ruhtra said

I installed latest version of FIREFOX to fix slow starting. Now, I cannot find or access my BOOKMARKS or HISTORY

Try Ctrl+D

Thank you for the suggestion. Unfortunately I still am unable to recover bookmarks and history before used before yesterday.

See also:

• https://support.mozilla.org/kb/how-do-i-use-bookmarks

See also:

• https://support.mozilla.org/kb/learn-more-about-the-design-of-new-firefox
• https://support.mozilla.org/kb/common-questions-after-updating-to-new-firefox

Thank you for the suggestion, but I still cannot retrieve my BOOKMARKS and HISTORY

Can you open the Bookmarks Manager (Library)?

If that window is empty then it is possible that there is a problem with the places.sqlite file that stores bookmarks and history.

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

• Places Maintenance: https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/addon/places-maintenance/

Thank you for the suggestions. I will try again soon, but I am frankly exasperated and exhausted, So much lost in those bookmarks and I have spent 20 hours. Seems strange this would not be an easy fix after years of hearing "nothing ever disappears."

Look on your desktop. Do you see a folder called; Old Firefox?

https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/recovering-important-data-from-an-old-profile

https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/back-and-restore-information-firefox-profiles

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

If you used Firefox's refresh feature -- this could happen if you got a message that Firefox was performing poorly and you could improve it by restoring default settings -- then there should be an Old Firefox Data folder on your desktop. Can you find that?

Note: Refresh is not supposed to remove your bookmarks, but it does remove add-ons and returns certain settings to their defaults. If you want to "roll back" the Refresh because Firefox was running reasonably problem-free beforehand, there is a way to use the contents of the Old Firefox DAta folder to revert the refresh. You might want to brew a fresh cup...

Check inside "Old Firefox Data" folder for a folder with a semi-randomized name. If there's only one, that probably has your old settings and add-ons. If there's more than one, you'll want to work with the one that was updated most recently.

Once you have identified the profile folder you want to restore, here is my suggested "old profile resurrection procedure":

Overview

These are the steps described in more details below:

1. Create a new Firefox profile
2. Remove everything from that new profile folder
3. Copy in everything from the old profile folder

Create a new Firefox profile (Windows)

Exit Firefox and start up in the Profile Manager by pasting the following into the Start menu search box, or the Start > Run dialog, and pressing Enter:

firefox.exe -P

Note: Any time you want to switch profiles, exit Firefox and return to this dialog.

Click the Create Profile button, assign a name like OldSettings, and skip the option to change the folder location. Then select that new profile in the dialog and start Firefox.

Open the New Profile folder in Windows Explorer

Firefox in the new profile should look like a factory fresh installation. Open the Troubleshooting Information page using either:

• "3-bar" menu button > "?" button > Troubleshooting Information
• Help menu > Troubleshooting Information
• type or paste about:support in the address bar and press Enter

In the first table, click the "Show Folder" button. Firefox will launch your brand new profile folder in Windows Explorer.

Leaving that folder open, switch back to Firefox, and Exit. When Firefox closes, the profile folder should be front and center, or you can activate it using the Task bar.

Copy Old Data in Place of New

In that new profile folder, select all the contents and delete.

Leaving that window open, open or switch over to your Old Firefox Data folder. Drill down into your old profile folder. At this level you should see a folder named bookmarkbackups among other things.

Select everything (Ctrl+a) and Copy (either right-click > Copy or Ctrl+c).

Switch to the empty new profile folder in other window and Paste (either right-click > Paste or Ctrl+v). This may take a minute since some of the files are large.

Start Firefox

Firefox should start up in that new profile with the resurrected old profile data. Success?