It is possible that there is a problem with the files sessionstore.js and sessionstore.bak in the Profile Folder

Delete sessionstore.js and sessionstore.bak in the Profile Folder

• Help > Troubleshooting Information > Profile Directory: Open Containing Folder

If you see files sessionstore-##.js with a number in the left part of the name like sessionstore-1.js then delete those as well.

You will have to redo App Tabs and Tab Groups after deleting sessionstore.js.

See:

• http://kb.mozillazine.org/Session_Restore

Hi cor-el, I think I've seen your answer before on OTHER questions like this one that I asked... The STRANGEST thing is.. yesterday it opened up PERFECTLY with NO problems.. then TODAY.. when I opened it.. it actually for SOME reason remembered this 'adobe' page I was on that I KNOW I closed and OTHER windows again.. and it just seems like a MESS now any time I reopen.. like... EACH time will be a SURPRISE as to what I will SEE in the tabs or extra empty windows...

BEFORE I attempt this... (I didn't WANT to when I saw you post this before) but NOW I think I MAY have NO CHOICE.. but BEFORE I try this...

Can you PLEASE tell me what you mean by... 'REDO App Tabs and Tab Groups'?? I don't understand what that means? How DO I do that?? I'm sorry I checked the link under there and I FEEL totally confused! If you have a 'short cut' way of explaining this I would LOVE to know and appreciate your time and help.. if not, I understand as I'm SURE it's a bit of explaining...

I just DO NOT understand why this is happening in the FIRST place? HOW did it START and what the HECK did I DO to make this happen? And why is it, that it seems like NOT too many people HAVE this issue?

Anyways, thanks for your time.. and ANYONE ELSE if you have annnnnnnnnnnnnny IDEAS please let me know or if anyone has heard ANYTHING else about this ANNOYING situation!

Sincerely,

FRUSTRATED Firefox USER (Shivonne)  :(

It helped others with this problem, so you can try to rename the file or move it to another folder to see if that helps.

If you have created App tabs (right-click a Tab on the tab bar : Pin as App Tab) or created Tab Groups then you lose these because that data is stored in the file sessionstore.js and is lost if you delete that file.

• /kb/what-are-app-tabs
• /kb/what-are-tab-groups

Thanks cor-el. I will try this at some point... thanks for the links too! I understand the app tab now :)

Well, I finally tried it! It didn't work though.. I took out the sessionstore.bak and sessionstore.js (which there were about 6 extras of those!) Took them ALL out and STILL am having this problem... I guess I'm going to try to go on LIVE CHAT maybe... hopefully someone can help me or might know of another solution. Thanks for your help BTW. I appreciate the efforts!

Sincerely, Shivonne **Frustrated, grr :(

If you had multiple sessionstore-##.js files then that can indicate a problem with security software that lock files in the Firefox Profile Folder and prevent Firefox from updating the main sessionstore.js file.

Do you mean like antivirus software? The ONLY thing I use is Microsoft Security Essentials... the FREE program.. there's nothing else I have running in the background? I mean I use Win and Glare utilities but only a few times a month. So... do I need to some how 'allow' some program that is NOT allowing me to update the main sessionstore.js file? You know at THIS point to just avoid the windows... I guess what if I change the options to 'start' a new session EACH time.. I wonder if THAT will stop all those windows.. then I will just will REMEMBER what tabs I had open and reopen every time I guess.. Gosh I'm surprised I'm not hearing too many others with this problem. Thanks for your help again.

I don't think that the workarounds are really satisfactory. Having to lose your old browser sessions after a restart is not very good (ironic understatement). Neither is having to shut multiple blank open windows with a two title bars each. I wonder if this is because I'm running Windows XP? If so, I'm seriously considering moving to another browser which is really a pain as I used to *love* Firefox until 4 came out. I'll probably go to IE instead.

@garthzares --I am just soo DISAPPOINTED with FF4! I have Windows Vista.. and I think it JUST takes too MUCH CPU and I am either FREEZING or hanging... I use to be able to have 50 tabs open at ONCE with NO problem and NOW I can hardly open 15 w/o freezing issues.. also for some reason 'LINKY' doesn't work as well anymore... sometimes my mouse opens the SAME url/link twice or even 3X! I WISH I could go back to the previous version of Firefox... I myself am SERIOUSLY considering google Chrome at this point... uuge :(

This happens only when firefox is set to open windows and tabs from last time...

@H3LL80Y I just wondered WHY all the EXTRA 'empty' blank windows... I changed my settings to NOT open from last time and it's fine now... I just liked it better before... so if I WANTED to leave some tabs up I could... but now I don't bother because too many empty windows come with it :(

@cor-el: Sounds like you're closer to the dev. team than me, so please pass this message:

I used to use FF all the time and, due to a memory-consumption problem, moved to Chrome. When I saw FF4 is out I tried it, loved it and stuck to it.

BUT: This terrible issue is a turn-off!

I'm using many tabs when working with my web-browser. In FF4 I am sometimes forced to restart (because it stops popping-up message boxes). Every time this happens, I find myself sitting for a few minutes and closing tens of empty windows. In 1/3 of the cases - I end up losing my last-session tabs.

If you're aware of the problem then please publish a hotfix for it - FASTER THAN FAST! (you'll end up losing users otherwise).

I never had this problem until I just updated to 5.0 and now it opens anywhere from 10 to 25 or more empty windows everytime it opens and tries to remember the sessions.

I work with a lot of tabs, so not having the sessions is really not ideal, as I leave tabs open until I get to them for what I am working on.

Really wish a real solution was being looked at on this rather than some hacks.

I am using Windows 7 as well.

I've tried deleting sessionstore.js and .bak files. The problem persists, on approximately every second or third start of firefox, it loses all my open tabs, and then opens 2 - 20+ windows. I then have to delete those files again, only for the problem to recur a little later again. It's frustrating as hell because the tabs have been left open with good reason - so I don't have to find them again! The alternative would be to bookmark EVERY time I close firefox, but then I'd end up with hundreds of bookmarks. It's a pity, because I really want to keep using Firefox, but this is close to a deal breaker for me.

Windows 7 Roborm & firebug installed in FF Comodo Firewall AVG installed. Lates version of FF (I don't know which one because it keeps updating lately)

Disable and Remove the AVG extension. It has been reported as causing various problems in Firefox.

Uninstall an Add-on

• https://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/Cannot%20uninstall%20an%20add-on

For Multiple Windows, Troubleshooting extensions and themes

• https://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/Troubleshooting%20extensions%20and%20themes

Clear Cookies & Cache

• https://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/Template:clearCookiesCache

Restore the default home page

• https://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/How%20to%20set%20the%20home%20page#w_restore-the-default-home-page

Check and tell if its working.

Make sure that security software or cleanup software isn't corrupting the sessionstore.js file in the Firefox Profile Folder.
It shouldn't be necessary to delete those files.

• http://kb.mozillazine.org/Profile_folder_-_Firefox
• http://kb.mozillazine.org/sessionstore.js

Has anyone found out what causes this ridiculous problem yet? I have had the exact same problem for several months. Unable to find any good answers, just suggestions that lead to more frustration. If anyone's found out what's causing this, please update the rest of us. Getting very close to switching to Chrome now after many years of only using Firefox.

Thanks!

@Ayric - Did you try to resolve your problem by using the 2nd & 4th links mentioned in my previous reply ??

Thanks, I just tried 2 and 4. Opened in Safe Mode and 30-40 blank windows popped up as usual. So not an issue with the plug-ins. What Safe Mode also did was it deleted my history, so I am now without my standard tabs that I always open. I restarted a couple of times and was for some reason down to 3 windows. And then I suddenly was down to just 1. No idea if that solves it, will have to continue browsing for a while to see if the problem returns. Also restored the default home page. Will now start all my usual tabs (luckily took a screen shot before I deleted everything) and continue browsing. Will let you know.

Would also be great to get some hint on possible root causes if anyone's figured that out.