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How do you install Firefox or Opera in such a way that the installed version is completely independent of other installs of the same browser.

This is Windows specific. I'd like to use my own installer to install a browser which will be run in "chromeless" mode to allow the user to access a web-app.

I want the installed browser to not be disturbed by other installations of the same browser whether they come along later or sooner.

Can someone point me at directions/examples for this ?

I've seen Launching Firefox into “chromeless” mode from command prompt but it doesn't address the issue of installation independence.

EDIT: Having seen Brad Pattons reply I realised I missed something out of this question. I want the browser in question to have auto-updates turned on so that it recieves security patches etc. For this reason I don't think a 'portable app' approach is useful (unless there's something about those I don't know ?)

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glaucon
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  • This sounds a lot like a SSB - wierdly enough, while they were pretty common at one point, with options like prism, I can't think of any right now – Journeyman Geek Apr 10 '13 at 05:33
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    Interesting you should say that because last night I came across that acroynm (which I'd never heard before) and as you say it seemed to be quite a thing five years ago and not so much now. If others are interested the wikipedia page http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Site-specific_browser gives an overview but there doesn't seem to be much that's cross-platform and "not Chrome" (not willing to involve myself any more with Google than I already am). – shearichard Apr 10 '13 at 23:55
  • You can just install Firefox in another directory, can't you? – Wk_of_Angmar Apr 13 '13 at 21:13

2 Answers2

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No need for third-party 'portable' installers for Opera. The standard Opera installer allows you to install a standalone installation:

Opera stand-alone installation

This should auto-update just like the regular installation.

galacticninja
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  • Great answer, thanks very much. It's so long since I installed my 'normal' copy of Opera I was unaware of this option. It certainly allows you invoke a 'Current Version' check so I'm guessing it will indeed do its own one automatically. Thanks again. – glaucon Apr 11 '13 at 00:02
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Use the versions of those browsers meant to be run on a flash drive (aka the portable versions) but put them on the local drive. They are designed to be self-contained with hooks into the registry, etc.

Brad Patton
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  • Thanks for your reply. I had thought about the approach however I'm not sure I can get auto-updating of the browser to work using those ? I had meant to put that in the question as a need. I've done that now. Thanks again for your answer. – glaucon Apr 10 '13 at 02:09
  • You can upgrade (see [here](http://portableapps.com/support/firefox_portable#upgrading)) but it will be a manual process. Given the way most installed programs work I'm not sure there is another way to accomplish what you want. Maybe some else will have a different answer. – Brad Patton Apr 10 '13 at 02:13