Sounds like the bookmark/history file has a problem.

[v57+] Places Maintenance is built into Firefox.

Type about:support<enter> in the address bar.

You will find Places Database near the bottom. Press the Verify Integrity button.

When done, copy and post the results here.

> Task: checkIntegrity + The database is sane > Task: invalidateCaches + The caches have been invalidated > Task: checkCoherence + The database is coherent > Task: expire + Database cleaned up > Task: vacuum + Initial database size is 5120KiB + The database has been vacuumed + Final database size is 5120KiB > Task: stats + Places.sqlite size is 5120KiB

ooops. I see there was more to it.

> Task: checkIntegrity + The database is sane > Task: invalidateCaches + The caches have been invalidated > Task: checkCoherence + The database is coherent > Task: expire + Database cleaned up > Task: vacuum + Initial database size is 5120KiB + The database has been vacuumed + Final database size is 5120KiB > Task: stats + Places.sqlite size is 5120KiB + Favicons.sqlite size is 5120KiB + pragma_user_version is 47 + pragma_page_size is 32768 + pragma_cache_size is -2048 + pragma_journal_mode is wal + pragma_synchronous is 1 + History can store a maximum of 104858 unique pages + Table moz_places has 50 records + Table moz_historyvisits has 71 records + Table moz_inputhistory has 0 records + Table moz_hosts has 9 records + Table moz_bookmarks has 18 records + Table moz_bookmarks_deleted has 0 records + Table moz_keywords has 0 records + Table sqlite_sequence has 0 records + Table moz_anno_attributes has 2 records + Table moz_annos has 3 records + Table moz_items_annos has 2 records + Table moz_meta has 0 records + Table sqlite_stat1 has 14 records + Index sqlite_autoindex_moz_inputhistory_1 + Index sqlite_autoindex_moz_hosts_1 + Index sqlite_autoindex_moz_bookmarks_deleted_1 + Index sqlite_autoindex_moz_keywords_1 + Index sqlite_autoindex_moz_anno_attributes_1 + Index moz_places_url_hashindex + Index moz_places_hostindex + Index moz_places_visitcount + Index moz_places_frecencyindex + Index moz_places_lastvisitdateindex + Index moz_places_guid_uniqueindex + Index moz_historyvisits_placedateindex + Index moz_historyvisits_fromindex + Index moz_historyvisits_dateindex + Index moz_bookmarks_itemindex + Index moz_bookmarks_parentindex + Index moz_bookmarks_itemlastmodifiedindex + Index moz_bookmarks_dateaddedindex + Index moz_bookmarks_guid_uniqueindex + Index moz_keywords_placepostdata_uniqueindex + Index moz_annos_placeattributeindex + Index moz_items_annos_itemattributeindex > Task: _refreshUI

Okay. As a precaution, let's create a backup. Note: Make sure all bookmarks are present in the backup.

Open the Bookmarks Manager; Press the Alt or F10 key to bring up the toolbar, and select Bookmarks. Hot key is <Control> (Mac=<Command>) <Shift> B.

Once the window is open, at the top of the page, press the button labeled Import and Backup. Select Export Bookmarks To HTML, and follow the prompts and save it to a HTML file.

Sorry, When I open bookmarks it does not give me either of those options. The list is Show all bookmarks, Bookmark this page, Subscribe to, Bookmark toolbar, Other bookmarks, Recent tags, Mozilla Firefox. The last four have extensions but none are what you suggest.

Now what?

What is a HTML file???

Hi, a HTML file is what you are looking at now and almost every where on the internet. If you Right Click a page and View Page Source that is what is allowing you to see what you see, part of it as there is most likely a CSS file involved that has it's own URL.

Ok how about this option to what Fred was asking you to do.

Please mouse to the top of the browser to a empty spot and Right Click and Turn on the Menu bar. or 3 Bar Menu --> Customize --> mouse to left page bottom Tool Bars and turn it on.

Then go to Bookmarks --> Show all Bookmarks --> Import and Backup.

Follow Fred's instructions to Export as HTML. Once saved some place save, like email it to your self at a online email account and copies in other places, you will never loose at least most of your bookmarks. Export when you make lots of changes to your bookmarks. Save all over the place again.

You can Double Click the file or drag it into a window if want to look at it.

Well that did not work. This is what I got. None of my bookmarks.

Mozilla Firefox

Help and Tutorials Customize Firefox Get Involved About Us

Bookmarks Toolbar

Most Visited Getting Started

Other Bookmarks

(2) Facebook about:blank Yahoo Mail

janvandenhout said

Sorry, When I open bookmarks it does not give me either of those options. The list is Show all bookmarks, Bookmark this page, Subscribe to, Bookmark toolbar, Other bookmarks, Recent tags, Mozilla Firefox.

To get to the Library, simply press Ctrl + Shift + b on your keyboard.

In the Library you will see 'Import and Backup', where you can select 'Export Bookmarks to HTML', as suggested by FredMcD.

janvandenhout said

What is a HTML file???

An HTML file is a webpage coded in HTML that can be displayed in a web browser. HTML files are saved in a standard text format and consists of tags used to define the structure of a webpage. HTML is the standard markup language for creating Web pages. HTML stands for 'Hyper Text Markup Language'.

If you return to the Library window and check the Restore menu, does Firefox show any backups you can restore that have a larger number of items? This article will get you to that menu:

Restore bookmarks from backup or move them to another computer

If the menu only shows recent (post-apocalypse) backups, do you have an Old Firefox Data folder on your desktop? The Firefox "Refresh" feature creates that folder and moves your old settings files ("profile folder") there. If you have that, you could check inside for a folder named bookmarkbackups that might have some recent backup files.

jscher2000 said

If you return to the Library window and check the Restore menu,

You will find the Restore menu when you click 'Import and Backup'.....

Sorry, restore and import does not work . I tried to copy bookmarksbackup to a document but it did not copy either. Still can't get my old bookmarks.

What can I try next.

Let’s do a full clean re-install;

Download Firefox For All languages And Systems {web link}

Save the file. Then Close Firefox.

Using your file browser, open the Programs Folder on your computer.

Windows: C:\Program Files C:\Program Files (x86)

Mac: Open the "Applications" folder. https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/how-download-and-install-firefox-mac

Linux: Check your user manual. If you installed Firefox with the distro-based package manager, you should use the same way to uninstall it. See Install Firefox on Linux; https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/install-firefox-linux

If you downloaded and installed the binary package from the Firefox download page, simply remove the folder Firefox in your home directory. http://www.mozilla.org/firefox#desktop ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Look for, and remove any Mozilla or Firefox program folders. Do not remove the Mozilla Thunderbird folder if there is one.

Do Not remove any profile folders.

After rebooting the computer, run a registry scanner if you have one. Then run the installer. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++ If there is a problem, start your Computer in safe mode and try again.

http://encyclopedia2.thefreedictionary.com/Linux+Safe+Mode This shows how to Start all Computers in Safe Mode; Free Online Encyclopedia

Questions before I try this.

1. Will it give me back my lost and missing bookmarks?

2. What will happen to my current Firefox? Will I still be able to use it?

3. Would this mean I have to start all over?

I don't have Ma or Linux.    Sorry my sea key does not work.

Firefox comes in two or more folders on all computers. They are;

Maintenance: (Programs Folder) <Windows Only> Firefox itself: (Programs Folder) And two folders in the profile of each user on the computer for each Firefox profile for that user.

If you remove the Firefox folder, the user profiles would not be affected. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ What I am thinking is something is wrong with the Firefox program files. If that is the case, reinstalling following the above instrutions should fix the issue.

If not, let us know.

janvandenhout said

I tried to copy bookmarksbackup to a document but it did not copy either. Still can't get my old bookmarks.

The backup files are compressed. I have a tool on my website to decompress the file. If it's not corrupted, there's a button to save it as an importable HTML file.

https://www.jeffersonscher.com/res/bookbackreader.html

This does not answer my questions.

Questions before I try this.

2. Will it give me back my lost and missing bookmarks?

2. What will happen to my current Firefox? Will I still be able to use it?

3. Would this mean I have to start all over?

janvandenhout said

This does not answer my questions. Questions before I try this. 2. Will it give me back my lost and missing bookmarks? 2. What will happen to my current Firefox? Will I still be able to use it? 3. Would this mean I have to start all over?

Do you mean doing a "clean reinstall" of the Firefox program files? What should happen is that the installer detects your existing installation and uses all your data files "as is." If in doubt, make a backup of your data:

Back up and restore information in Firefox profiles

Will that solve the problem? I don't think anyone knows whether it will solve the problem, it is a process of elimination to rule out possible reasons for not being able to restore a backup. But it might be low probability.

Could I steer you back to an earlier question:

Do any files on the Restore menu appear to have your missing bookmarks?

Each listed file will show the date and number of items. If you are looking at something in the range of 20 items, that file is not going to be useful to you and we will need to help you dig out files from other sources.