I have lost the ability to retrieve history, i could before and now nothing when I bring up history.

Lets get through the some of the initial problems and see if the latest problem is then solved.

First make it so that you are comfortable with you layout of toolbars.

You can make Firefox 4.0.1 look like Firefox 3.6.17, see numbered items 1-10 in the following topic Fix Firefox 4.0 toolbar user interface, problems (Make Firefox 4.0 look like 3.6)

There was a change made to saving tabs at the end of a session, now you can go to your History menu and use "Restore Previous Session", see ...

See item #31 Restoring tabs from a lost session

Also see Firefox does not ask to save tabs and windows on exit | Troubleshooting | Firefox Help

Make sure that you are saving and not deleting your browsing history

• Tools -> options -> Privacy
• http://img232.imageshack.us/img232/4928/clearcachew.png

These might be helpful if your help screens reflected firefox version 4.0 and not a later version. It is my opinion that firefaox has gone downhill anmd this is the opinion of other I have talked to. I think I will try Chrome or IE

Firefox 4 saves the previous session automatically, so there is no longer need for the dialog asking if you want to save the current session.
Use "File > Exit" or "Firefox > Exit" if you want to restore multiple windows.
You can use "History > Restore Previous Session" to get the previous session at any time.
You may need to click the orange/gray Firefox button to see History.
There is also a "Restore Previous Session" button on the default about:home Home page.

Make sure that you not run Firefox in permanent Private Browsing - Use Firefox without saving history mode.

• You enter Private Browsing mode if you select: Tools > Options > Privacy > History: Firefox will: "Never Remember History"
• To see all History and Cookie settings, choose: Tools > Options > Privacy, choose the setting Firefox will: Use custom settings for history
• Uncheck: [ ] "Permanent Private Browsing mode"

I followed your directions and still am having the same problem. I restarted my computer and brought up history and there ws no history to be shown. Any other ideas

You did check that you aren't in Private Browsing mode and that you keep history?

• Tools > Options > Privacy > Firefox will: "Use custom settings for history"

It is possible that there is a problem with the file places.sqlite that stores the bookmarks and the history.

• http://kb.mozillazine.org/Bookmarks_history_and_toolbar_buttons_not_working_-_Firefox

ok how do i repair this there is a problem with the file places.sqlite that stores the bookmarks and the history.

See:

• https://support.mozilla.com/kb/Bookmarks+not+saved#w_places-database-file