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How to restore session when sessionstore.js/.bak is corrupted

  • 2 replies
  • 27 have this problem
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  • Last reply by cor-el

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Hello. Here we go again with the same (very) old and (very) annoying story. Windows 7 somehow decides to freeze, forcing me to force shut down. And guess what? That's right. My Firefox session is gone..

What's that? Try to search sessionstore.bak to see if it stored the previous session before it was gone? Ok that'll work. Except that sessionstore.bak even if it has the correct time and it's 2.30 MB it contains nothing more but many many empty spaces.

Tried restoring previous file version method, didn't work. (I probably had this function disabled). Tried Recuva program to restore deleted files, found the correct one (.js) only to be the same with the current (containing spaces). Found another almost 2 weeks old (.js), 3.02 MB, contains weird characters and a list of registry keys that are uncompleted(?). Tried copying the contents of that file to that site "herokuapp" ("When All Else Has Failed" - Why this should not), didn't work probably because there aren't any valid tab websites in there.

So here's a suggestion to Firefox developers and those who are involved with it: The .bak file was a good idea. It stores the previous session when something goes horribly wrong. But what if that file gets corrupted or accidentally replaced? You should add an alternative backup method. Another file that will store the session ONCE at the beginning of EACH new day, even if Firefox had not been shut down. Also add a friendly option to access this file through Firefox from its menu. That will save a lot of headaches, a lot of time and more. I am sure this wouldn't be hard for you. And please do not rely on third-party add-ons for this, it should be an official working function. TABS = FIREFOX, keep the tradition, keep it good.

So, is there really another way of accessing my lost tabs (or websites) without these files? I mean except from going through hell (History), which is considered my only option right now, and I don't even remember most of my tabs. What's even worse I don't keep the pages loaded to save memory avoiding Firefox crashes, Flash plugin crashes and extremely painful slow downs, when I don't quit Firefox for a few days. Unless I am missing something here.

Please help and thanks.

Hello. Here we go again with the same (very) old and (very) annoying story. Windows 7 somehow decides to freeze, forcing me to force shut down. And guess what? That's right. My Firefox session is gone.. What's that? Try to search sessionstore.bak to see if it stored the previous session before it was gone? Ok that'll work. Except that sessionstore.bak even if it has the correct time and it's 2.30 MB it contains nothing more but many many empty spaces. Tried restoring previous file version method, didn't work. (I probably had this function disabled). Tried Recuva program to restore deleted files, found the correct one (.js) only to be the same with the current (containing spaces). Found another almost 2 weeks old (.js), 3.02 MB, contains weird characters and a list of registry keys that are uncompleted(?). Tried copying the contents of that file to that site "herokuapp" ("When All Else Has Failed" - Why this should not), didn't work probably because there aren't any valid tab websites in there. So here's a suggestion to Firefox developers and those who are involved with it: The .bak file was a good idea. It stores the previous session when something goes horribly wrong. But what if that file gets corrupted or accidentally replaced? You should add an alternative backup method. Another file that will store the session ONCE at the beginning of EACH new day, even if Firefox had not been shut down. Also add a friendly option to access this file through Firefox from its menu. That will save a lot of headaches, a lot of time and more. I am sure this wouldn't be hard for you. And please do not rely on third-party add-ons for this, it should be an official working function. TABS = FIREFOX, keep the tradition, keep it good. So, is there really another way of accessing my lost tabs (or websites) without these files? I mean except from going through hell (History), which is considered my only option right now, and I don't even remember most of my tabs. What's even worse I don't keep the pages loaded to save memory avoiding Firefox crashes, Flash plugin crashes and extremely painful slow downs, when I don't quit Firefox for a few days. Unless I am missing something here. Please help and thanks.

All Replies (2)

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Check running Services with Task Manager.

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Is is always possible the that space (clusters) on the hard drive have been used to store other data and in such a case you can't recover the original content of the file.

If you encounter such freeze issues regularly then best is to choose the "Show my windows and tabs from last time" startup setting.


You an try to create a new profile as a test to check if Session Restore work better in the new profile.

See "Creating a profile":

If the new profile works then you can transfer some files from an existing profile to the new profile, but be cautious not to copy corrupted files to avoid carrying over the problem.