Installed Linux Mint because Ubuntu and it had largest binary reps, started the Firefox browser and found out that it LM branding in it: Yahoo engine, Google search removed.
I don't want it, I want a stock firefox please (Ubuntu has no ESR unlike Debian, which sucks for plugins, but whatever).

After brief look up found that it has:
/etc/skel/.mozilla, and own version of Firefox (-mint).

Removed (rm -rf) that and forced ubuntu Firefox version+pinned, because Linux Mint sets its repository to higher priority, possibly to overwrite all Ubuntu packages. Its in /etc/apt/preferences.d/*. Ok inability to select per-application source preference is apt limitation, understandable.

So, purged firefox, installed only Ubuntu version, removed local settings (rm ~/.mozilla ~/.cache/mozilla). Starting up firefox I am greeted by Linux mint startpage and About window shows "Firefox for Linux Mint 1.0". WTF...

Finally found this:
"/etc/linuxmint/adjustments" seem to be responsible. Basically, it force-changes the settings on (every reinstall?) by overwriting with LM values.

Apart from changing wallpapers, it changes sounds, forces plugins to auto-update(WTF), installs branding, changes search engines etc.

But I just want to have an OS which I can control. Adding branding is fine, but modifying how software behaves not.
If some change is to be applied, I want to explicitly see and pick this change, not to be hideously modified in the background..

I have a feeling that I installed "Ad-sponsored search bar" instead of an OS. :/

Is there anything else I am missing? Is LM also pinging distrowatch? :/

Edit:

.. yes, I know. Don't point at me :)

That's only because of some deals Linux Mint has made with DuckDuckGo & Yahoo if I'm not mistaken. You can add back any number of search engines you like.

It's also not a "custom" version of Firefox, but a standard/stock version compiled by Linux Mint (they always keep it up to date with the latest version out there via the Update Manager) with some minor additions on top. I've been using it for years now without any issues.

Removing the stuff Linux Mint adds on top of it shouldn't take you more than a couple of minutes.

You can obviously also change the start page, but last I remember the Linux Mint devs were using the unique visitors on the start page to count the number of Linux Mint installations out there. Still, it's entirely up to you if you want to keep it or not. The automatic reset/revert of certain settings was added in to enhance the experience for new users. Apparently, people new to Linux which were trying out Linux Mint were frequently found to mess up some settings and unable to figure a way out of the mess they made themselves.

If you want an OS that lets you do everything yourself, I don't think Mint is a valid option any longer, unless you want to spend some time disabling all these fail-safe features the devs have included.

I agree, Mint is great for new users or if you enjoy all their specific design choices.

Otherwise it's just another layer of features you need to customize or disable to get it to your liking, and you'd be better off with another distro if that's the case.

I abandoned Linux Mint shortly after it switched to the the Ubuntu LTS only (it didn't want to deal with there library incompatibilities due to due to using updated repos that were based on the newer Ubuntu updates), but fortunately for me there was an official version of Ubuntu Mate by that time.

If you like the Linux Mint desktop you can get an almost identical appearance & functionality (without having to deal with that Firefox, seemingly forced plugin updates or other issues) by installing Ubuntu Mate.

To setup the menu bar so that it's most identical to Linux Mint, right click on on an a blank area of the menu bar (it's the bar that says "Applications", "Places", "System")

Click on "Add to Panel..."

Type "advanced" in the text entry bar to the right of "Find an item to add to the panel:"

The list will be filtered to a single option of "MATE Menu Advanced MATE Menu"

Click on the "Add" at the bottom right of the window

You will now have a white button of the Mate logo that's labeled "Menu"

Right click on the new button, select "Move"; you can now drag this new button to a desire spot on either of the two panel bars

If you wish to place the new button in a spot currently occupied by one of the other buttons; you'll have to unlock & move those first by right clicking on one of them & selecting "Unlock", followed by right clicking on one of the button & selecting "Move"

Like everybody else said you should probably try a more hands-on distro with no forced architectural decisions, vanilla packages, and a rolling release model (for example, Arch Linux). It will save you lots of headaches down the line. Trying to tame Ubuntu and friends is not a wise decision for people sharing your concerns imho, those distros are designed for a different user base, and they will get in your way by design.

Wait.. if you prefer to use a clean Firefox like on Windows.. you have to change OS type? O_o
I thought that Mint was more configurable that other distros like Ubuntu. : (

(btw, Arch Linux has a fame of being absurdly complex for new inexperienced users)

The Linux Mint team have driven me insane in the last two years, but this is really just a browser customization deal.

I think FF signed a deal with Yahoo that replaced their deal with Google and yahoo is the default search now, but it's one setting to change.

I absolutely fell in love with the Budgie desktop (made for ), so I would urge you to try out [url=https://budgie-remix.org/]Ubuntu Budgie (which I still think should be called Bubuntu).

What other mess did they do? O_o

It's not a mess, it is a trickle of small problems that by themselves are nothing, but when moving from a few to a heap drives one to distraction.

Mint is still a fine distro, I don't mean to speak ill of them. All I meant with my initial comment was that this time it is not actually their fault, Mozilla made a deal, so a clean install will actually not work the way a 2 year old install would work by (Firefox) design.

Arch and similar distros are terribly misunderstood :) I know you know, but for the rest:

On the contrary Arch is exceedingly simple, and thus there are far less things that can break.

Of course, people not familiar with a given subject matter often confuse simplicity with complexity. In this case you do need to know a few things about setting up a basic Linux box, because there is no "complex" convenience layer to do things in a preset manner for you. This could be somewhat problematic to a technically unsophisticated person, but it is offset by the excellent documentation. You can literally go step by step over the beginner's guide and have something working in a few hours. Your next install will take 10 mins once you learn.

I still wouldn't recommend it to my grandma, though. It is for those that want to learn about how Linux works.

The only thing I still haven't figured out is when the settings are changed, but they sure are changed.
Its easy to verify by following the same steps:
1. backup by moving your .mozilla and .cache/mozilla
2. in synaptic, purge firefox with lang-packs
3. in synaptic, LMB on firefox and lang-packs, then via main menu: Package->Specify version, and pick the Ubuntu/Ubuntu Backports version.
4. then after install optional Package->Lock Version (because due to said apt preferences, mint packages have 700 priority which will force apt to prefer them)

After installing Ubuntu's firefox, start it and go to About Firefox to be greeted with Linux Mint branding :)
The google search engine will not be stripped however.

Basically LM Firefox is same as Ubuntu, is tainted and useless from usability... The worrying point is that beside branding and identification, LM has a dedicated tool to inject and modify user system. It would be super-useful if this tool would be advertised for the users to use and adapt, but unfortunately its kept in the dark. (yes, if someone gains control of LM repo - must not be main repo, but one of the popular mirrors -, just modifying this package one can hijack all Linux Mint systems updating from that repo.)


What I am going to do now is to lock version of Mint-Adjustments (package that applies all these hacks) and then edit those scripts how I like it. Then backup my version of /etc/linuxmint/adjustments.

Kubuntu's backported plasma5 (same in LM 18.x) does not crash and costs only 400MB RAM, same as KDE Neon - but unlike KDE Neon still suffers from refresh flicker-bug even on radeon, luckily there is an easy workaround. Found no problems otherwise and much better translation and support (where KDE Neon looses).

I though about getting Kubuntu instead, but I dislike Canonical. Still, .. LM uses their mirrors and software - not much difference, internally. From ethical standpoint LM > Canonical by several factors. Those are not fail-safe features :) Those are hacks tainting your software settings. :)

Sure Mint is a valid option, it supports Ubuntu's PPA giving largest repo of binary software (no compilation heat), offers solid stable base (LTS) and provides one of the best fire-and-forget package managers (apt). :) Thanks for great write up! Appreciated!
Unfortunately I am KDE guy :) (who hated KDE3 look and loved GTK2, but its no more and Qt4-5 desktops are fine).

Also I like LTS :) I just use Backports - basically stuff recompiled for "stable" libs. On Debian Stable they give kernel 4.8 and Mesa12 currently :). There is little sense to use cutting edge libs, unless you are hacking them or explicitly want new functionality - like building some software. Config merges are not fun over long period of time and library inconsequences breaking whole OS are not always fun to fix :) I think Arch is a failure, because their slogan is a failure. I have 3 years Arch experience. The day they adapt Burger King's slogan ("Have it your way") they'll be back on the track. KISS is only useful if "it is not used as a slogan to justify stupidity" (like Exherbo said :)

Let me give an example: just about few years ago I spent some time on Manjaro and then a systemd update arrived. This update basically required passwd and group adjustments, unification of nologin etc. Only few days later the very same update arrived at Debian Testing. Now the difference:

Apt in Debian Testing simply did everything automatically.
Pacman did nothing, except mentioning that in changelogs.
So, whats the point of KISS here.. 20 minutes-to-few hours(in case of remote assistance) of time saved by apt.

Plus no support for partial upgrades and rolling nature nail it. Update completely, update often, manually follow the changelogs.Speaking of changelogs, there was a tool I seen a few years back on Arch forum, which was ported to Arch from Gentoo, called "dist-upgrade" or something. Basically automatic 4-way configuration file merger. Awesome stuff.

It distinguishes between:
1) incoming factory config
2) current factory config (non-changed)
3) current config changed by user, which is fully new to tool
4) current config changed by user, where tool already was given info which strings should be replaced and which kept.

So once the tool learns of your changes it should carry over to new file, it completely takes over config upgrades.
Debian and Ubuntu can do only 3-way. I think Arch can do only 2-way (I hope I am mistaken).

Arch's advantages are low non-commercial status and AUR. Btw a "For the user"-favor of Debian could profit from such a scripted build system. But for lazy-ass of mine Arch is tiresome :)

As a heavy Mint user I can say I never had Firefox do things I didn't tell it to. The "Mozilla Firefox for Linux Mint" is there yes, Google was missing as a search engine when I installed the OS 2 years ago but that was it.

Extension and Addon updates were always done manually and when I wanted to and everything is set the way I told it too. From my side of things I never had any problems with using Firefox the way I wanted.

Ok, I investigated further with a VM. Installing the package from the terminal I see the last line is "Processing triggers for mintsystem (8.3.0) ...", this is what is applying the changes. https://wiki.debian.org/DpkgTriggers