Firefox resets and deletes history everytime I start it
This problem happened this morning. I had like 3 years of my browsing history in Firefox. It crashed today when I started it, then I repeatedly clicked somewhere on the crashed screen so Windows force close it. It force closed it. But when it stated , ALL my history is gone !!!!! Although saved passwords are ok. Now EVERY TIME I start Firefox, it does seem to reset itself and clears history This problem appeared after I updated to 44 recently. 1- How can I fix this problem? 2- How can I retrieve my history?
Any help is deeply appreciated
All Replies (7)
Start Firefox in Safe Mode {web Link} by holding down the <Shift>
(Mac=Options) key, and then starting Firefox. Is the problem still there?
Look on your desktop. Do you see a folder called; Old Firefox?
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
I'm in Safe Mode now. Again Firefox has reseted itself. There is no history. Even google asks to change my homepage every time I start Firefox. It's like Firefox doesn't keeps anything except account info anymore. There is no "old firefox" folder in my desktop. Maybe these are the cause of the problem??? Recently, 1-I installed Eclipse and CDT plugin. 2- I Installed MinGW compiler 3- 2 days ago, When I clicked shut-down in Windows 7/64bit, I changed my mind and repeatedly hit ctrl+alt+delete and escape to cancel the process of shutting down. There was an error message dialog but I don't remember it. Maybe that had something to do with Firefox?? 4- 2 days ago, I updated to version 44.
I'm really depressed because of my history. Please suggest a way to retrieve it
History and cookies can be removed or not recorded several ways;
- 1) Running Firefox in Private Mode (nothing is recorded)
- 2) Privacy settings
(Type about:preferences#privacy<enter> in the address bar.) - 3) Many disk cleaners and anti-virus type programs can remove data from browsers. Open their settings and have them leave the browsers alone.
- 4) Mal-ware.
@FredMcD Thanks for your replies but actually I've already read that 4 cases when I was searching for a way to fix the problem 1- I'm not on private mode 2- No unusual privacy setting 3- No disk-cleaner or anti virus mess 4- No malware (at least that is what Microsoft Security Essential reports)
Now it's becoming a conundrum for me...Where is the history data saved anyway?
Bookmarks and history are stored in the same file in your user profile. places.sqlite. Bookmarks are backed up, but not history.
Places Maintenance {web link} Allows to run Maintenance tasks on the database that drives Places, the bookmarks and history module behind Firefox.
Open the Add-ons Manager. Locate the add-on and press the Options button. Then follow the directions.
"Places Maintenance" did NOT fix the problem. I refreshed Firefox and installed all my addons again. Actually everything works OK after refresh but I LOST 4+ YEARS OF MY HISTORY
You can check for problems with preferences.
Delete possible user.js and numbered prefs-##.js files and rename (or delete) the prefs.js file to reset all prefs to the default value including prefs set via user.js and prefs that are no longer supported in current Firefox releases.
You can use this button to go to the current Firefox profile folder:
- Help > Troubleshooting Information > Profile Directory: Show Folder (Linux: Open Directory; Mac: Show in Finder)
- http://kb.mozillazine.org/Profile_folder_-_Firefox