lost data while laptop restarted during windows update, How would I recover it?
Windows Had unexpectedly performed an update while firefox was running on my laptop with the lid closed and with the computer in standby or sleep mode. Seemingly firefox failed to save the browsing history of the day of the update, and this has happened multiple times before. The history will show I had visited a couple of websites when I'm sure I had visited more.
luckily I have my settings set to restore all tabs when i reopen the application but its not always stable as firefox is prone to crash, especially on older firmware. I will search up things and after an windows update I check firefox and there was almost no record of my browsing history for that day. At first I had assumed maybe I wasn't very active but as of right now I can see this an issue. Even if all the tabs are restored from last time it was open, Im basically walking on thing ice as im not sure if those open tabs are even being recorded unless I were to refresh the page on each one.
I tried the free recovery software recuva, but there were no missing files for 12/4/18 when I was on quantum or really any in past 6 months in which I had this issue on the firmware right before it. I should mention that this isnt an issue if the application isnt running during the windows update, only when it is and im on windows 10
I have talked to a Microsoft technician online and he had mentioned that windows wont save the progress of running applications after taking a look at my comp remotely. I don't understand why it would lose data even though it was already saved, which is why i asking here. There is a possibility the issue could solely be my on laptop but I doubt it.
Even when firefox itself crashes without outside factors, it would at least have the data recorded somewhere. I stayed on the old firmware for awhile so i could use the session manager extension but it sometimes wouldn't save my sessions which is I why I had switched to quantum. the main benefit of session manger is that it would save the tabs and the tab history like backspace, clicks on a page, form information, for example typing in something into a search bar or forum post. This is important to me because I have upward to 200 or even 300 tabs open.
Modified by James
All Replies (4)
Separate Security Issue: Update your Flash Player or remove it using these links; http://helpx.adobe.com/flash-player/kb/uninstall-flash-player-windows.html Uninstall Flash Player | Windows http://helpx.adobe.com/flash-player/kb/uninstall-flash-player-mac-os.html Uninstall Flash Player | Mac
Note: Windows users should download the ActiveX for Internet Explorer. and the plugin for Plugin-based browsers (like Firefox).
Note: Windows 8 and Windows 10 have built-in flash players and Adobe will cause a conflict. Install the plugin only. Not the ActiveX.
Flash Player Version: Version 32.0.0.101
https://get.adobe.com/flashplayer/ Direct link scans current system and browser Note: Other software is offered in the download. <Windows Only>
https://get.adobe.com/flashplayer/otherversions/ Step 1: Select Operating System Step 2: Select A Version (Firefox, Win IE . . . .) Note: Other software is offered in the download. <Windows Only> +++++++++++++++++++ See if there are updates for your graphics drivers https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/upgrade-graphics-drivers-use-hardware-acceleration
DigitalMayhem said
Seemingly firefox failed to save the browsing history of the day of the update
What about the rest of your profile? passwords, settings, bookmarks . . .
Look on your desktop. Do you see a folder called; Old Firefox? Look inside. Look for the folder with the latest creation date.
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
https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/how-run-firefox-when-profile-missing-inaccessible
Hi DigitalMayhem, apologies if I missed any important points, but when you started Firefox, did it not do a crash recovery/session restore automatically? I guess not, or you wouldn't be looking for your tabs...
Could you check whether either of these are available (not hidden or grayed out):
- "3-bar" menu button > Restore Previous Session
- (menu bar) History > Restore Previous Session
If they are missing or grayed, check either:
- "3-bar" menu button > Library > History > Recently Closed Windows (and within each restored window, Recently Closed Tabs)
- "Library" toolbar button > History > Recently Closed Windows (and within each restored window, Recently Closed Tabs)
- (menu bar) History > Recently Closed Windows (and within each restored window, Recently Closed Tabs)
If that doesn't help...
Firefox creates numerous session history files, but because session history is only for the immediately previous session, it is unfortunately too easy to lose it. Could you start by making a backup of your existing session history files? Here's how:
Do not exit Firefox, or if you closed it, don't re-open it.
(1) To open your profile folder...
If Firefox is still running:
You can open your current Firefox settings (AKA Firefox profile) folder using either
- "3-bar" menu button > "?" Help > Troubleshooting Information
- (menu bar) Help > Troubleshooting Information
- type or paste about:support in the address bar and press Enter
In the first table on the page, click the "Open Folder" (or "Show in Finder") button.
If Firefox is closed:
Type or paste the following into the Windows Run dialog or the system search box and press Enter to launch Windows Explorer:
%APPDATA%\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles
In that folder, do you see a semi-randomly-named folder? If so, click into it. If you find multiple such folders, find the one that was most recently updated.
(2) Copy out session history files
In your profile folder, double-click into the sessionstore-backups folder. Save all files here to a safe location such as your Documents folder.
(3) What files did you find?
The kinds of files you may find among your sessionstore files are:
- recovery.jsonlz4: the windows and tabs in your currently live Firefox session (or, if Firefox crashed at the last shutdown and is still closed, your last session)
- recovery.baklz4: a backup copy of recovery.jsonlz4
- previous.jsonlz4: the windows and tabs in your last Firefox session
- upgrade.jsonlz4-build_id: the windows and tabs in the Firefox session that was live at the time of your last update
- various .js files from Firefox 55 or earlier
Could you take a look at what you have and the date/time of the various files to see whether you think any of them would have the missing tabs?
To preview the contents of a file, you can drag and drop it onto this page, then click Scrounge URLs: https://www.jeffersonscher.com/ffu/scrounger.html
That tool is on my site, so please let me know if it doesn't work for you.
FredMcD said
DigitalMayhem saidSeemingly firefox failed to save the browsing history of the day of the updateWhat about the rest of your profile? passwords, settings, bookmarks . . .
Look on your desktop. Do you see a folder called; Old Firefox?
I have no folder called old.firefox I would have to do a refresh. I checked all profiles I have nothing with the date 12/4. I didn't mention this but seamonkey and waterfox were open at the time as well and they don't have anything for that date, perhaps this was all just a technical hiccup on my computer and ill have to take it to a professional.