Firefox 1.5, Flash and Java in amd64 Ubuntu Breezy installations

You can run Flash and Java plugins in AMD64 bits computers with Firefox, just follow these easy steps :

What we are going to do is install 'Firefox 1.5 32 bits version', using linux32 execution command. (Without the complicated 'chroot' method)

With this method you can't use the original 'Firefox' from Ubuntu and this new installation at the same time, but it doesn't matter because you won't use the default navigator anymore , for this reason is a good idea print this manual and shut down Firefox browser.

1 - Install suport for 32 bits applications :

• sudo apt-get install ia32-libs ia32-libs-gtk linux32

2 - Download firefox 32 bits version from www.getfirefox.com

• http://www.mozilla.com/products/download.html?product=firefox-1.5&os=linux&lang=en-US

See also FirefoxNewVersion which however differs in some details (installs into /opt; replaces regular /usr/bin/firefox with a new command)

3 - Untar the downloaded file like you allways do in Ubuntu, and go inside the directory :

• cd ~/Desktop/firefox

  (or go where the uncompressed file is)

4 - Create a folder for the 32 bits firefox installation, and copy firefox there :

• mkdir /usr/local/firefox32 cp -r -p ./* /usr/local/firefox32/

5 - Prepare pango to use firefox 32 bits :

• sudo gedit /etc/pango32/pangorc &

6 - Write the next italic text to this file :

[Pango]

ModuleFiles=/etc/pango32/pango.modules

[PangoX]

AliasFiles=/etc/pango/pangox.aliases

7 - Create the execution file for firefox of 32 bits :

• sudo gedit /usr/local/bin/firefox32 &

8 - Write the next italic text to this file :

#!/bin/sh

export GTK_PATH=/usr/lib32/gtk-2.0

export PANGO_RC_FILE=/etc/pango32/pangorc

linux32 /usr/local/firefox32/firefox $@

9 - Make it executable :

• sudo chmod +x /usr/local/bin/firefox32

10 - Check if your new 32 bits firefox is working :

• firefox32 &

  (it says warnings but doesn't matter)

11 - To install flash, download linux 32 bits flash player from macromedia and untar it :

• http://www.macromedia.com/shockwave/download/download.cgi?P1_Prod_Version=ShockwaveFlash

12 - Install flash player :

• sudo bash apt-get install gsfonts apt-get install gsfonts-x11 cd ~/Desktop/ linux32 ./install_flash_player_7_linux/flashplayer-installer

  (When the installer asks you for the 'navigator path', write : /usr/local/firefox32/)

13 - Check if your new Firefox is working with flash, restart the browser and visit : http://www.macromedia.com

• firefox32 &

14 - To install Java player to run applets, go to http://www.java.com, and download the linux self stracting file for 32 bits linux computers (I was surprised to see than this file works in amd64 bits Breezy installation) :

• http://www.java.com/en/download/linux_manual.jsp

15 - To install java :

• sudo bash chmod 777 ./jre-1_5_0_06-linux-i586.bin

  (this file name will depend on the java version you download)

• /jre-1_5_0_06-linux-i586.bin

  (it will ask you some questions) mkdir /usr/local/java32 cp -r -p ./jre1.5.0_06/* /usr/local/java32 cd /usr/local/firefox32/plugins/ ln -s /usr/local/java32/plugin/i386/ns7/libjavaplugin_oji.so ./

16 - Restart firefox32 and check if java is working :

• firefox32 &

17 - Visit : http://www.java.com/en/download/installed.jsp

18 - Add an icon at the top panel to start this 'cool' browser :

• Click with the right button at the top panel Choose : Add to panel Choose : Custom application launcher, and press 'Add' button
  • Name : firefox32 Generic name : Firefox 1.5 32 bits Comment : Firefox with 'Flash' and 'Java' Command : firefox32 Type : Application Icon : /usr/share/pixmaps/mozilla-firefox.png

19 - Enjoy the net !

• With this installation Flash and Java works like charm, I only found one problem because the 'Open' button from the downloads window doesn't work (also the execute programs option), for me it really doesn't matter if I can enjoy sites with Flash and Java. PhilOSparta told in 'Ubuntu forums' than sound was not working properly for him, he solved the problem with the next line (I have not tried it but maybe can solve problems to someone) : sudo ln -s /usr/lib/libesd.so.0 /usr/lib/libesd.so.1

Thanks for your attention, kisses

Albert Palacios

DrBob: just 2 comments

• sound is an issue under KDE (Kubuntu) as well. The arts daemon (if running) must be suspended in order for Flash to be able to emit sound.
• with the above procedure, the fonts used by firefox32 don't match those in the ubuntu-packaged version. I don't know how to fix this (those that appear in firefox32 are oversized for me, YMMV). NB. I'm talking about the fonts used in the GUI, not those used in rendering webpages (but the latter don't quite match either).

Lachek:

It appears that the reason the "Open" (or "Execute") button doesn't work for downloads is that the application is trying to pass control from the linux32 emulation layer to a native 64-bit application as a child process (or something like that, anyway). Some applications work - xpdf for example - but Gnome applications and possibly others do not. I am currently working on this problem (a solution, or at least a workaround, is required for my client) and will be posting an update if I find one. If anyone has a solution, please post it here.

Discuss this page at http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?p=626612

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