5.0 update lost all my tabs, restore previous session doesn't work

This update really ticks me off. I was upgraded to version 5 without any warning and all my tabs are gone. They had all my logins on them and there are too many to remember. What the *^%^*&(*)()(*&. How can I restore back to version 4 and my tabs.

If you are in the profile manager then that is probably your problem, starting a new profile would be devoid of your old information. You have to find the profile you had before the problem, and use it (or copy it into your new profile, if you are beta testing and need to use multiple profiles) . Generally anything you do in a profile must be done with Firefox down. If what you are looking at looks like the picture in
* http://kb.mozillazine.org/Profile_Manager
but more than just default, first find the correct profile you need by find the profile used until the date of the problem, check each profile for the last modified dates for places.sqlite and the .json files in bookmarkbackups in your profiles.
Since you are on Windows 7 as am I, you can get there by inserting your username that you log in to Windows with. The foldername in the Profiles directory includes the profilename plus additional characters to prevent two profiles from every having the same name on your system.
C:\Users\''<userid>''\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\
When you identify the correct profile, choose that profile name in the profile manager, then click on "Start Firefox". Never delete any profiles unless you are sure of what you are doing and have a backup of everything on an external device.
You can add the profile to your Desktop or Quick Launch button so you won't be asked, once you are working properly.
* http://kb.mozillazine.org/Profile_Manager#Shortcut_to_a_specific_profile
Some information on how I set up my Windows 7
*http://dmcritchie.mvps.org/windows-7/win7.htm

Similar Messages

  • Unable to get my tabs back after power outage and "restore previous session" doesn't show up.

    Well, I've spent most of my day trying to figure out how to fix this. My power unexpectedly went out overnight and I left my computer on. When I woke up, i saw that the computer was off. So I started my computer, but when I went to get onto Firefox, none of my windows and tabs were there. (and I did have a ton of tabs open.) There wasn't even a "Restore Previous Session" icon to press on the Firefox homepage or a "Well, this is embarrassing" window. I tried opening "sessionstore.js" and "sessionstore.bak", but then a window came up titled "Windows Script Host" and said "Microsoft JScript Compilation Error." Then all there is to do is press "Ok". (By the way, at another time today when I tried opening a .js file, it said "Windows can't open this file" and it wanted me to choose the program I wanted to use to open the file, or use the internet to find a program. I chose Notepad, but then it was just a bunch of letters, words and symbols.)
    I've also tried entering "about:sessionrestore" to get my windows and tabs back and then it says "Well, this is embarrassing." and "Firefox is having trouble recovering your windows and tabs." And there are no windows and tabs showing up below that sentence, with check marks, like it is when session restore has worked for me in the past. The only thing that worries me is that I did restart my computer between when I first started it this morning and now, when I'm writing this. I wanted to see if the "Restore Previous Session" icon would bring up my missing windows and tabs from before. But all it brought up automatically were the current windows and tabs that I have open right now. So now I'm wondering if I've permanently lost those tons of tabs that I had open before the power went out.
    The other thing is that when I first got onto Firefox today, I could see all of my history from the days, weeks, and months past. Now I can only see today's history. I know I pressed something when I was trying to fix things but I don't remember what I pressed. Maybe that changed whether or not I could see the previous months' history. I did try "places.sqlite", "places.sqlite-shm" and "places.sqlite-wal" to restore my history, but again it said "Windows can't open this file" and it wanted me to choose a program to open the file. So again I chose Notepad, and it was just a bunch of letters, numbers, and symbols.
    Hopefully someone may have an answer for me. Thanks!

    Yes I can understand you being confused there is an awful lot of information you need to take in and learn as you encounter such a situation. I will try to expand my explanation to cover the points you ask.
    ''right click the file and select "restore previous versions", right?''
    That is correct when using Windows to try to recover for instance files where the working fie is corrupted, but a previous version worked
    If you have no previous versions available from Windows you need to work on whatever you do have. With any file restore operation it is always a good idea to make copies of not only the originals but also the restored files.
    If you restored the ''places.sqlite'' with Windows that could possibly have resulted in a copy overwriting your working file that is even worse than the original file.
    When you restore a file using the Windows OS it restores the files in their ordinary working location and they should function as expected without needing to do anything else. Generally it is probably best to try such restores when the files are not in use and in this instance that means when Firefox is closed.
    For the benefit of any other readers of this thread note : <br />The places.sqlite is in the Firefox profile and easiest to find before closing down Firefox as the ''troubleshooting information page'' (''about:support'') may be used to find it.
    * [[Profiles - Where Firefox stores your bookmarks, passwords and other user data#w_how-do-i-find-my-profile]]_how-do-i-find-my-profile
    The ''places.sqlite'' database is the only file Firefox itself has with the full ''History'' information in it. The database also contains bookmarks but Firefox should have some other backups of those. If the database is deleted Firefox will restore the database but all it can do is add back bookmarks information from its backups the History is lost.
    There is almost no chance of getting the History back unless there is another copy of that database. Either one Windows is able to recreate, or one that was somehow created by another method, that normally being the user deliberately making a manual backup of your profile or places file in advance. Or maybe having in place other backup procedures.
    '' am I supposed to double-click the file?''
    That is not going to help in these circumstances. There are advanced methods of studying the files but right clicking does not help in this instance.
    Open tabs information is stored in the series of files ''sessionstore.*'' It may take rather a lot of messing about to to get any useful information out of whatever files you have. It would normally probably be a lot quicker just going back to the sites concerned, but that is made more difficult if you have overwritten the History database so you may need to try if the tabs were important to you. I can give more details in another post if you need to try that
    We could have a lot more luck with your bookmarks. Did you bookmark most of the sites concerned ? If so then at least you have a good chance of finding the sites again.
    Have you already got a fairly complete listing of your bookmarks in the Firefox bookmarks library/menu ? If you need to try to get back lost bookmarks that existed in the last few days but not are not present right now make a backup copy
    *Of the profile folder called '''''bookmarkbackups''''' ( With its contents ! )
    * ''places.sqlite'' Remember whenever attempting restoring bookmarks always backup the database file ''places.sqlite'' first.

  • Second Update - I'm unable to restore previous session as I do not have the option on homepae or history menu

    Closed as duplicate. Please continue with the original question [/questions/992628] ~J99
    Dear Sir/Madam,
    I do hope you are able to assist me - I lodged a query earlier on today and got a response (I've put it below) really quickly and was much appreciated; however it didn't address my query (it seemed to just cover what I had already found on the website and not that I don't have the "Restore" buttons on either my Firefox homepage or on the pull down menu.
    If you could let me know how to restore a previous session without either the "Restore" button on the homepage or the pull down Firefox menu, it would be appreciated (Also, I have not changed my settings)
    My initial query & reply:
    I hope you may be able to assist me - my computer turned off while I was in Firefox and in the past this has been no problem as I always got the page giving me the option to recover my previous open pages. Today however it opened on the Firefox home page. I have tried to recover pages as per help instructions on the Mozilla pages, but on the Firefox home page I don't have the recover previous session button, and when I go to history on the Firefox pull down menu the "Restore previous sessions, Recently Closed Tabs, Recently Closed Options" selections have been disabled.
    Could you please let me know how I can recover my previous session?
    Thanks and regards, Graeme
    Post a Reply
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    cor-elTop 10 Contributor
    Moderator
    10649 solutions95825 answers
    Posted
    3/30/14 8:35 PM
    You can check browser.sessionstore.* prefs including browser.sessionstore.resume_from_crash on the about:config page and reset browser.sessionstore prefs that are user set (bold) via the right-click context menu to the default value to make sure that Session Restore is enabled and working properly.
    •http://kb.mozillazine.org/Session_Restore
    •https://support.mozilla.org/kb/restore-previous-session
    •http://kb.mozillazine.org/browser.sessionstore.resume_from_crash
    Make sure that you do not run Firefox in permanent Private Browsing mode (Never remember history).
    •https://support.mozilla.org/kb/Private+Browsing
    •Tools > Options > Privacy > Firefox will: "Use custom settings for history"
    •Deselect: [ ] "Always use private browsing mode"
    In case you are using "Clear history when Firefox closes":
    •do not clear the Browsing History
    •Tools > Options > Privacy > Firefox will: "Use custom settings for history": [X] "Clear history when Firefox closes" > Settings
    •https://support.mozilla.org/kb/Clear+Recent+History
    Note that clearing "Site Preferences" clears all exceptions for cookies, images, pop-up windows, software installation, passwords, and other website specific data.

    Please continue with the original question [/questions/992628]
    We are nearly all volunteers and fellow users. Please allow some time to elapse for a reply.

  • I updated AVG, and now Firefox's Restore Previous Session is not working properly. I've restarted my computer a few times, and still no restore previous session. I have the button, but it looks different and does not open up the previous session. Help!

    I updated AVG and after that the restore session button for Firefox has not worked. Each time I close and that option becomes available, I am able to click, but it does nothing but blink. Also, it appears different from before.

    Had this trouble myself, just did some research and solved it!
    Go to the '''Help''' menu, go to "'''Troubleshooting Information'''"
    On the new window, click "'''Open Containing folder'''" next to ''Profile Directory'' (This opens the folder on your PC where Mozilla stores some settings, like a tab history)
    In the new Windows Explorer window, Find the file "'''chromeappsstore.sqlite'''"
    You'll want to close Firefox and then '''delete''' that file (don't worry, Firefox will create a new one, and you won't even lose the open tabs)
    Start Firefox again and the button should work!
    (For completeness's sake, the profile folder for windows7 is: C:\Users\Tiberion\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\c6xu23fh.default\
    where you replace Tiberion with your own username, and the random characters in the final folder will be different.)

  • I dont have the toolbar with File,Edit,View,Favorites,Tools,Help. Also, every time I log in it brings back all the tabs from previous session.

    Since the toolbar isn't there, I can't do anything. I especially need to print
    == This happened ==
    Every time Firefox opened
    == I installed Firefox on Wed 5/5/10

    In Firefox 3.6 on Windows you can hide the menu bar via "View > Toolbars" or via the right click context menu on a toolbar.
    Press and hold the Alt key down to bring up the menu bar.
    Go to "View > Toolbars" or right-click the menu bar or press Alt+V T to select which toolbars to show or hide.
    See also [[Menu bar is missing]]

  • How do you retain "restore previous session" in your browser

    Hi there
    why does RESTORE PREVIOUS SESSION not work after a few sessions?
    I use Firefox twice per day and each time I boot up my PC (WIndows 7), it prompts me to restore my previous session. I realised after a few of these boot-up sessions, it DOES NOT allow me to restore my previous session. Going to History, the tab "restore previous session" is unclickable too.
    How does one RETAIN restore previous session PERMANENTLY? I'm using Firefox 24.0
    Kindly advise me.
    Thanks
    Joseph
    [email protected]

    And then after opening Firefox, and then what? If you're trying to help it'd be appreciative you are clear and complete with your instructions.
    Thanks!

  • Clicking on Microsoft Update opened Firefox, but couldn't run from Firefox; when I closed Firefox I lost all my tabs and couldn't restore anything but the Microsoft page; how can I restore the tabs from an earlier session?

    Clicking on Microsoft Update opened Firefox, but Microsoft Update couldn't run from Firefox; when I closed Firefox I lost all my tabs and couldn't restore anything but the Microsoft page; how can I restore the tabs from an earlier session?

    Hi Diovizor,
    Make sure that you do not use [http://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/Clear%20Recent%20History Clear Recent History] to clear the 'Browsing History' when you close Firefox.
    Also please make sure that you not run Firefox in (permanent) Private Browsing mode.
    You enter Private Browsing mode if you select: Preferences > Privacy > History: Firefox will: "Never Remember History"
    To see all History and Cookie settings, choose: Preferences > Privacy > History: Firefox will: Use custome settings for history. Uncheck "Always use permanent Private Browsing mode"
    Hope that helps!

  • Can't restore previous session (greyed out); lost all tabs and groups

    I've had a similar problem with FireFox version 30 as found in the following question: https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/997956?esab=a&as=aaq
    I lost all my tabs including those in two groups (maybe 100 tabs) that I'd been keeping for a couple of years and in some cases much longer. Very occasionally I'll get the "oops this is embarrassing" message from FF and when I click on the Restore Previous Session button they reappear.
    What happened this time is that when booting my computer (Windows 7), Adobe Flash wanted to download an update, and instead of waiting for the boot to finish as I normally would, I clicked on the Adobe Flash Download Update button. It then opened FF and hung, so I eventually used Task Manager to end FF. After the computer finished booting, when I opened FF it had no open tabs or groups, and the Restore Previous Session option (and each of the other options in that grouping in the History menu) was greyed.
    When investigating, I find I do have the sessionstore.js and sessionstore.bak files from yesterday (each about 4.5 mb), but I don't know how to access them because the Restore Previous Session option is greyed.

    Awesome. And maybe back up your sessionstore.js and sessionstore.bak files somewhere outside of your Firefox settings folder in case you need them for a future recovery. (That would involve copying them back to your active profile folder while Firefox is closed so it finds them when it starts back up again.)

  • Is there a way to restore to a prior point in time? I somehow lost all Tab Groups and Tabs...and Restore Previous Session is grey, so that's not an option.

    I've gone through all support pages, and still can't find a solution. I'm needing to restore to a specific day/time period. I lost literally hundreds of hours of research...and MUST find a way to get those Tab Groups and Tabs restored.
    Again, for some reason, the Restore Previous Session option is greyed out...and not an option.
    From what I've read, there may be some files in the Firefox profile folder that can be used, but it's not clear the steps to take to see if this would do what I need, and before I mess with those files, etc... I'd really need someone from tech support to review all this and assist me.

    You can try to restore a previous version of the sessionstore.js file.
    *http://kb.mozillazine.org/sessionstore.js
    *http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-vista/Previous-versions-of-files-frequently-asked-questions

  • 5.0.1 Firefox, application froze then crashed. Restarted it, but no 'restore session' and i've lost all my tabs. Help please?!?!

    Can anyone help please?
    5.0.1 Firefox, application froze then crashed. Restarted it, but no 'restore session' and i've lost all my tabs. Help please?!?!
    Done config:restoresession, and nothing.

    There shouldn't be any numbered sessionstore-##.js in the Firefox Profile Folder
    *http://kb.mozillazine.org/Profile_folder_-_Firefox
    The presence of such files usually indicates that that was a problem with accessing the main sessionstore.js file that prevented Firefox from renaming the temp file with the number.<br />
    In this case you may be lucky that the file with the highest number may have that session.<br />
    You can try to rename the file sessionstore-3.js to sessionstore.js to see if that brings back the lost tabs.
    If you use the Time Machine then you can try to restore a copy of sessionstore.js from around the time that you lost that session.

  • HT1688 during a software update, i lost all my apps. restore did not bring them back, how do i get my apps back?

    during a software update, i lost all my apps. restore did not bring them back, how do i get my apps back?

    Your apps will only be where you put them.  if you failed to put them on your computer beore updating, then they would certainly be gone.
    You can redownload them:
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  • Since I updated to 18.0.1, I lost "Restore Previous Session". None of the suggested fixes brings it back.

    My computer updated to version 18.01. Now my "Restore Previous Session" option is gray. I have tried all of the suggested fixes. None of them bring it back. This is a very important option to me. How to I get it back?

    Check that session restore is enabled and working.
    *http://kb.mozillazine.org/Session_Restore
    *https://support.mozilla.org/kb/Session+Restore
    You can check for problems with the sessionstore.js and sessionstore.bak files in the Firefox Profile Folder that store session data.
    Delete the sessionstore.js file and possible sessionstore-##.js files with a number and sessionstore.bak in the Firefox Profile Folder.
    *Help > Troubleshooting Information > Profile Directory: Open Containing Folder
    *http://kb.mozillazine.org/Profile_folder_-_Firefox
    Deleting sessionstore.js will cause App Tabs and Tab Groups and open and closed (undo) tabs to get lost, so you will have to create them again (make a note or bookmark them).
    *http://kb.mozillazine.org/Multiple_profile_files_created

  • I have lost all my tabs and the window is not in the recently closed windows.

    Basically I opened up another window to do something while having the other window with my 20+ tabs running and that other window contained 1 tab after I was done using that window I closed it and closed my 20+ tab windows. I launch Firefox again to see that I lost all my tabs, I check the recently closed windows and its not there. Please help me! Those tabs contained very important information and I don't believe I rememer all of the websites!

    Did you first check if you can restore that previous session and then check for recently closed windows?

  • I have firefox on windows xp. I've lost all my tabs!!! No history or bookmarks either. Help

    A few weeks ago I lost all my tabs at the top. I tried looking online for different suggestions. Some said to hit Alt + V, but that didn't work. Can you help? I've lost the parts that say "File, edit, view, history, bookmarks, etc..."

    Well my husband ran a check on my computer, and it turned out I had a lot of viruses on it! So we got that all cleaned up and protected, so now it's all back! Thanks though. I've been dealing with this issue for over a month!

  • Because the Firefox update today required me to update and install an update to an adobe application and then required me to restart my computer I "lost " the connection to my previous session and tabs. Is there any way to recover my tabs from yesterday?

    Because the Firefox update today required me to update and install an update to an adobe application and then required me to restart my computer I "lost " the connection to my previous session and tabs. Is there any way to recover my tabs from yesterday?

    Do you memeber the complete wording of the error message?
    Try:
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    - If not successful and you can't fully turn the iPod fully off, let the battery fully drain. After charging for an least an hour try the above again.
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