Can I install a second independent copy of Firefox with its own
settings etc.? Sometimes I need to open a web page while logged in as
a different user or while not logged in at all, to check that a web
page looks right or is accessible to non-registered viewers. I usually
do this by loading it in IE. I've looked to see if there is a Windows
build of IceWeasel but there doesn't seem to be an up-to-date one, and
getting patches would be an issue with any re-brand project.

Phil Hibbs.

"PhilHibbs" ...
> Can I install a second independent copy of Firefox with its own
> settings etc.? Sometimes I need to open a web page while logged in as
> a different user or while not logged in at all, to check that a web
> page looks right or is accessible to non-registered viewers. I usually
> do this by loading it in IE. I've looked to see if there is a Windows
> build of IceWeasel but there doesn't seem to be an up-to-date one, and
> getting patches would be an issue with any re-brand project.

Hi Phil,
You can install another version of Firefox and run them at the same time
but that is not what the rest of the question is asking.

From what I can tell of your question you mean logged in to a site as a
different user as opposed to logged into your system as a different user.

You can set up multiple profiles, please be aware that profile names are
case sensitive and will not be found if you have capitalization incorrect..
Note only one of the profiles can be your default. Your default profile
is what will be used by external applications such as your mail program,
or launching a browser from Windows Explorer (My Computer).

Creating a new Firefox profile on Windows
http://kb.mozillazine.org/Creating_a...ile_on_Windows

Opening a new instance of Firefox with another profile
This article explains how to use the -no-remote command line option, so that
multiple instances of Firefox can be opened at the same time using separate profiles.
http://kb.mozillazine.org/Opening_a_...ther_pro file

Transferring data to a new profile - Firefox
http://kb.mozillazine.org/Transferri...file_-_Firefox
At least one of your profiles, like as a guest visiting your website probably doesn't want
anything copied from your default profile.

Shortcut to a specific profile
http://kb.mozillazine.org/index.php?...ecific_profile

additional information on my own pages ===

Creating a New Profile
http://www.mvps.org/dmcritchie/firefox/newprofile.htm

Profile: Finding and Assigning Shortcuts
http://www.mvps.org/dmcritchie/firefox/profile.htm

Quick Launch additions for Firefox Usage
http://www.mvps.org/dmcritchie/firefox/quicklaunch.htm

--
HTH,
David McRitchie, extensions I use are briefly documented on my site
Firefox Custom: http://www.mvps.org/dmcritchie/firefox/firefox.htm

David McRitchie wrote:
> You can set up multiple profiles, *please be aware that profile names are
> case sensitive and will not be found if you have capitalization incorrect...
> Note only one of the profiles can be your default. *Your default profile
> is what will be used by external applications such as your mail program,
> or launching a browser from *Windows Explorer (My Computer).
>
> Creating a new Firefox profile on Windows
> *http://kb.mozillazine.org/Creating_a...ile_on_Windows

"firefox -p" does nothing other than just launch an identical Firefox
window to the one I get when I run it normally. I tried some
variations, -p, -P, and the full path to the .exe file, but nothing
different. Has this feature changed in FF 3?

Phil Hibbs.

PhilHibbs wrote:
> "firefox -p" does nothing other than just launch an identical Firefox
> window to the one I get when I run it normally. I tried some
> variations, -p, -P, and the full path to the .exe file, but nothing
> different. Has this feature changed in FF 3?

Got it - it's "firefox -profilemanager -no-remote".

Phil Hibbs.

> "firefox -p" does nothing other than just launch an identical Firefox
> window to the one I get when I run it normally. I tried some
> variations, -p, -P, and the full path to the .exe file, but nothing
> different. Has this feature changed in FF 3?

D'oh, the instructions are correct, but I skipped the first "Close
Firefox" step because I was reading the instructions in Firefox.
That's like a cookbook saying "First, close your cookbook". It's the -
no-remote option that made it work, which you mention in passing in
your post. Thanks a lot for pointing me in the right direction.

Phil Hibbs.

PhilHibbs wrote:
> David McRitchie wrote:
>> You can set up multiple profiles, please be aware that profile names are
>> case sensitive and will not be found if you have capitalization incorrect..
>> Note only one of the profiles can be your default. Your default profile
>> is what will be used by external applications such as your mail program,
>> or launching a browser from Windows Explorer (My Computer).
>>
>> Creating a new Firefox profile on Windows
>> http://kb.mozillazine.org/Creating_a...ile_on_Windows
>
> "firefox -p" does nothing other than just launch an identical Firefox
> window to the one I get when I run it normally. I tried some
> variations, -p, -P, and the full path to the .exe file, but nothing
> different. Has this feature changed in FF 3?
>
> Phil Hibbs.

You don't mention an OS, so I will assume you are using windows.

Go to the icon with which you start Firefox, and right-click. Select
'Properties'. On the resulting dialog box, there is a box called
'Target'. The path to your program will be displayed there, and it will
be selected. Click at the right end of the box, and cursor over to the
end, just past the quote mark. Space once, then type -p
Click on OK, then double-click the icon.