After last update, Opera isn't standard browser
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thdoerr last edited by
First of all, as other participants in this forum, I have severe isuues with software updating without any request to the user / administrator of the running system. Nobody should change settings and software versions without request. Computer and settings are not owned by Opera.
Problem: I have been running Opera 12.17. and Opera 23 on my laptop (W7 SP1) just for the reason, that up to this day it was not possible to export safely passords and some special bookmarks from 12 to 23. Opera 23 was marked as standard browser, and I opened Opera 12 only for this issue. Not necessary to mention that it has been quite an adventure to get most of the settings from 12 to initial 21 up now to 23
With the last NOT AUTHORIZED update to Opera 24 a lot of issues have occurred: Even pop-ups are marked as not allowed in the settings of 24, almost every second website opens advertising or other pop ups or opens links to different websites without any prompt or reqeust - I have never experienced this in Opera before. Loading websites is slower than before - I tested it with my own company website.
Worst of all: With the update, Opera 24 claims that it is not any more the standard browser for my system. Even when checking the appropiate checkbox when starting Opera to set Opera 24 as standard browser, Opera doesn't remember this at next start up. So, when opening a link from a text document or from the desktop, Opera 12 opens.
I Hope that there will be a simple solution for this crap within short time. Otherwise, after 20 years of using Opera, I will leave it as any other browser will do better.
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leocg Moderator Volunteer last edited by
Even pop-ups are marked as not allowed in the settings of 24, almost every second website opens advertising or other pop ups or opens links to different websites without any prompt or reqeust
What kind of pop-ups? What kind of links? You should scan your computer for malwares.
Worst of all: With the update, Opera 24 claims that it is not any more the standard browser for my system. Even when checking the appropiate checkbox when starting Opera to set Opera 24 as standard browser, Opera doesn't remember this at next start up. So, when opening a link from a text document or from the desktop, Opera 12 opens.
Make sur ethat you are running Opera with admin rights. Also check if there isn't any third part software cleaning/resetting Opera's settings.
You can also try to make it the default browser on Control Panel.
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thdoerr last edited by
leocg: Thank you for the hints.
Laptop is protected by Kaspersky Endpoint Security with weekly complete check for malware - check was of course performed in addition when problems occured - no malware. No unusual additional network traffic. No other software performs in an unusual way including mail servers and clients (The Bat).
Pop-Up and links: Opening an definitively unsuspicious site as www.t-online.de (Address and network routing checked for malrouting and phishing) opens additional tabs with advertising sites as well as advertising pop ups, never seen this for years up to Opera 23.
Treating problems with software is always performed with admin rights.
Choosing MS IE as standard browser works well and IE as well as Windows remembers the settings.
With Opera 12.17 and Opera 24 both installed (of course in different directories) control panel has difficulties distinguishing these browsers. No problem with Opera 23.
So, apart from the issue with automatic updates without permission by admin / user, which you did not mention in your comment, the problem seems (on my pooint of view) to be Opera 24.
Sorry
As I mentioned above, I was quite happy with Opera for years, with a little loss since Opera 21, but I do not want to spent either my time nor the time of my employees repairing software bugs. So, if there is no change within a reasonable time, Opera will not be the standard browser for our company even longer.
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leocg Moderator Volunteer last edited by
Pop-Up and links: Opening an definitively unsuspicious site as www.t-online.de (Address and network routing checked for malrouting and phishing) opens additional tabs with advertising sites as well as advertising pop ups, never seen this for years up to Opera 23.
Well, pop-up blocker seems to be working fine here for that page and (almost) all others.
You can try with a new clean profile to see if anything changes.
Treating problems with software is always performed with admin rights.
Choosing MS IE as standard browser works well and IE as well as Windows remembers the settings.Well, Opera needs to be able to change the registry to set itself as the default browser.
With Opera 12.17 and Opera 24 both installed (of course in different directories) control panel has difficulties distinguishing these browsers. No problem with Opera 23.
Here on Win8.1 hey have different names: Opera Stable for 24 and Opera Web Browser for 12.17.
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thdoerr last edited by
leocg:
Thank you again for your hints.
Meanwhile, I have completely removed Opera 24 from this machine and done a clean new install. Opera 24 is now stable the standard browser. No more pop-ups.
Regarding your last remarks, as you are probably as a moderator working for Opera, here are some hints for you:
As making changes to software as admin, Opera should be able to change registry entries. Has not done this with the update, so the update process seems to have a problem.
To me, it seems that all problems have occured with the automatic update: There seems to be a problem updateing from any version 21-23. In difference to the update, Opera has been installed in the path ...\Program Files\Opera merging the path with Opera 12 instead of creating a seperate path as Opera 21 - 23 have done. Running the clean install, Opera 24 identifies itself as Opera Stable now (W7 SP 1), in difference to the automatic update.
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thdoerr last edited by
... continued:
You have referrred in your reply to W8: Do Opera programmers recognize that most Business users use W7 SP1 Pro waiting for W10? As some other software producers experience some software issues due to differences between W7 and W8, W8 should not be the first reference at all.
In addition: Would Opera staff acknowldege that a lot of users have issues with automatic updates for any kind of software, so Opera should allow to let the user choose the way of updating your software himself?
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leocg Moderator Volunteer last edited by admin
You have referrred in your reply to W8: Do Opera programmers recognize that most Business users use W7 SP1 Pro waiting for W10? As some other software producers experience some software issues due to differences between W7 and W8, W8 should not be the first reference at all.
I've referred to Win8.1 because that was the Windows i was using at the time of the reply.
In addition: Would Opera staff acknowldege that a lot of users have issues with automatic updates for any kind of software, so Opera should allow to let the user choose the way of updating your software himself?
If they have reported the issues, then the answer should be yes. And afaik there were some complains about it already.
In my humble personal opinion, i don' think that anything will change in a near future.
Btw, there is a way to avoid automatic updates: https://forums.opera.com/post/36857
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upgradevictim last edited by
For years I never received any automatic updates to Opera because I had opted out of them.
But a couple of hours ago I found an upgrade foisted on me, an upgrade that has completely upended my user experience with Opera.
Perhaps your technical staff are not familiar with your legal responsibilities, but your lawyers certainly are. You should talk to them.
If you change software on my computer when I have asked you not to, then you have hacked my computer, and you deserve the full civil and criminal penalties that activity brings.
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blackbird71 last edited by@upgradevictim, well, strange "stuff" happens. If you've used computers "for years", you should know that. But at present (October 2014), there is no Opera-created way to "auto-update" 'old' (12.xx or earlier) versions of Opera into the current 'new' version(s). That path simply doesn't exist... the technologies of the browser families are different, and the "auto-updater" to replace one version family with the other family hasn't yet been issued by Opera - if, indeed, it ever is. When the 'new' Opera versions are first manually installed using Opera's auto-updater, they are simply placed on the system in parallel with any old Opera versions, but they don't replace or alter the 'old' versions. Opera's auto-updating of both 'old' and 'new' Opera versions is limited by design and technology to only within the same family. The only interaction there might be between the 'old' versions and the 'new' upon first installation might be to copy some of the old version's bookmarking into the new, if the old version was the default browser on the system.
If you received an unsolicited upgrade of Opera from the 'old' versions to the 'new' version family, it is either some kind of bizarre and serious system malfunction, or more likely your use of a security-related product like Vipre that has a feature providing its own "quiet" 'auto-updating' of all your system's software applications. How Vipre (or whoever) accomplishes their own upgrading of Opera versions is for them to explain, as to whether it involves any subsequent removal of all or part of the old Opera version (or how/if one can restore the "lost" version). The Vipre 'surprise-updating' of Opera issue has been reported several times here. If it's involved in your situation, it's an issue you would have to take up directly with them (and their "lawyers", though in that case I'll just bet you agreed to some kind of TOS or EULA that grants their software permission to do such things).
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Deleted User last edited by
If you change software on my computer when I have asked you not to, then you have hacked >my computer, and you deserve the full civil and criminal penalties that activity brings.
LOL... are you for real? You are using their software FREE of charge. When you agree to their terms of service, you get what you get. You have no legal right to bring any civil or criminal (ROFL... criminal? really?) action against Opera. Leo has given a link earlier in the thread that details how to avoid auto updates if that has got your pantyhose in a twist. My advice: go find another browser to keep a smile on your face but stop with the silly threats of litigation. At least you put a smile on my face today and for that I thank you.
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leocg Moderator Volunteer last edited by
For years I never received any automatic updates to Opera because I had opted out of them.
But a couple of hours ago I found an upgrade foisted on me, an upgrade that has completely upended my user experience with Opera.Upgrade from which version to which version?
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linuxmint7 last edited by
You agreed to the auto-update service when you installed Opera Blink for the first time. It is stated in the licence agreement that is shown on first installation.
I pasted it here on the forum for another user who was complaining about the very same thing.
Here are the relevant parts, but the full text can be found in the resources folder of your Opera installation.
End-user license agreement and terms of service for Opera for desktop
Please read this carefully. This software license agreement and terms of service (“Terms”), including the privacy provisions in section 7 of these Terms, form a binding contract between you and Opera Software ASA (“Opera”), whose principal place of business is Gjerdrums vei 19, 0484, Oslo, Norway. By acceptance of delivery of the software and services you (“you”) hereby agree to be bound by these Terms. Otherwise, please discontinue the use of the software and services.
1 Acceptance of terms
You can accept the Terms by selecting to accept or to agree to the Terms during the installation process or when the dialog is displayed in the user interface, or by your use of the Software and Services.
You declare by acceptance of the Terms that you are of legal age to use the Software and Services.
2.3 "Services" means the various services to which Opera provides users with access, including without limitation, the Opera Turbo feature, Discover feature, search services, automatic updates, personalized content and branded offerings.
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blackbird71 last edited by
For years I never received any automatic updates to Opera because I had opted out of them.
But a couple of hours ago I found an upgrade foisted on me, an upgrade that has completely upended my user experience with Opera.Upgrade from which version to which version?
One can only guess, until/unless @upgradevictim responds. However, based on his complaint about "an upgrade that has completely upended my user experience with Opera," after describing that he used Opera "for years" without auto-updating, one can readily surmise that he was using a Presto Opera version and now he's being presented with Blink Opera when he starts up "Opera". This is very symptomatic of elements in a couple of user complaints about "forced Opera upgrades from Presto to Blink" in past forum threads here. In those cases, a Vipre program "feature" that is intended to keep all of a user's Internet-facing programs "fully current and updated" apparently deals with a user's Presto Opera (since it can't technically "update" Presto to the latest Blink version) by simply installing Blink Opera on the system and either converting the old shortcuts to point to the new program or by replacing those shortcuts with new ones. This all occurs in the background, so an unaware Presto Opera user is suddenly presented with an entirely new Opera version that he did not manually request or authorize. Net result: Opera gets unfairly blamed for "auto-updating" its Presto version, when the reality is that something else (Vipre, etc) installed the new Blink version and switched the shortcuts to point to it.
Whether the old Presto is left alone, as Opera's Blink installation normally does, is uncertain. I haven't yet figured out if the Vipre (or similar) program, after installing the new Opera version, goes ahead and messes with the old Presto or removes anything related to it. If, as I suspect, it leaves the Presto version alone, the user can simply find the folder where it lives and create a new shortcut to the opera.exe executable and be back in business. Otherwise, if Vipre (or whatever) messes up the Presto installation in some way, that is a question that has to be put to that software maker.
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upgradevictim last edited by
I was using Presto 12.17. Indeed, now looking at my program folders, it seems I still am. I couldn't check the version from Opera itself because Help and all those other useful buttons at the top have disappeared.
I started Opera yesterday and was presented with a splash screen. I don't have the exact wording, but it said that an upgrade was available. I wanted to skip the upgrade, but there was no option I could find on the page to skip the upgrade. So I stopped Opera and restarted it. Same no-way-out splash page. So instead of proceeding with the upgrade, I just put an address in the address bar and started browsing, expecting to browse with old Opera as usual. I then found that everything had been upended, with the top bar showing Home, Bookmarks, Tools, Help and such gone. I could get bookmarks and few other things back in a confusing sidebar, but that was it. It looked like a new version of Opera, but based on what's in my program folders it's actually a completely different look of the old one.
So it seems there was an attempt at an upgrade which didn't succeed, but which somehow nonetheless completely upended the customised look and feel of my browser. That's wrong. I just want to browse, and not waste time digging in Program Files to see what Opera files I have. And I don't feel like wasting more time trying to get my custom settings back.
Finally, I had specifically opted out of automatic upgrades, so please don't insult my intelligence by waiving those TOS.
(And no, I am not running Viper or anything like it; I'm only runnng PrivateFirewall 7, which didn't block or catch anything since I have an exception for Opera.)
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leocg Moderator Volunteer last edited by
I was using Presto 12.17. Indeed, now looking at my program folders, it seems I still am. I couldn't check the version from Opera itself because Help and all those other useful buttons at the top have disappeared.
Just for curiosity, do you have a screenshot of this new Opera?
I started Opera yesterday and was presented with a splash screen. I don't have the exact wording, but it said that an upgrade was available.
How did it look like? You said that you've disabled autoupdate on Opera 12.17 so you shouldn't be seeing anything like that.
Btw, how did you disabled autoupdate?I then found that everything had been upended, with the top bar showing Home, Bookmarks, Tools, Help and such gone. I could get bookmarks and few other things back in a confusing sidebar, but that was it
Which sidebar? What's on it?
On your %appdata% directory do you see any "Opera Software" and or "Opers Stable" folder?
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A Former User last edited by
Check the properties of your Opera launcher. I guess it must probably be the opera.exe file. Right, Leo?
(And yet again - maybe there are more than one Opera on your system still? Try your system searcher for opera.exe files to find out. (You can also see what folders they are in - if several.)) -
blackbird71 last edited by
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Finally, I had specifically opted out of automatic upgrades, so please don't insult my intelligence by waiving those TOS. (And no, I am not running Viper or anything like it; I'm only runnng PrivateFirewall 7, which didn't block or catch anything since I have an exception for Opera.)@upgradevictim, there is currently no Opera-authorized update for Opera 12.17 that would indicate its presence in a genuine Presto Opera (12.xx or below) "update" screen. At present, Opera 12.17 installations are blissfully unaware that a higher version exists, and Opera's update servers are equally unaware that Opera 12.17 exists, for updating purposes. Whatever occurred was either the result of a malfunction (within your original Opera installation or your system) or something else on your system is invoking the "update" screen you encountered (a legitimate program or malware). The point remains that Opera has not and currently is not attempting to update Presto Opera installations into Blink Opera installations; neither the technology nor the software to do that presently exists. You are the one who invoked threats of legalities and such in your rather hostile posting; I was simply replying within that same paradigm in that part of my post.
@leocg and @joshl are trying to help decipher what caused that 'update' screen and what has happened since. Questions exist: how did you originally set the update blocking, what new software did the system actually install (if any), what did that activity (aborted or otherwise) do to the old Opera installation, etc.
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upgradevictim last edited by
I have only one version of Opera on my computer.
I don't have a screenshot of the splash screen "offering" the upgrade, but I was upset that I could not seem to find any button on it for "Install Later" or such.
In Program Files/Opera, none of the files have been modified for months.
In D&S/Owner/Opera (same as %appdata%), the following files were modified at the time of the aborted upgrade:
http://i59.tinypic.com/xvfxc.jpg
(Other files may have been modified at that time as well, but if they were modified again later, they aren't on that list.)
Here's what my Opera looks like now, when that side panel is showing:
http://i62.tinypic.com/288xidg.jpg
Bookmarks work completely differently than before: a panel fills the left-hand side of the screen and it must be clicked close after going to a bookmarked site. Very clumsy compared with the IE-Firefox-Old Opera slide-down menu.
I don't have a screenshot of pre-disaster Opera, but it looked pretty much like IE and Firefox, with the usual Tools-Bookmarks-Home etc navigation bar at the top. Nothing I click on the latest Opera seems to be able to bring those back.
In Security somewhere I'd checked Do Not Check for Updates; I don't like browsers "calling home" without my permission, and I'd NEVER had an update offered before. I always checked manually from time to time.
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upgradevictim last edited by
I did not see your 2:51 post before making my post.
As you can see from the link, my Opera %appdata% file shows several files created or modified at the time of the attempted upgrade.
Do I understand your note correctly: that the creation and modification of these files is NOT the result of any activity by Opera's servers?
This is a very important point.
I was not aware of any malware which could install by mocking itself as an Opera upgrade.
