It is possible that there is a problem with the files sessionstore.js and sessionstore.bak in the Profile Folder

Delete the files sessionstore.js and sessionstore.bak in the Firefox Profile Folder.

• Help > Troubleshooting Information > Profile Directory: Open Containing Folder
• http://kb.mozillazine.org/Profile_folder_-_Firefox
• http://kb.mozillazine.org/sessionstore.js

If you see files sessionstore-##.js with a number in the left part of the name like sessionstore-1.js then delete those as well.
Deleting sessionstore.js will cause App Tabs and Tab Groups to get lost, so you will have to create them again (make a note).

See:

• http://kb.mozillazine.org/Session_Restore

Hi cor-el - Unfortunately I have already tried your suggestion multiple times and the problem keeps coming back. What else do you have?

Does it work at least one time if you clear those files?

Do you have security software or other software that might interfere with Firefox saving files in the Firefox Profile Folder?

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

Firefox saved session data every 10 seconds in the file sessionstore.js if session restore is enabled.

I'm having the same problem and it's really annoying!

I've tried your solution Cor-el and it doesn't work. I delete those files right before I close the browser and yet when I restart FF, 10 other windows launch in addition to the one that I was using the last session.

As for your security question, I'm using both Comodo for my firewall and Microsoft Security Essentials for my virus protection.

You need to remove those files after you have closed Firefox because Firefox will create a new copy if you close the program and if that isn't working properly then you get problems.

Hi cor-el,

Have deleted all the session.js and session.bak and the first couple of times things are fine> But after a while(5 to 10 times opening new sessions) it just gets so annoying again I have to close 10+windows to get to the opening window, as only the opening session will show at least the toolbars I want. The first session that opens as least shows the toolbars I want but doesn't pen the sessions I used before.

OK just deleted all session.js and opened FF and all is fine.

Please help as it gets to a moment I just won't use FF anymore although I loved it previous to FF4

Yes, it does help for a while after deleting the files. However, the problem will eventually return so the solutions thus far are only temporary fixes and a problem that Firefox is creating. I do use Enod32 AV but that is not the problem. Others have very different software. I had already disabled all of my Add-Ons except for Roboform which I cannot do without but this did not help.

What I did was COMPLETELY UNINSTALL Firefox and then reinstalled. I did export my bookmarks first and reimported and then reloaded my add-ons. So far I have not had the problem occur after several days. If it does occur again however, I will be switching my company to use a different browser and then perhaps try Firefox again at version 5 or 6 to see if you have resolved this.

BTW - My issue is just like what the others have described. The additional windows that open do NOT have the additional toolbars visible. I have to carefully close the 5 to 20 windows until I see the base window which has the toolbars. Perhaps this is a clue.

Thank for you trying to help. However this issue needs to be escalated as I am sure many folks are simply just switching to a different browser as they have little reason to stay with Firefox when they can so easily switch and be done with it.

I am sorry to report that even completely uninstalling Firefox 4 and reinstalling with a new install did not resolve the problem of multiple windows opening. I guess I have no choice but to ask our IT manager to find a new brand. I really like the add-on capability of the Firefox but this problem is unacceptable. At some point between version 2 and 3, the bookmarks became too slow to be useable. I complained along with so many others but it was never resolved until version 4 came out. So this tells me that this problem will go unresolved until version 5 perhaps. Please...prove me wrong. I would be willing to allow a Mozilla developer to directly access my system if they think they identify the problem. But does anyone care?

The file sessionstore.js shouldn't get corrupted. If that does happen then check any security or cleanup software that monitors files in the Firefox Profile Folder and make sure that you exclude that folder to avoid profile corruption.

• http://kb.mozillazine.org/Profile_folder_-_Firefox
• http://kb.mozillazine.org/sessionstore.js

Cor-el - Thanks for response but the "check your security or cleanup software" excuse is getting old. I have dozens of applications on my system and they all run fine without file corruption from my AV software. I have excluded the AV from checking any of the Firefox folders and this had no effect.

This is not a Firefox issue, not a security or cleanup software issue. That is just a LAME EXCUSE that folks use when do not have clue what is wrong. How about some real-world debugging? What else have you got?

This shit remains in Firefox 5. Nothing's changed. Mozilla began to venture releasing a defective commodity.

Yes cactoid - you are sadly correct in your statement. My company is now working to migrate to Chrome if testing goes well. We have determined that Roboform works there as well as many of the developer extensions. I offered to allow a Mozilla developer to access my system directly in an effort to identify the cause but received no response. This issue must be way down their priority list and I do understand if that is the case. But for those of us with the problem and no solution, Firefox must understand why we have to leave.

Same problem here running FF5. Only recent change I can think of was installing Roboform again (wasn't compatible with FF5 for a while). I'll try disabling or uninstalling it and see what happens. I've had issues with Roboform and Chrome before too so I wouldn't be surprised if that's the problem.

We switched to Chrome and have had no issues. Don't this this issue is RF related. Most add-ons work there too. Loved Firefox but they do not seem to care about fixing bugs anymore but just want to add features in an attempt to compete. So sad. But no longer our problem. Good luck. If you find a fix, please post here.

I disabled Roboform, closed FF after restarting, and opened FF again with no multiple windows. Seems Roboform was my problem after all. Had a similar issue between Roboform and Chrome a while back too.

Interesting. I can make the problem go away too only to return later even while RF is disabled. Also, we use RF extensively in testing so unfortunately turning it off is not an option for us. Thanks for sharing your findings. I hope it continues to work for you.

Is this something new in FF5? I just loaded FF5, disabled Roboform (as mantonio suggested) and then restarted FF. The multiple window issue did not appear but RF is still active and works just fine. Double-checked the Add-on setting and sure enough it shows RF is disabled. Is this is bug? Has Roboform found a way to bypass the FF disable add-on settings? Regardless, I am pleased that FF5, at least in the short-term, is not opening multiple windows and Roboform is still working. Nice!

Well i just upgraded from FF3.6 hoping this problem would be resolved and was shocked to see that it still remains in v5! When I open FF, it opens 23 windows! In addition, the back button is not active.

I'm going back to v3.6 again. unfortunately my Wordpress blog does not display all features correctly in v3.6 but at least I don't have multiple windows and a non functioning back button.

Unbelievable that this is still an issue

Unfortunately for me the problem still persisted with Roboform disabled. I also had the same issue as ddraper where Roboform was disabled, but was still asking to remember passwords. The toolbar was gone as if it were disabled, but every time I would enter a username and password it would appear and ask to save it. Very strange and there are obviously multiple bugs that need to be addressed. I'm also having issues with other add-ons such as Firebug. Nothing major, but the icon at the bottom right just disappeared even though Firebug is still enabled. I can access through Tools, but the shortcut was obviously a nice feature. I even went as far as downgrading to 3.6.18 and had no issues, but that version doesn't support HTML5 which I need so it seems I just can't win...

Mantonio - Sorry I did not update my posting. Disabling Roboform did not help our problem with multiple windows either. It seemed to help at first but then the problem just comes back. Fortunately there are now excellent alternatives to Firefox.