Browsing history gone after last Firefox update - how to restore?
The Firefox update that rolled out on Nov. 15, 2016, seems to have deleted both my browsing history and bookmarks. How can I restore these (especially history, which is way more important to me)?
Additional System Details
Installed Plug-ins
- Foxit Reader Plug-In For Firefox and Netscape
- Intel web components updater - Installs and updates the Intel web components
- Intel web components for Intel® Identity Protection Technology
- NPRuntime Script Plug-in Library for Java(TM) Deploy
- Next Generation Java Plug-in 11.25.2 for Mozilla browsers
- Microsoft Lync Web App Plug-in
- The plug-in allows you to open and edit files using Microsoft Office applications
- Office Authorization plug-in for NPAPI browsers
- Shockwave Flash 23.0 r0
- 5.1.50901.0
- iTunes Detector Plug-in
Application
- User Agent: Mozilla/5.0 (Windows NT 10.0; WOW64; rv:50.0) Gecko/20100101 Firefox/50.0
More Information
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
Question owner
No, there's nothing by that name on my desktop, so the past fixes suggested here on the forum don't seem to apply.
How many profiles should be on your computer?
Type about:profiles<enter> in the address bar. How many profiles are listed?
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 backups of files that you choose.
OPIE {web link} Import/Export extension preferences
Question owner
Thanks... there's just one profile (Profile: default), with the top entry underneath the header saying "Default Profile: no." The Profiles page also gives me two options: Restart with add-ons disabled or Restart normally.
Places Maintenance {web link} Allows to run Maintenance tasks on the database that drives Places, the bookmarks and history module behind Firefox.
Open the Add-ons Manager. Locate the add-on and press the Options button. Then follow the directions.
Question owner
Did this, thanks, but history and bookmarks are still gone. Anything else I can do?
Is it just history, or is there a problem with the bookmarks?
History and cookies can be removed or not recorded several ways;
- 1) Running Firefox in Private Mode (nothing is recorded)
- 2) Privacy settings; (Type about:preferences#privacy<enter> in the address bar.)
- 3) Many disk cleaners and anti-virus type programs can remove data from browsers. Open their settings and have them leave the browsers alone.
- 4) Mal-ware.
Question owner
No, it's both history and bookmarks. I've checked all the other issues, and have done a full security scan, so the possibilities you named seemed to be ruled out. It's starting to look like I'm not getting my lost data back :( Thanks for your efforts, though -- I appreciate it!
Type about:support in the address bar and press enter.
Under the page logo on the left side, you will see Application Basics. Under this find Profile Folder. To its right press the button Show Folder. This will open your file browser to the current Firefox profile.
Look for this file: places.sqlite : History and Bookmarks. What is the size of the file?
Restore Bookmark Backups
To open the Bookmarks Manager, press the Alt or F10 key bring up the tool bar, and select Bookmarks. Hot key is <Control>(Mac=<Command>) <Shift> B.
Once the window is open, at the top of the page, press the button labeled Import and Backup. Select Restore. From the list, pick the file you want and click it.
The backups are stored in a jsonlz4 file named something like this; bookmarks-2016-06-29_1424_enD1GTHya0JmicnYWg4V4g==.jsonlz4 In this example; 2016-06-29 = date created, 1424 = number of entries.
Question owner
Thanks! places.sqlite is 10,240KB (probably what I've accumulated in new history since last one crashed). There's also a places.sqlite.corrupt -- which I suspect is my old history -- that's 71,680KB.
Haven't tried restoring bookmark backups yet, but will attempt that next.
ebishirl said
There's also a places.sqlite.corrupt -- which I suspect is my old history
COPY this file to a safe location. You may be able to recover the information. I called for more help.
FredMcD said
How many profiles should be on your computer? Type about:profiles<enter> in the address bar. How many profiles are listed?
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 backups of files that you choose.
OPIE {web link} Import/Export extension preferences
How can I avoid being in ebishirl like situation?
Please have a look at my question: https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/1152310
sherdil.me There are several responses to your question. If they don't work for you, just say so on your question.