Not Responding When Restoring a Bookmarks File

Question

After the last Firefox update, lots of bookmarks disappeared, and I tried to restore a .jsonlz4 file. On the bookmarks manager window I choose the file, click on the Open button, the notice asking if I want to replace all the bookmarks comes up and I click the OK button.
I wait a while before using the browser again, but as soon as I click anywhere on it, it stops responding. I wait to see if it responds. Sometimes it does (but the same happens again) or a notice for a script comes up and I click on Stop the script. I try to uses the browser and the same happens. I always have to end the process on the window or with Windows Task Manager.
I restart Firefox and notice that many bookmarks are back, but far from being all. Some are also repeated, and others on other folders and many on a different order (!). Then I try to restore the bookmarks on safe mode, but always getting the same result.
What is wrong, and how can I restore the bookmarks, please?

Answer 1

I am decidedly wary about using sync myself because what it is useful for me is syncing bookmarks. However it also is capable of corrupting bookmarks and that makes it rather dangerous. I like my bookmarks.
I have not tried using one profile for multiple Firefox installs. Sounds like a recipe for disaster even before throwing Sync into the mix.
*For instance it must be rather confusing when a version update changes profile content, but an un-updated version may then try to use the updated profile.
**If you use a single profile what is there to sync with ? <br /> (I suppose part of the answer is Firefox portable, but this forum does not support Portable, and it is a long while since I have last tried using it)
** You also mention a smartphone, that will not be using the single profile. Remember syncing with the phone will fill the phone with all your desktop computer bookmarks.
I have at least one unique profile for each Firefox install. Usually more as one install may have multiple user accounts, each with its own profile. Then within my own accounts there may be multiple profiles, for some Firefox versions.
''Straydog [[#answer-689932|said]]''
<blockquote>
<snip> ...
''John99 [[#answer-689789|said]]''<blockquote>If all the Firefox installs are up to date and the latest Release there is a good chance if necessary that book marks can be sorted out manually by transferring files from a good profile or one of the good backups.
</blockquote>
Everything is up to date. New profiles behave as the old one. "book marks can be sorted out manually" – how?
</blockquote>
*Are you trying this
** On a Firefox that has its own profile. <br />Not with a profile that you try to share with other Firefox installs. <br /> Not with a profile shared with other user account.
** With sync not in use for '''that profile'''.
* More info see
**http://kb.mozillazine.org/Backing_up_and_restoring_bookmarks_-_Firefox (You seem to be attempting that)
** http://kb.mozillazine.org/Bookmarks_history_and_toolbar_buttons_not_working_-_Firefox#Rebuild_Places_database
<blockquote>
<snip> ...
I have lots of .json and .jsonlz4 bookmarks files because I save them automatically to the Web every week. The problem must be with Firefox because when I restore any of those files there is a notice saying that all bookmarks will be replaced by the imported ones, but it always freezes or crashes a few seconds after I click to proceed with the restore operation. Even with Firefox on the PortableApps flash drive. This never happened before the issue.
</blockquote>
*Did you attempt that in Firefox with a clean profile.
** Temporarily renaming ''profiles.ini'' generates a clean profile.
** Alternativly at least try in a profile where you
**# Have renamed all bookmarks related files and backup files.
**#Then restart Firefox so it generates default files. You will have no history, no internal backups of bookmarks (other than the last restart) no bookmarks (other than the handful by default)
* If you use a clean profile and restore backups from an external file does it work ?
*What about the method for rebuilding ''places.sqlite'' does that work without freezing when tried on an otherwise clean profile.
* If you have a good ''places.sqlite'' does overwriting a clean profiles ''places.sqlite'' work.
Straydig<blockquote> <snip> ... think I will have to uninstall Firefox completely with something like Revo and make a clean reinstall. Still, I wonder if it will work...
I use only one profile and it is on another drive.
Any idea, please? </blockquote>
I could just say scrub the lot. Start from scratch with new installs and new profiles on all devices. But your information and bookmarks will be important to you so I am attempting to offer more difficult and complex solutions, that I hope preserve as much data as possible.
Be very careful with third party uninstallers. Ensure you have profiles backed up safely. The standard Firefox clean install method is usually sufficient. There are also custom methods for installing multiple Firefox versions. They may be given their own install locations. Firefox portable effectively does that automatically.
*Recently Firefox Aurora from Mozilla was rebranded as Developer Edition. That now automatically installs in its own location with a fresh profile. (Previously we manually did custom installs and manually created new profiles)
**Details: https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/Firefox/Developer_Edition
**Download from: https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/channel/#developer
Straydog <blockquote>
'''Edit'''
Now that I disconnected Firefox from Sync, it stopped freezing or crashing. Therefore, it seems the issue is really on Sync as I thought lately. However, I am afraid of reconnecting to Sync and falling on the same issue again.
Can I delete the saved bookmarks on the saved Firefox database? If so, how, please?
</blockquote>
The working bookmarks database of bookmarks is ''places.sqlite''. It may be deleted. That destroys history and bookmarks. It is safer renaming it. Firefox will attempt to reconstruct the database, using the available internal backups from within the profile. The problem in your situation is trying to ensure Firefox has only suitable backups available and not corrupted ones full of duplicates.
Reading some of the help articles you may note there is a good add-on ''places maintenace'' written by a Mozilla engineer. That will attempt some repairs, and it will generate a short text log or report but it probably is not able to sort out duplications caused by Sync.
* https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/addon/places-maintenance/
** I actually note a review of that complaining about Sync messing up bookmarks https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/addon/places-maintenance/reviews/675326/