My bookmarks have disappeared and the 'restore' process is not working - Firefox is 'unable to load the file' I selected as the backup file.
Yesterday, I was unable to access Firefox at all and had to use another browser. Today, Firefox is back but all my bookmarks seem to have disappeared. I followed the procedure for restoring bookmarks from a backup file. I selected the file to back up from, but I received an error message saying that Firefox could not access that file.
All Replies (11)
You can check for problems with the places.sqlite database file in the Firefox profile folder.
- http://kb.mozillazine.org/Bookmarks_history_and_toolbar_buttons_not_working_-_Firefox
- https://support.mozilla.org/kb/Bookmarks+not+saved#w_fix-the-bookmarks-file
See also:
- Places Maintenance: https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/addon/places-maintenance/
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 backup of files that you choose.
OPIE {web link} Import/Export extension preferences
Open a new tab or window. type about:support in the address box and press enter. Or Press the Alt or F10 key to bring up the tool bar. Then Help > Troubleshooting Information.
Under the page logo on the left side you will see Application Basics. Under this find Profile Folder. To it’s right press the button Show Folder. This will open your file browser to the current Firefox profile. Now Close FireFox.
Enter the bookmarkbackups folder. This is where Firefox makes backups of your bookmarks. Look for the file you want to restore (check the time / date). Right click on that file and select Copy. Now go back to the parent folder where you started. Right click in the folder and select Paste. Rename the file bookmarks.html by adding .old to it. The file you just pasted here, rename it to bookmarks.html. After you are done, restart Firefox.
The third might help but the instructions exceed my skill set.
Just tell us what you need.
Did you install the Places Maintenance extension and checked the places.sqlite database file?
- Places Maintenance: https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/addon/places-maintenance/
No. I have not tried this. Is it complex? Be aware the back up files for my folders/bookmarks seem to be available as I found them when I attempted the restore process and was asked to select the one I wanted to restore. However, once I went through the process the folder/bookmark back-up file I selected did not materialize available for my use. I will try your suggestion. Will it be obvious to me how to proceed through the process? Thanks, Max
Restoring a backup may not work if the places.sqlite database file is corrupted and you either need to delete the current file or check the file with the Places Maintenance extension via its Options/Preferences button on the "Firefox/Tools > Add-ons > Extensions" page.
Make sure to make a backup copy of the .jsonlz4 files in the bookmarkbackups folder elsewhere.
The xxxx part in the bookmarks-####-##-##_xxxx_$$$$.json(lz4) name is the total number of bookmarks in the file (includes folders and separators).
On restoring from the backup folder, go thru the motion, but do nothing. Just look and see what I was talking about.
This response is about 90 mins (I am estimating) after my initial response to this specific issue. I installed Places Maintenance (it loaded and installed instantly it seemed,) then I waited for some prompt but never saw anything. After about 15 mins I tried to use restore again and once again got hung up by an unresponsive script which I kept authorizing to "continue." 60-70 mins later I came back to shut down for the night and checked bookmarks and there were some there which had not been before, so I poked around a bit and SHAZAAM just like black magic, all the bookmarks were back and the ones I checked seemed to have all their contents in place. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. I wish I understood 1/10th of how this all happened and god bless the person who created Places Maintenance.
That is good to hear. Now use the FEBE program I talked about; 7/15/14 9:41 PM