Account", "Reset Sync..." in old sync version) of:
1) Recommended: Merge this device's data with my Sync data. 2) Replace all data on this device with my Sync data. 3) Replace all other devices with this device's data.
If that is so, then I think it is a very retrograde step. I have often used the last two options in the past and it looks like I may have to do a backup and restore (using the "Import and Backup" facilities under "Library", after selecting Bookmarks, Show All Bookmarks).
It is also retrograde in that you can no longer sync passwords if you use a "Master Password", which is a facility that I have used for a long time and one of the reasons that I moved to "Flock" from "Netscape", then (at first reluctantly, "Firefox" when Flock was discontinued). Syncing individual passwords is not quite the same.
I am beginning to loose confidence in Firefox now, especially since the way the last update, with a lot of layout changes, was "imposed" on users. I found this thread about that:
Well I am not going to say that this issue is "fixed" because in my opinion, they have (mistakenly? or thoughtlessly?) made a change to loose functionality required by users.
I have since found Bug 966530, in Bugzilla concerning this issue which I have commented on and cross-referenced to this thread: