Re: Add-Ons Windows

Tue, 28 Jul 2009 10:03:45 +0200, /[email protected]/:

> I noticed that Firefox uses add-ons that are not explicit installed for 
> Firefox. How does that work?
> 
> It might be that there is a system directory for add-ons, which is used 
> by any browser, so no browser can uninstall these add-ons. Where are they?

Seems both extensions and plug-ins could be installed by means of 
Windows Registry configuration specifying their location and where 
Firefox searches for no matter if it has been installed at later 
stage and the add-ons do not reside in the Firefox directory:

https://developer.mozilla.org/en/Plugins/The_First_Install_Problem
https://developer.mozilla.org/en/Adding_Extensions_using_the_Windows_Registry

You could uninstall such add-ons by using their original 
installer/uninstaller.

> I'd wish for an option to disable the use of add-ons, that are not 
> explicit installed to the Firefox-directory - does that already exist?

As far as I see you can disable both extensions and plug-ins 
selectively.  You can also disable "automatic plugin scan" 
<http://kb.mozillazine.org/Issues_related_to_plugins>:

> On Windows systems, Mozilla browsers will scan for common plugins in 
> other locations, even if the browser plugins folder is empty. You 
> can prevent the automatic scan for for common plugins such as 
> Windows Media Player or Quicktime by modifying the related 
> preference settings. For detailed instructions, see Plugin scanning. 
> Note that some plugins that are detected via plugin scanning, such 
> as Java and Adobe Reader, can be disabled by other methods, 
> described below.

-- 
Stanimir