A possible cause is a problem with the file places.sqlite that stores the bookmarks and the history.

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

See:

• /questions/822193

Ubuntu 11.04 displays window menus in the control bar at the top of the screen.
Click on Bookmarks/Show All Bookmarks then move your mouse to the left upper corner toward Firefox Web Browser.
You'll get pop up menu (Organize, Views and Import and Backup).

Thanks for the hint. I found the buttons, and "Import and Backup" => "Restore" gives me a list of timestamps. But when I hit a date, I always get "Unable to process the backup file."

So I am still in the same situation: No Bookmarks and no History.

Any other idea?

regards,

I deleted places.* files and all was working well again. Bookmarks were in place, links are displayed properly, the cursor changes when moving over a link, back button worked, ff could maintain the history, and it even does not complain about slow scripts. That cured many things!