inoperable -- will not open bookmarks -- will not respond to search or address entered manually
A few hours ago, when I woke the computer from overnight sleep, Firefox (fully updated) was suddenly completely unresponsive. It is not an Internet issue. As you see, Edge works fine. I'm online, but Firefox isn't.
I tried reinstalling, which appeared to work. With the new install, I was only able to open the app with the administrator option, which didn't bother me. All my bookmarks were in place and settings and extensions showed as I've had them for years. Unfortunately, all I can do with newly installed Firefox is look at it. I can enter an address manually, but no response other than showing my typing. No bookmarks will open. Browser Menu items appear to open, but mostly do not follow to their content pages.
I did get to the Mozilla troubleshooting page from the menu, and tried a refresh, which of course eliminated my security extensions and bookmarks, but had no other impact on the program. It still looks like Firefox, but is an empty shell. (See troubleshooting information pasted in place below.)
I've never seen anything like this before with any app. It has been days since my last windows update, BTW. There were no problems with it. Everything else is OK with this computer. Firefox just turned into an empty shell, but everything else is normal.
I've been using the Mozilla browser since Netscape. I strongly prefer Firefox to any other browser. I can live without it, I guess, but I won't be very happy.
Has anyone else encountered this dead Firefox situation? If so, what fixed it?
الحل المُختار
I have resolved the problems with Firefox. All-in-all, not how I wanted to use the last four hours, but I am now back to where I started: a functional copy of Firefox on my desktop. I considered just looking for an option to delete the question, but then figured it could happen to someone else some day, so, in case it helps . . .
I still don't know WHY Firefox crapped out on me, but some action(s) within my throw-it- against-the-wall-and-see-what-sticks approach got the app back to operable condition. Uninstall Firefox from computer and re-install, twice in a row. Refresh a new installation (which is quite inconvenient, all told) once. Uninstall that copy of the program. Re-boot the computer, once. Re-install Firefox again. The last iteration was functional.
At that point, I was able to reinstall NoScript, Privacy Badger, and Malwarebytes as Firefox extensions, and most get the app back to the configuration I prefer. Not quite, but close enough for now. Done is better than perfect, at this point.
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الحل المُختار
I have resolved the problems with Firefox. All-in-all, not how I wanted to use the last four hours, but I am now back to where I started: a functional copy of Firefox on my desktop. I considered just looking for an option to delete the question, but then figured it could happen to someone else some day, so, in case it helps . . .
I still don't know WHY Firefox crapped out on me, but some action(s) within my throw-it- against-the-wall-and-see-what-sticks approach got the app back to operable condition. Uninstall Firefox from computer and re-install, twice in a row. Refresh a new installation (which is quite inconvenient, all told) once. Uninstall that copy of the program. Re-boot the computer, once. Re-install Firefox again. The last iteration was functional.
At that point, I was able to reinstall NoScript, Privacy Badger, and Malwarebytes as Firefox extensions, and most get the app back to the configuration I prefer. Not quite, but close enough for now. Done is better than perfect, at this point.
When it happens again, try this:
If you use Sync, best is to disconnect Sync temporarily during troubleshooting.
This could be a problem with the places.sqlite and favicons.sqlite files in the Firefox profile folder.
- use the "Places Database" -> "Verify Integrity" button on the "Help -> More Troubleshooting Information" (about:support) page
If errors are reported with "Verify Integrity", close and restart Firefox or reboot and retry.
If "Verify Integrity" cannot repair places.sqlite, rename/remove all places.sqlite and favicons.sqlite files in the Firefox profile folder with Firefox closed. Firefox will rebuild places.sqlite and restore the bookmarks from the most recent JSON backup in the bookmarkbackups folder.
- keep a backup copy of places.sqlite in case a new places.sqlite database has to be created
- you lose the history when a new places.sqlite is created
You may have to restore an older bookmarks backup in the bookmarkbackups folder via the Bookmarks Manager (Library).
- Bookmarks -> Manage Bookmarks -> Import & Backup -> Restore
- https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/restore-bookmarks-from-backup-or-move-them
See also:
- https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/fix-bookmarks-and-history-will-not-be-functional
- https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/cant-add-change-or-save-bookmarks
You can use the button on the "Help -> More Troubleshooting Information" (about:support) page to go to the current Firefox profile folder or use the about:profiles page (Root directory).
- Help -> More Troubleshooting Information -> Profile Folder/Directory:
Windows: Open Folder; Linux: Open Directory; Mac: Show in Finder - https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/profiles-where-firefox-stores-user-data
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