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Visual C++ 2008 Express
Date: 4/9/2008
So I had reason to install Visual C++ 2008 Express today, mainly to compile some app that used SSE2 instructions in the inline assembly that Visual C++ 6 doesn't support. It's not like I'm changing religions.. *cough* I mean IDE versions or anything. Just compiling one app.

Anyway it took a right big ol steaming dump in my Firefox install didn't it. The .NET 3.5 installer without asking or warning in the least decides that it can install a Firefox add-on and modify the user agent string. Which is just wrong, WRONG, WRONG!. No Microsoft, you MAY NOT INSTALL ANY CRAP IN MY BROWSER FULLSTOP. No add-ons, no silverlight, no .NET no NOTHING.

So. Deep breath. Google will aid you. 2 quick searches later I have the uninstall instructions. Basically it comes done to this:
  1. Remove the "{20a82645-c095-46ed-80e3-08825760534b}" reg key in
    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Mozilla\Firefox\extensions
  2. Remove the folder
    C:\WINDOWS\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v3.5\Windows Presentation Foundation\DotNetAssistantExtension\
  3. Go into "about:config" in Firefox, search for this entry, right click on the entry and delete/clear it:
    general.useragent.extra.microsoftdotnet
  4. Restart Firefox and you're back to being clean.


Take a deep breath of fresh, Microsoft free, air.

;)
Comments:
Hoffie
04/09/2008 12:56pm
Hehehe! Oh I wish MS would be digging their own grave with stuff like that. But no, it's the customers. They seem the braindead. But who knows...
Michael Neale
04/09/2008 11:02pm
Hey Matt - long time not see !


Well I am not surprised at this - I would be more surprised if it was the non express version, but I guess they assume that "express" users are closer to end users where they can get away with that (and I guess the reason for doing it to firefox is so they can either serve more silberlight content, or at least be able to claim there are X percentage of browsers with .net/silverlight capability).
RC
12/08/2009 1:50am
I like your enthusiasm, but:

"Take a deep breath of fresh, Microsoft free, air."

While working with Microsoft .Net and Microsoft Visual Studio on Microsoft Windows? :D
fret
12/08/2009 2:02am
Yeah it might seem hypocritical but I'm using a lot of platforms, Mac, Linux and Windows and each do somethings really well. However I have a Microsoft free browsing experience on all platforms and thats what I was getting at. Microsoft have been incredibly bad at upholding the web standards and I vote with my feet on that level, and woe to any M$ code that dares to impinge on that sanctity.

:D
 
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