New to this Feature? Would you like to try it? Get a quick start guide!

Here is a quick start guide to help you understand how the Silent Update works.
For more information please take a look at the process description wiki page: https://wiki.mozilla.org/Windows_Service_Silent_Update

Platforms that requires testing

This feature is Windows specific only, so if you are a Windows owner you can choose from the following platforms:

• Windows 2003 32-bit and 64-bit
• Windows 2008 32-bit and 64-bit
• Windows 2008R2 32-bit and 64-bit
• Windows XP 32-bit and 64-bit
• Windows Vista 32-bit and 64-bit
• Windows 7 32-bit and 64-bit

Quick Start Guide - Get Started

1. Download the proper build

• currently, the feature is available on the Nightly builds and can be downloaded from here
• the mozilla central build that you downloaded must be newer than January 5th (2012-01-05-08-39-33-mozilla-central/) and doesn't need to be the latest builded (to verify that the service works properly when updating).

2. Install the build in order to get the Mozilla Maintenance Service

• on an standard installation type the Install Maintenance Service box is checked by default.
• on a custom install you need to check the Install Maintenance Service box.

Note: the service is an optional component and if it's not installed or if it is disabled the update will work the old way, by using updater.exe.

3. Check that Mozilla Maintenance Service was installed

From a command prompt you can run "sc query MozillaMaintenance".
If it is installed you will see the following output:

SERVICE_NAME: MozillaMaintenance

      TYPE               : 10  WIN32_OWN_PROCESS  
      STATE              : 1  STOPPED 
      WIN32_EXIT_CODE    : 1077  (0x435)
      SERVICE_EXIT_CODE  : 0  (0x0)
      CHECKPOINT         : 0x0
      WAIT_HINT          : 0x0

If it is not installed, you will see the following output:

  [SC] EnumQueryServicesStatus:OpenService FAILED 1060:
  The specified service does not exist as an installed service.

• check the maintenanceservice-install log (where you can see a successfull installation message if the service was installed succesfully). The logs are available in all users application data.
• the Mozilla Maintenance Service is also listed in the programs list, under the Programs directory, in Control Panel and also in the services list (Right click on My Computer -> Manage -> Services and Applications -> Services).

4. Delete the registry folder in in HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE

If SOFTWARE\Mozilla\MaintenanceService\3932ecacee736d366d6436db0f55bce4 registry folder already exists in HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE then you need to delete it.

5. Perform an update using the service

• The update can be done by passing through all the User Accont Control (UAC) levels, and the UAC levels depends on the platform used.
• The update can also be done running as an administrator or as a limited user.
• For example:
  • on Windows 7 you have several possibilities of testing this feature. You can run as an admin at all the UAC levels (off, low, default and high). Another possibility is to run as a limited account at all UAC levels (running as a limited user account only allows you to set 2 levels of the UAC – the default level and the one beneath the default level).
  • on Windows Vista the UAC level can only be set to on and off (for both admin or limited users).
  • on Windows XP and Windows 2003 the UAC is not present so it can't be set or changed.
• Please remember to restart your computer after every change performed on the UAC regardless if you are running as an admin or limited user. In order to be allowed to change the UAC level when running as a limited user you have to enter the admin credentials.
• If UAC is off or not present (On Windows XP/ Windows 2003 machines) , it should not use the service at all as long as it has write access to the directory. The maintenanceservice-install log is generated (contains the message "Installing service...The service was installed successfully") and updated when upgrading Firefox.
• To perform an update you can simply go to the Help menu -> About:Nightly -> wait for the update to be downloaded and click on the Apply Update button. The update is properly done when the UAC does not prompt you for permission ( if the UAC is on).
• To ensure the update was properly done also check:
  • that Nighlty is updated to the latest version available (check in the about dialog that no other update is available).
  • that the service version is updated to the newest available if that version exists. You can verify this by checking the service version in the installation directory ( Go to C:\Program Files\Mozilla Maintenance Service ->right click on the maitenanceservice.exe and select Properties -> Details -> File version).
  • that the maintenanceservice-install log is updated and a new maintenanceservice log is generated (only if the UAC is on or present). *** the maintenanceservice log contains the text: "updater.exe was launched and run successfully!" and the result of the service command MozillaMaintenance completed with the following result: Success.

Note: The service will not be installed when:

• An x64 native build is being used.
• An OS lower than XP is being used.
• The update is being performed as a limited user account.

Would you like to give it a try?

• A set of test cases can be found here.
• Please create a new sheet like "Test cases - Template", rename it (include the date and your name/nickname e.g TC - Jan09 - Simona) and run the existing test cases.

Issues found?

• if you found any issues or you have any enhancement suggestions that could improve the feature don't hesitate to file a bug.
• go to Bugzilla to report a bug. If you don't have an account you need to register.
• file the bug under the Product:Toolkit and under the Component: Application Update (In Bugzilla go to: New -> from the bottom of the page select Switch to the advanced bug entry form -> Other Product -> Components:Toolkit -> from the Components list select: Application Update).
• If you haven't filled a bug until now you may find some guidelines here.

IMPORTANT

For every reported bug:

• to the CC list always add Brian R. Bondy netzen@gmail.com - this way the issue you reported will get confirmed and resolved.
• please zip the content of the logs folder. The logs folder is available here:
  • C:\ProgramData\Mozilla\logs - on Windows Vista and Windows 7.
  • C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Mozilla\logs - on Windows 2003 and Windows XP.