Try:

• http://kb.mozillazine.org/Corrupt_localstore.rdf

Start Firefox in Diagnose Firefox issues using Troubleshoot Mode to check if one of the extensions or if hardware acceleration is causing the problem (switch to the DEFAULT theme: Firefox/Tools > Add-ons > Appearance/Themes).

• Don't make any changes on the Safe mode start window.
• https://support.mozilla.org/kb/Safe+Mode

• https://support.mozilla.org/kb/Troubleshooting+extensions+and+themes

thanks for your input but it did not solve the problem. the bookmarks toolbar is still not visible in safe mode. no changes have been made in my add-ons since the update - the problem surfaced only after the update.

You could try deleting places.sqlite from the profile. It will be re-created when you start Firefox again, and it will load the bookmarks from the latest bookmark backup.

thanks finitarry but my bookmarks are available, it's the bookmarks toolbar that doesn't load properly until i uncheck & then recheck it. it's weird.

Does it help if you disable Tabs on Top via View > Toolbars or Firefox > Options?

@cor-el, thanks again for trying to help but the suggestion did not work :-(

Create a new profile as a test to check if your current profile is causing the problems.

See "Basic Troubleshooting: Make a new profile":

• https://support.mozilla.org/kb/Basic+Troubleshooting#w_8-make-a-new-profile

If the new profile works then you can transfer some files from the old profile to that new profile, but be careful not to copy corrupted files.

See:

• http://kb.mozillazine.org/Transferring_data_to_a_new_profile_-_Firefox

the problem occurred with the update, so it's hard to believe that it's a corrupted profile, however, I will try your suggestion when i return from vacation in about 3 weeks & let you know. thanks

I had this problem, but it turned out to be one of my add-ons. Once I removed FireLogger and restarted Firefox, the bookmarks bar showed up with all of my stuff.

Consider switching to a cloud-based bookmarking platform where there's no need to backup, sync or import your bookmarks because they are automatically backed up and inherently synched, and all your bookmarks are always available using any browser from any computer, mobile phone or tablet. My company operates http://iCrumz.com, a free cloud-based Internet bookmarking service. The iCrumz interface allows you to have 100 or more bookmarks on a single webpage without being cluttered. iCrumz also offers an import function, so you can import and consolidate all your bookmarks from all your browsers on all your devices. Check out our short (1 minute) intro video: http://youtu.be/QDD23whIlrw Contact me if you have any questions. Matthew[at]iCrumz[dot]com.

mgraczyk,

How is that going to make somebody's bookmarks toolbar reappear? The OP said that the bookmarks are all there, but there is no bookmarks toolbar.

Anyway, I would suggest that it is time to do some serious troubleshooting.

• https://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/Basic%20Troubleshooting
• http://kb.mozillazine.org/Standard_diagnostic_%28Firefox%29

finitarry - I'm sorry, I misunderstood the question. I thought sofla was saying they had lost their bookmarks themselves not just their display on their bookmarks bar. I would recommend that sofla reinstall Firefox. If that doesn't work, then I would recommend backing up their bookmarks (with the export function), uninstall Firefox and then reinstall it and import their bookmarks.

valkmer2 & finitarry - you were both right. took a look at my add-ons, updated the sidebar add-on, & disabled some add-ons that were no longer available (hadn't been updated since before 2010). I think it was the sidebar update that did it, only because the other add-ins had been there all along & hadn't caused a problem but whatever caused the problem is gone. thanks for pointing me in the right direction!