I recently came across an interesting tutorial on how to download FireFox using only the command prompt on Windows XP or Windows Vista, and I have made it a little more user friendly. This may come in handy in a variety of different situations, or it may just be used in an attempt to convince your friends that you are a hacker. In the quick tutorial below, please note that when I use quotes, it indicates exactly what you should type in, but do not type in the quotes themselves unless explicitly noted.
- Go to Start > Run > “cmd” and hit OK. This will load the command prompt.
- type “ftp” and hit enter.
- type “open releases.mozilla.org” and hit enter.
- It will ask for a username, type “anonymous” and hit enter.
- It will then ask for a password, type “anonymous” and hit enter.
- Open the folder with the latest Windows release of Firefox by typing in:
“cd pub/mozilla.org/firefox/releases/latest/win32/en-US” and then enter. - View the contents of the current directory by typing in “ls” and then enter.
- Switch to binary file mode by typing in “type image” and then hit enter.
- Choose the directory to download firefox to by typing “lcd C:\” (Typing this will save it right to the root directory of the C: Drive.
- When you typed in “ls” from step 7, it should have listed a .exe file for you. As of writing the latest version is Firefox Setup 3.0.11.exe. In this case, we will type in: get “Firefox Setup 3.0.11.exe” (type in the quotes)
- Now go check in your c:/ drive, and you should see the .exe file downloaded.
- Type “bye” to exit the FTP mode, and then type “exit” to close out of the Command Prompt.
Web entrepreneur.
There are 7 comment(s) so far ;)
Some users will receive an error “Replace Existing File with Temp File:I/O Error” when trying to download to the C:\ directory. To fix that just change to a non-protected directory before downloading.
Instead of “lcd C:\” type “lcd C:\Users\USER_NAME\Desktop” for example.
I received an error “Replace Existing File with Temp File:I/O Error” although Instead of “lcd C:” type “lcd C:UsersUSER_NAMEDesktop“
Excellent, thank you.
“open” is not a command
That’s the reply I got, and until you install the open command, that is what everyone will get.
Amazingly, I used the information here in conjunction with something I read on another site, and entered
“start http://releases.mozilla.org” and landed where I needed to be.
Thanks to all the generous people out there.
mmhh windows and linux file explorers also can browse Mozilla Ftp. Type in the adress bar ” ftp://releases.mozilla.org “, browse the ftp directories and download graphically the EXE or Linux package. Is easier than the console
Thanks a bunch!