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If I uninstall and reinstall Mozilla/firefox, why do ALL the previous setting return? I want a clean and fresh setup

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All previous setting appear.

All previous setting appear.

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Your Firefox settings are stored in a profile folder, which is saved in a separate location from the Firefox program. See Uninstall Firefox from your computer for details.

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The program is in the computers Programs Folder. Your settings are in the User Folder.

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Chosen Solution

Your Firefox settings are stored in a profile folder, which is saved in a separate location from the Firefox program. See Uninstall Firefox from your computer for details.

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Refresh Firefox {web link} is a LAST RESORT ! !

Refresh Firefox - reset add-ons and settings

If you're having problems with Firefox, refreshing it can help. The refresh feature fixes many issues by restoring Firefox to its default state while saving your essential information like bookmarks, passwords, and open tabs.

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Are you sure you want to get rid of everything? To set up a clean folder in parallel to your current settings folder you can:

Create a new Firefox profile

This is in addition to and does not replace your existing settings.

A new profile will have your system-installed plugins (e.g., Flash) and extensions (e.g., security suite toolbars), but no themes, other extensions, or other customizations. It also should come with completely fresh settings databases and a fresh cache folder.

Exit Firefox and start up in the Profile Manager using Start > search box (or Run) -- type or paste the following and press Enter:

firefox.exe -P

Don't delete anything here.

Any time you want to switch profiles, exit Firefox and return to this dialog.

Click the Create Profile button, assign a name like March27, and ignore the option to change the folder location. Then start Firefox in the new profile you created.

You can use the Library dialog (Ctrl+Shift+b or "Show All Bookmarks") to access the Restore feature. The trick is knowing where to find your bookmark backups in your regular profile. After clicking Choose File... you can paste this into the file name space and press Enter to drill down to your profile folders:

%APPDATA%\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles

The semi-randomly-named folder that has your last backup is usually the one ending with "default". Click into that one, then into the bookmarkbackups folder. Here you can pick the most recently updated file to restore.

Important: a Restore wipes any bookmarks currently in your active Firefox profile and replaces it with the contents of the restored backup.