SillyDog701

[arbarca]

I am currently using Netscape Communicator. (7.2). The curent problems with the browser crashing with Flash version 9 has been the last straw and I would like to migrate to Firefox. I currently use both the browser and the mail client. I don't know if the best solution is to go to Firefox and Thunderbird or SeaMonkey ... as I would like to have the browser launch when I click on a link from my email (a feature I currently enjoy).
Furthermore, both the current browser and email programs have several profiles.
So ... me questions are which is the best approach .... and given the fact that I have several profiles what do I have to prepare before doing the migration.
Whew!!

Thanks.

UserAgent: Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 6.0; Windows NT 5.0; InfoPath.1)

[Fulvio]

In first place only Flash9 r.028 causes crashes in NS7.2, so using an older version will eliminate the problem. The matter has been discussed at this and other newsgroups.
In second place to use Firefox as browser and NS7.2 for mail is not a good idea, because links in NS7.2 will open in 7.2, and, if you don't fix the Flash problem you would have as many problems as before.
Now, what do you mean several profiles? Unfortunately profiles and mail accounts have been used interchangeably. You needed a different profile for each mail account with the real Communicator, i.e. v.4.8 and lower, but v.7.2, which is not called Communicator, requires one profile, with several mail accounts. If you set up like the old way, i.e. one profile+one mail account, it may complicate things.
If you want to use Seamonkey, you could use the same profile as that of NS7.2. In the case of Firefox as browser, and Thunderbird for mail, you will be prompted on installation to import the settings, but if you use multiple profiles, you will be better off starting from scratch, and use a single profile with many mail accounts.
So, there is no simple answer, if you are not familiar with what I am saying.
Just make sure that you remove Netscape, if you want to use its profile for Seamonkey.
But, don't uninstall Netscape if you want to migrate to Firefox/Thunderbird.

UserAgent: Mozilla/5.0 (Windows; U; Windows NT 5.1; en-US; rv:1.8.1.2) Gecko/20070219 Firefox/2.0.0.2

[Ramona]

Welcome to the Forum, arbaca!

If you choose Firefox and Thunderbird, making Firefox your default browser, and Thunderbird your default Mail client, then Firefox will open if clicking on a link in Thunderbird. SeaMonkey will do the same.

If you have multiple Profiles, then Thunderbird and Firefox will only migrate the default Profile. However, there is a way to work around this.

Pre-installation preparation would include:

Empty the Trash Folder in the Mail program
Compact your Mail folders
Delete the Cache Folder, history.dat, and XUL.mfl files
Make a backup copy of your Profiles folder

Leave Netscape 7.2 installed until after you have installed whichever program(s) you decide on, and until you are certain all data has been migrated successfully.

If you are using more than one profile Firefox/Thunderbird will ask you which profile you want to migrate settings from, the first time you start the program, using the newer profile folder name. Firefox/Thunderbird can only import from one source.

You can import one profile, run Firefox with the profile manager, and delete the profile, but not the files, when prompted to Delete or Don't Delete, then run Firefox again and import the other profile(s).

Run Firefox with the profile manager and create a new profile in the same location as the deleted one and all the settings in it will be picked up.

Follow this procedure for all Profiles, and once they are all in place, remember to recreate the Profiles in Profile Manager, using the exact same name as that which you deleted.

For SeaMonkey, unless you intend to run both SeaMonkey and Netscape:
Make a backup copy of your plugins folder located here:
C:\Program Files\Netscape\plugins
Make a backup copy of your Profiles folder

Uninstall Netscape 7.2 using Add/Remove
Delete the Netscape Program Files located here:
C:\Program Files\Netscape

REBOOT THE PC

Install SeaMonkey
When the browser starts, it will automatically use the Netscape Profile

If you plan on running both SeaMonkey and Netscape, then create a new Profile for SeaMonkey before installation. Sharing a single profile between the two applications will cause corruption.

This is a lot of information, so if you have questions, feel free to ask...

UserAgent: Mozilla/5.0 (Windows; U; Windows NT 5.1; en-US; rv:1.8.1.2) Gecko/20070219 Firefox/2.0.0.2

[arbarca]

Thanks a lot, for all the info. Several points if I may. By profile, especially with the email client, I had set up with the profile manager, 4 different identities (myself, my wife and one each for my 2 kids) so I thought I was using the right terminology.
It was not my intention to keep Netscape after installing Firefox & Thunderbird ... and if Thunderbird will open Firefox then terrific.
In reading some of the comments on your sight, I have the impression that SeaMonkey per se is not as "modern" as Firefox and Thunderbird. If that is so ... then these 2 programs are the way for me to go.
I downloaded the fp8_archive and ran the install programs which I assumed would update the plugins to the older version. I've run the flashplayer8r(22,24,33,34)_win.exe programs, each time with no sucess. Yes I did close and restart the browser. This should be so simple its almost embarrasing.
Now, I'm going to digest the info both of you have been so kind to provide.
Thanks

UserAgent: Mozilla/5.0 (Windows; U; Windows NT 5.0; en-US; rv:1.7.2) Gecko/20040804 Netscape/7.2 (ax)

[Fulvio]

Ramona would be the person who could best help you with the plugin. There may be a simple way, but I don't have it at hand.
As for the profiles, one would be called "default", while the other would have different names. So, you seem to be using the correct terminology. Note this link on Profile Manager by-pass.
As Ramona said only the "default" info would be imported in Firefox and Thunderbird. As for Firefox, unless each of you keep a different set of bookmarks, it should not matter. It is a matter of preference to keep the profiles separate, but not necessary. It is a matter of privacy or else habit carried over from NS4.x.
No matter what you will have to copy your files, in Windows Explorer, manually.
As for Seamonkey, it should work as Ramona said, picking up the Netscape profile(s). I had all sort of problems when I tried to do that, although, I had uninstalled NS7.2 to avoid profile corruption. But, it should work.
Seamonkey is as up to date as the standalone combination of Firefox/Thunderbird, although the development may be off by a few days. Seamonkey1.0.8 which I am using now is based on the same Firefox/Thunderbird 1.5.0.10 which came out a few days ago.

UserAgent: Mozilla/5.0 (Windows; U; Windows NT 5.1; en-US; rv:1.8.0.10) Gecko/20070217 SeaMonkey/1.0.8

[Ramona]

No matter what you will have to copy your files, in Windows Explorer, manually.

Fulvio,

That is no longer the case when there are multiple Profiles. If you read my reply, you will see that Mozilla lays out a procedure which enables both Firefox and Thunderbird to migrate multiple Profiles:
Migrate Automatically from Netscape by Removing Thunderbird/Firefox Profiles

This works for both applications [Thunderbird and Firefox].

UserAgent: Mozilla/5.0 (Windows; U; Windows NT 5.1; en-US; rv:1.8.1.2) Gecko/20070219 Firefox/2.0.0.2

[arbarca]

Ramona,

As I previously stated, I downloaded the fp8_archive and ran the install programs which I assumed would update the plugins to the older version. I've run flashplayer8r(22,24,33,34)_win.exe programs, each time with no sucess.
Then I repeated the process by first deleting the dll from the plugin subdirectory and then running one of the install programs. THIS time I checked the version of the dll using the help\about plugins and the list showed the dll as version 9! which explains why I've been unsuccessful in downgrading. Why would Netscape think that the dll is version 9 when I'm using a version 8 install? .... or is it time to put me out to pasture????

Thanks to both of you for your efforts so far.

UserAgent: Mozilla/5.0 (Windows; U; Windows NT 5.0; en-US; rv:1.7.2) Gecko/20040804 Netscape/7.2 (ax)

[Fulvio]

Ramona,
it seems that a lot of people either do not realize that it is necessary to select to import settings in TB and FF, or for some reason the the selection does not work. I have had no problem, and it should work the way that it is described in the link, but not everything works allright.

Arbarca,
so you deleted the .dll(s), and then reinstalled the older Flash version? My NS7.2 has v.8. In any event v.9 r.016 should also work. Don't delete anything, look before and after the installation.

UserAgent: Mozilla/5.0 (Windows; U; Windows NT 5.1; en-US; rv:1.8.1.2) Gecko/20070219 Firefox/2.0.0.2

[arbarca]

I kept on getting the latest version of flash regardless of my source (the version 8's and the version 9 that you linked me to). As a last resort, I googled uninstall flash, got a proper uninstall program from the Adobe site:
http://www.adobe.com/cfusion/knowledgeb ... d=tn_14157.
Uninstalled and did a clean re-install. ... and voila success!!
Really perplexing.
Now I can spend the time and plan my migration from Netscape without pressure.
Thanks again, really appreciated all the prompt responses.
Great site!

UserAgent: Mozilla/5.0 (Windows; U; Windows NT 5.0; en-US; rv:1.7.2) Gecko/20040804 Netscape/7.2 (ax)

[Fulvio]

Gee, I would have never expected this much trouble. I have three different version of the .dll files, but only Above Flash 9 ActiveX installed. I have v.8. in Ns&.2, 9.0.r16 in another browser, and 9.0.r28 in most. Probably, the reason why I got all this junk is because I backed up my Plugins folders, and the backups are not modified.

UserAgent: Mozilla/5.0 (Windows; U; Windows NT 5.1; en-US; rv:1.8.0.7) Gecko/20060917 K-Meleon/1.02