tell me whether i can find a window i closed today having multiple tabs, using "history" and recently closed tabs/windows (both). i especially want to be able to restore the tab for Institute for the Study of War and its companions. i hope you are warm and rested. (second request)

i'm following the two moz suggestions here: 1 - https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/how-restore-browsing-session-backup and 2 - with the browser menu (button w 3 bars hiding menu) i sought and added the recommended extension 'Tab Session Manager' to play with some, so there's hope. sometimes learning is hard, but worth it.

don't know how to 'close' the question, so reply anyhow.

Did you find some promising session history files in your sessionstore-backups folder?

For reference:

• recovery.jsonlz4: the windows and tabs in your currently live Firefox session (or, if Firefox crashed at the last shutdown and is still closed, your last session)
• recovery.baklz4: a backup copy of recovery.jsonlz4
• previous.jsonlz4: the windows and tabs in your last Firefox session
• upgrade.jsonlz4-build_id: the windows and tabs in the Firefox session that was live at the time of your last update

Sometimes you can tell from the last modification time which one will have your missing tabs, but not always.

Optional File Contents Preview

These compressed files are a pain to view, so I created a tool on my website to list out their contents. If you want to try that, you can drag and drop it onto the large box on the following page, then click the "Scrounge URLs" button:

https://www.jeffersonscher.com/ffu/scrounger.html

If you don't get a list within 15 seconds, that probably means the script is caught in a loop. You may need to close the tab to avoid a tab crash and then try again in a new tab.

If you get a useful list, use the "Save List" button to archive it as a web page of clickable links for future reference, in case no other approach is successful.

thank you, jscher2000 - some days i'm just not very brave. experienced volunteers like you are so valuable! i will work with your suggestion, and thank you for the clear response. promising files will be found, no doubt, and success will arrive. then we both can do a happy dance ... and smile !

and i am also keeping your response for reference with the two i had tried before: https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/how-restore-browsing-session-backup https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/1200701

i venture back into the internet of everything now. thank you, again. "not"

jscher2000 ... i removed the extension session-thing because i made an incorrect setting, but that's no biggie. however, starting over without it, attempting your location-bar about:session ... i get this. (image) so combined with all the idiocy twit has caused, i'm afraid to go too far into your volunteer time, sessions being very messed up by now. i'll just go slow and carefully, because i do need and want to get those windows and tabs back if it's possible. "easy" is out of the question now. "not"

hi js2000 - i modified the image to add image of files from folder i copied and moved to desktop. i shall be getting a pizza soon, and some rum. you're welcome to join me. weenie musk ain't invited.

=============

(from moz instructions:) In the profile *folder (for example, xxxxxxxx.default-release), if you scroll down a bit, you should see the sessionstore-backups folder.

Make a copy of the sessionstore-backups *folder. [i selected *folder, then *copy]

Shut down Firefox. Generally, you want to avoid file system operations (move, copy, delete) in this folder while Firefox is running. The copy of the unaccessed backups folder was necessary and should be safe.

Move the *file called*[had no name] sessionstore-backups.jsonlz4 to another location (like your desktop). [i believe i moved the *folder i copied to the desktop, but it should have had that file ? ...] Moving rather than deleting is a precautionary step. [LOST IT HERE ...]

Note: This file does not exist while Firefox is running.

Navigate to the sessionstore-backups backup *folder you made. [ which i moved to desktop ] Review the files in this folder by date modified (you can ignore their names, any file in this folder should be restorable). If the most recently modified file is particularly small compared to others, it may be mostly blank, and you'll want to use the bigger one.

Copy your chosen *file into the main *(?real?) profile *folder. Rename the *file to sessionstore.jsonlz4.

Start up Firefox. eat the pizza, drink the rum. give js2000 the clean glass.

==============

Okay, you are describing doing a file swap. When Firefox starts up, it looks for sessionstore.jsonlz4 at the main level of the profile folder (not inside the sessionstore-backups folder). Here are the details on the "how to":

(1) Open your profile folder in a new File Explorer window:

From inside Firefox, open your current Firefox settings (AKA Firefox profile) folder using any of these methods:

• "3-bar" menu button > Help > More Troubleshooting Information
• (menu bar) Help > More Troubleshooting Information
• type or paste about:support in the address bar and press Enter

In the first table on the page, fine the "Profile Folder" row. In that row, click the "Open Folder" button. This should launch a Windows File Explorer window listing the various files and folders in your profile.

(2) Leaving that window open, switch back to Firefox and Exit, either:

• "3-bar" menu button > Exit
• (menu bar or Alt) File > Exit

Pause while Firefox finishes its cleanup -- a file named sessionstore.jsonlz4 should appear in the folder.

(3) Once Firefox has stopped updating things, right-click > Rename sessionstore.jsonlz4 to sessionstoreOLD.jsonlz4

(4) Copy/paste that file from two days ago into your profile folder -- do not move your original file here to avoid possible data loss, make sure you copy/paste.

Then right-click > Rename the file from upgrade.jsonlz4-blahblah to sessionstore.jsonlz4

(5) Start Firefox and it should read the swapped in session file and restore whatever was in it (if you do not have Firefox set to restore your previous windows and tabs automatically, use History > Restore Previous Session)

Any luck?

um ... i responded to you in the wrong place so i'll just say - give me a while. maybe tomorrow. i'm reading a Musk case filing: the case document link, should you run out of things to do ...https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.nysd.578187/gov.uscourts.nysd.578187.33.0.pdf like they say, "That boy ain't right." elise aka "not"

'js2thou' - super-clear instructions. still have 25 pages to read. hoping to give the lesson a try when i'm done reading (and swearing). molto graci!

Hmm, let me add something.

To back up your CURRENT tabs that you will want after you roll back your sessions, you can use the "Bookmark All Tabs" feature to save a new folder of bookmarks, one for each tab open in the window. (You would need to repeat for each window.)

Ctrl+Shift+D is the easiest way to call that up.

i think i should roll back myself first ... lucy, i have som splainin to do ... to myself.

ok js, after i return windows and tabs to almost the way they were, making them "CURRENT" tabs, i will follow this new lesson. ♥

Oh, I was thinking maybe you wanted to keep the tabs from the browsing you are doing today, so you would need to save those BEFORE swapping your session history file.

js - i honestly don't know yet what i need or plan. today? not so crucial, but maybe. the "ones i used to use regularly intensely" that i murdered? mucho primo.

so you DO like rum. good fella! me

link to Tab Session Manager review. helped me understand the extension better, so i'll probably re-add and learn to use well. https://www.ghacks.net/2019/08/16/tab-session-manager-is-an-add-on-that-saves-your-windows-and-tabs/ but the manager built-in to firefox may be useful, too. i'll keep you posted on progress. "not"

Did you find some promising session history files in your sessionstore-backups folder? For reference:

• recovery.jsonlz4: the windows and tabs in your currently live Firefox session (or, if Firefox crashed at the last shutdown and is still closed, your last session)
• recovery.baklz4: a backup copy of recovery.jsonlz4
• previous.jsonlz4: the windows and tabs in your last Firefox session
• upgrade.jsonlz4-build_id: the windows and tabs in the Firefox session that was live at the time of your last update

Sometimes you can tell from the last modification time which one will have your missing tabs, but not always. Optional File Contents Preview These compressed files are a pain to view, so I created a tool on my website to list out their contents. If you want to try that, you can drag and drop it onto the large box on the following page, then click the "Scrounge URLs" button: https://www.jeffersonscher.com/ffu/scrounger.html If you don't get a list within 15 seconds, that probably means the script is caught in a loop. You may need to close the tab to avoid a tab crash and then try again in a new tab. If you get a useful list, use the "Save List" button to archive it as a web page of clickable links for future reference, in case no other approach is successful.

hello there, General Scher. lookee wot i found just now ... a corroborative post about your tool ! also, original folder with original session store files and info, yay me. i am kind of worn out, so i'll plan to spend tomorrow following your above (full) instructions. thanks again. (oops - should it be Doctor Scher ? ) "not" is me, real name elise

let's let me keep going solo ... but i just wanted to try to help you see where i am. i have faith that one way or another things will be okay. as in "acceptable" to me, restored or rehabilitated. - elise

Okay, it looks like you closed Firefox and you are doing the file replacement. Hope it takes.

progress is being made. the roadblock is my own. here's where i am presently. (sorry for the awful formatting)

=== continuing from your instructions ... In that row, click the "Open Folder" *button*. (gray w location name as ... "C:\Users\Admin\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\3ijff9g2.default-1515874302088" This should launch a Windows File Explorer *window* "Profiles" listing the various *files and folders* in your profile.

(2) Leaving that window open, switch back to Firefox and *Exit, either:

   * "3-bar" menu button > Exit
   (menu bar or Alt) File > Exit 

-- Pause while Firefox finishes its cleanup -- a file named *sessionstore.jsonlz4* should appear in "the" folder. in WHAT folder ... ? PROFILE Folder ... ? "12/21/2022 8:03 AM sessionCheckpoints.json" is the only stand-alone file w similar name, listed w other files, after folders ... ?

  			    "C:\Users\Admin\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\3ijff9g2.default-1515874302088"

(*FOLDER 12.21.2022 7:40 AM "SESSION STORE-BACKUPS" has no such file) let's pause, unless it's a simple correction. i think the rest of the instructions are not problematic for me. thanks! i have some rum left ... want some ? elise

(2) Leaving that window open, switch back to Firefox and *Exit ... -- Pause while Firefox finishes its cleanup -- a file named *sessionstore.jsonlz4* should appear in "the" folder. in WHAT folder ... ? PROFILE Folder ... ?

In the 3ijff9g2.default-1515874302088 folder, if the files are listed alphabetically, it normally slots in below sessionCheckpoints.json.

"12/21/2022 8:03 AM sessionCheckpoints.json" is the only stand-alone file w similar name, listed w other files, after folders ... ?

Hmm, are you sure Firefox shut down fully?

Anyway, if Firefox did not create a sessionstore.jsonlz4 file, then you don't need to rename it to get it out of the way. You can proceed to introduce the replacement file.

hi. thanks for not running away. it takes me so long for confidence to click in.

other than waiting a good while after closing the program firefox, i don't know how to ascertain it's "finished" closing, such that the json session file forms. does it run in the background as open ("still running"), needing to be closed? that's happened a couple of times: i have clicked "close" ...

having exited/closed several times and restarted, and reviewing the FOLDER i copied and saved to the desktop originally (when we began) it seems i have had no json file ever -- to be renamed and replaced. odd, yes? i frequently close firefox and restart after similar pauses because it seems to be updating often and the updates prevent files from spinning, not opening. it's been a habit, and updates are important.

today is fragmented but i will continue to see what i can do.

EVERY close and restart should produce the elusive json file, into the folder you have indicated, correct ? this "problem" has been the only instance where i'm working on finding a previous firefox session which had all my windows and tabs BEFORE i activated session store manager extension - if possible. (i also backup my bookmarks regularly, which could help replace some tabs, if all else fails.)

you can also forward all this to someone else, if it's gone on too long.

a big virtual handshake-thank-you to you. slow-smoked ribs instead of rum ... ? i can send link, you can pick ... elise