Hi the are not. There seems to be a bug. Suggest 7mins : uninstall Firefox. Then Delete the Mozilla Firefox Folders in C:\Program Files , C:\Program Files(x86) & C:\ProgramData Then restart system. Then run Windows Disk Cleanup. (Note: This should be Pinned and run Weekly, If never done below expect 10's of gig's) Then run it again and click the button that says Cleanup System Files. Note: your Firefox Profile is saved. But you should make a back up before you do :

• https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/back-and-restore-information-firefox-profiles
• https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/export-firefox-bookmarks-to-backup-or-transfer

Reinstall with Current Release Firefox 59.0 with a Full Version Installer

• https://www.mozilla.org/firefox/all/

Please let us know if this solved your issue or if need further assistance.

Fed up

If you use Sync then best is to disconnect during the troubleshooting.

You can check for problems with the places.sqlite database (bookmarks and history) in the Firefox profile folder.

• use "Verify Integrity" on the "Help -> Troubleshooting Information" (about:support) page

See also:

• http://kb.mozillazine.org/Locked_or_damaged_places.sqlite
• https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/Bookmarks+not+saved#w_fix-the-bookmarks-file

If "Verify Integrity" on the "Help -> Troubleshooting Information" (about:support) page cannot repair places.sqlite then remove all places.sqlite files Firefox profile folder. Firefox will rebuild places.sqlite and restore the bookmarks from the most recent JSON backup in the bookmarkbackups folder.

• keep a backup copy of places.sqlite in case a new places.sqlite database has to be created
• http://kb.mozillazine.org/Unable_to_process_the_backup_file_-_Firefox

You can use the button on the "Help -> Troubleshooting Information" (about:support) page to go to the current Firefox profile folder or use the about:profiles page.

• Help -> Troubleshooting Information -> Profile Directory:
  Windows: Show Folder; Linux: Open Directory; Mac: Show in Finder
• http://kb.mozillazine.org/Profile_folder_-_Firefox

Attached is only one example of how NOTHING Works.

FYI, this is a clean reinstall, now: 59.0.1

BTW, there were no folders left over, after unintalling Firefox with iObit.

It's as if I had nothing better to do! when you admit yourselves that it's a [known] bug; -

In other words: firefox was updated prematurely! & I'm screwed, along w/ how many other users? WTF!

Did you try to delete or move all places.sqlite files in the profile folder?

Multiple times. It doesn't work when Firefox puts a backup folder on the desktop, which has those same files. You won't necessarily see said folder: 'till you've rebooted, or until you've reinstalled Firefox. (Sneaky)

In other words; there's no need to search for those files the way described, & it doesn't even work when you do that.

Hence, one has to delete them from that backup folder, AND delete those .John (or whatever) files as well.

Now Firefox has no choice but to recreate them. ...

But even then; you may end up (after exporting/importing your bookmarks .HTML) with everything in duplicate & all listed vertically instead of horizontally, across the bookmarks toolbar.

So now you'll spend countless hours tweaking & fucking around: ' till just maybe, you'll finally get your bookmarks back!

That takes 24 hours or more: non-stop.

Done. Thanks.