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I followed the tech note to rebuild places.sqlite but firefox still won't add bookmarks. Now what?

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  • Last reply by unixsaurus

unixsaurus
unixsaurus
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For years I could add bookmarks, but suddenly couldn't after an upgrade sometime in the last year or so - working one day, not the next. Figured out a clumsy workaround using the "Show All Bookmarks" window. Enough of that, Googled again for a fix. First I followed your tech notes and refreshed firefox - to test I added 2 new bookmarks, but then I couldn't add any more. Google again. Found tech note "Can't add, change, or save bookmarks - How to fix". Checked places.sqlite properties for read-only, was unchecked already - so, ok. Stopped Firefox and hid places.sqlite by renaming it places.sqlite-old. As promised, Firefox generated a new one, 10Mb instead of 70. I know that's the file in use because Firefox now has amnesia... history all gone (again as promised). In the good old days, when I right-clicked within a page, I recall clicking a star, then a dialog box opened that gave me access to the list of bookmark folders to select for the new bookmark. No more. When I click the star in the toolbar, it turns blue and moves over the bookmark icon, then turns white and nothing happens. When I right-click within the web page, the box opens that includes a star, click that, nothing happens. Control-D, no reaction. Any idea of what went wrong and how to fix it?

For years I could add bookmarks, but suddenly couldn't after an upgrade sometime in the last year or so - working one day, not the next. Figured out a clumsy workaround using the "Show All Bookmarks" window. Enough of that, Googled again for a fix. First I followed your tech notes and refreshed firefox - to test I added 2 new bookmarks, but then I couldn't add any more. Google again. Found tech note "Can't add, change, or save bookmarks - How to fix". Checked places.sqlite properties for read-only, was unchecked already - so, ok. Stopped Firefox and hid places.sqlite by renaming it places.sqlite-old. As promised, Firefox generated a new one, 10Mb instead of 70. I know that's the file in use because Firefox now has amnesia... history all gone (again as promised). In the good old days, when I right-clicked within a page, I recall clicking a star, then a dialog box opened that gave me access to the list of bookmark folders to select for the new bookmark. No more. When I click the star in the toolbar, it turns blue and moves over the bookmark icon, then turns white and nothing happens. When I right-click within the web page, the box opens that includes a star, click that, nothing happens. Control-D, no reaction. Any idea of what went wrong and how to fix it?

Chosen solution

Wow, I think you tried nearly everything. Most likely, it's the IE Tab add-on. This has been a problem since Firefox 40.

You can disable or remove the version you have on the Add-ons page. Either:

  • Ctrl+Shift+a
  • "3-bar" menu button (or Tools menu) > Add-ons

In the left column, click Plugins. Then set all IE Tab-type plugins to "Never Activate".

In the left column, click Extensions. Then use either Disable or Remove for all IE Tab-type extensions.

Often a link will appear above at least one disabled extension to restart Firefox. You can complete your work on the tab and click one of the links as the last step.

Does that re-enable bookmarking?

If you often need to view pages in IE, you could look for a version of IE Tab that has been updated since last August, and check its reviews to make sure it isn't causing this problem, or use an extension that sends the page to IE itself, such as Open in IE:

https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/addon/open-in-ie/

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jscher2000 - Support Volunteer
jscher2000 - Support Volunteer
  • Top 25 Contributor
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Chosen Solution

Wow, I think you tried nearly everything. Most likely, it's the IE Tab add-on. This has been a problem since Firefox 40.

You can disable or remove the version you have on the Add-ons page. Either:

  • Ctrl+Shift+a
  • "3-bar" menu button (or Tools menu) > Add-ons

In the left column, click Plugins. Then set all IE Tab-type plugins to "Never Activate".

In the left column, click Extensions. Then use either Disable or Remove for all IE Tab-type extensions.

Often a link will appear above at least one disabled extension to restart Firefox. You can complete your work on the tab and click one of the links as the last step.

Does that re-enable bookmarking?

If you often need to view pages in IE, you could look for a version of IE Tab that has been updated since last August, and check its reviews to make sure it isn't causing this problem, or use an extension that sends the page to IE itself, such as Open in IE:

https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/addon/open-in-ie/

unixsaurus
unixsaurus Question owner
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Bingo! Removed both the extension and the plug-in related to IE Tab and bookmarks is (are) working again. No IE Tab?... No problem! I have a perfectly functional, up-to-date copy of the loathsome real IE that I can use if I'm desperate. Problem solved, happy camper once again. Many thanks, jscher2000!