Can you give me some further procedures for getting back my bookmarks, which just disappeared?
Just now, where I went to use my computer (lap-top using OS X.6) for the first time today, I found that my bookmarks (in Firefox 46.0.1) are all gone. After looking within my computer for an answer in Help and not finding one, I tried Firefox's web-pages Help. There, I did find relevant instructions for restoring the bookmarks (which I'll paste in below for reference) and followed them. As the instructions said there would be, indeed, there were a number of backups for me to choose between, namely, a couple from just recently and a few earlier ones. But, for each I tried, I received the reply: "Firefox unable to process the backup file". Can you tell me what to try next? Thanks so much ...
(the help-instructions that I followed:)----
Manual backup Click the Bookmarks button Bookmarks-29 and select Show All Bookmarks to open the Library window. In the Library window, click the e3f62ffc25d52f883aa490cc65d71e2d-1252097598-804-1.png Import and Backup button and then select Backup.... In the Bookmarks backup filename window that opens, choose a location to save the file, which is named bookmarks-"date".json by default. The desktop is usually a good spot, but any place that is easy to remember will work. Save the bookmarks json file. The Bookmarks backup filename window will close and then you can close the Library window.
All Replies (6)
Start Firefox in Safe Mode {web Link} by holding down the <Shift>
(Mac=Options) key, and then starting Firefox.
A small dialog should appear. Click Start In Safe Mode (not Refresh).
Is the problem still there?
Look on your desktop. Do you see a folder called; Old Firefox?
https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/recovering-important-data-from-an-old-profile
https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/back-and-restore-information-firefox-profiles
Dear Fred of Mozilla
That starting Firefox in "safe" did bring back the bookmarks. It also brought back history, which I had since writing my question noticed to be gone as well. Does that mean I should start Firefox in that mode from now on? Will that prevent it from accomplishing anything(s) it used to, I wonder?? I further noticed a couple more phenomena that might allow you to help me understand this problem: (1) for the last few hours, that is, during this problem, Firefox has not been recording anything I did as history, at least not visibly, and (2) Firefox would only allow me to open its window called "library" (empty however) among the various Firefox-internal windows related to bookmarks, history, and such that one can normally open from the menu. About a folder called "Old Firefox", indeed, I do find one on my desktop. It has a date in 2014 on it as to when it was created and last changed. I don't think I created it, at least not knowingly. Is that somehow related?
Appreciatively,
Tim
Modified by Moses
This has happened in the past. An add-on is the reason.
Type about:addons<enter> in the address bar to open your Add-ons Manager. Hot key; <Control>(Mac=<Command>)<Shift> A)
In the Add-ons Manager, on the left, select Extensions. Disable a few add-ons, then Restart Firefox.
Some added toolbar and anti-virus add-ons are known to cause Firefox issues. Disable All of them.
If the problem continues, disable some more (restarting FF). Continue until the problem is gone. After, you know what group is causing the issue. Re-enable the last group ONE AT A TIME (restarting FF) until the problem returns.
Once you think you found the problem, disable that and re-enable all the others, then restart again. Let us know who the suspect is detective.
... hi again with more information ... A few minutes, ago the same problems as my Firefox initially had recurred. So I repeated your technique of starting in "safe". But, this time, that didn't fix the problem. I even started in "safe" three time, not that repeating the same thing should give a different result, so that adage more or less says. That caused me to come back to this support page to see if you'd yet written anything back to my reply to your reply, and so I just read what you wrote hereabove about disabling the various extensions, looking for one(s) causing the problem. I guess I should go ahead and do that?? Or would it be moot now, because it hasturned out that "safe" did not fix the problem this second time ti's occurred?
Appreciatlvely,
Tim
You need to check for problems with the places.sqlite database (bookmarks and history) in the Firefox profile folder.
See also:
Once the problem has been taken care of;
These can't get your data back, but will help in the future.
These add-ons can be a great help by backing up and restoring Firefox
FEBE (Firefox Environment Backup Extension) {web link} FEBE allows you to quickly and easily backup your Firefox extensions, history, passwords, and more. In fact, it goes beyond just backing up -- It will actually rebuild your saved files individually into installable .xpi files. It will also make backups of files that you choose.
OPIE {web link} Import/Export extension preferences