What happens when you try to load Google. For example:

• blank page
• times out / Server not found
• security certificate error

As you may have noticed, the Refresh/Reset feature copies your settings (profile) folder to the desktop into a folder named "Old Firefox Data".

If Firefox was running reasonably problem-free before the Refresh, and you haven't deleted the Old Firefox Data folder from your desktop, there is a way to use the contents of that folder to revert the refresh. You might want to brew a fresh cup...

Check inside "Old Firefox Data" folder for a folder with a semi-randomized name. If there's only one, that probably has your old settings and add-ons. If there's more than one, you'll want to work with the one that was updated most recently.

Once you have identified the profile folder you want to restore, here is my suggested "old profile resurrection procedure":

Overview

These are the steps:

1. Create a new Firefox profile
2. Remove everything from that new profile folder
3. Copy in everything from the old profile folder

Create a new Firefox profile (Windows)

Exit Firefox and start up in the Profile Manager by pasting the following into the Start menu search box, or the Start > Run dialog, and pressing Enter:

firefox.exe -P

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

Click the Create Profile button, assign a name like OldSettings, and skip the option to change the folder location. Then select that new profile in the dialog and start Firefox.

Open the New Profile folder in Windows Explorer

Firefox in the new profile should look like a factory fresh installation. Open the Troubleshooting Information page using either:

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

In the first table, click the "Show Folder" button. Firefox will launch your brand new profile folder in Windows Explorer.

Leaving that folder open, switch back to Firefox, and Exit. When Firefox closes, the profile folder should be front and center, or you can activate it using the Task bar.

Copy Old Data in Place of New

In that new profile folder, select all the contents and delete.

Leaving that window open, open or switch over to your Old Firefox Data folder. Drill down into your old profile folder. At this level you should see a folder named bookmarkbackups among other things.

Select everything (Ctrl+a) and Copy (either right-click > Copy or Ctrl+c).

Switch to the empty new profile folder in other window and Paste (either right-click > Paste or Ctrl+v). This may take a minute since some of the files are large.

Start Firefox

Firefox should start up in that new profile with the resurrected old profile data. Success?

Here is what it says when I try to open Gmail:

"The page isn't redirecting properly

Firefox has detected that the server is redirecting the request for this address in a way that will never complete.

   This problem can sometimes be caused by disabling or refusing to accept cookies."

I don't really know how to fix this and it seems like something that shouldn't be happening - at all.

Since the page mentions cookies, could you check your cookie settings to make sure nothing is blocked? This article describes how to find that:

Websites say cookies are blocked - Unblock them

Any improvement?

If the cookies got corrupted during the Refresh, you can clear your Google cookies using the Page Info dialog. While viewing any page on Google.com:

• right-click a page > View Page Info > Security > "View Cookies"
• (menu bar) Tools > Page Info > Security > "View Cookies"

In the dialog that opens, you can remove the site's cookies individually.

Then try reloading the page. Does that help?

You say to:

1.Create a new Firefox profile 2. Remove everything from that new profile folder 3.Copy in everything from the old profile folder

How do I create a new profile, I'm not sure how I created the first one? What procedure do I use to remove everything from that new profile folder? How do I copy everything from the old profile to the new folder.

I understand the words that you have written but certainly not how to implement the procedures. Pretend I'm a newbe and don't know squat about Waterfox/Firefox! That pretty much states my understanding of Firefox Waterfox browsers. More help please.

BTW There is an Old Firefox Data folder on my desktop and there is only one with a semi-randomized name. It's named zwj58iug.default. So what do I do from here?

Hi dlfoster1, that 1-2-3 was the overview of the rest of the post. Please use the steps in the rest of the post to accomplish 1-2-3.

That does little to help me. I have closed out Waterfox. Opened Internet Explorer gotten back into my gmail account to read instructions and followed the Start > Run dialog. put firefox.exe -P and pressed enter. I got a new dialog box that says "Search Results" on one side of the top results bar. On the other side it says "firefox.exe -P" Then down below in the results box it says "No items match your search."

I'm telling you that you aren't giving me specific enough instructions for me to understand and implement.

Hi dlfoster1, sorry, I forgot you are not running Firefox, you are running Waterfox. Please change firefox.exe to whatever is the name of the program file for Waterfox, perhaps waterfox.exe so:

waterfox.exe -P

I have never used Waterfox so unfortunately I can only guess. If this is not helpful, please use their forums for further support on their software.

When I look at the properties for Waterfox, I get "C:\Program Files\Waterfox\waterfox.exe" so I'm sure that you are correct in the command for Waterfox. That said, when I try executing the "waterfox.exe -P" command, I get the same results as when I entered "Firefox.exe -P". This is the only help form that came up when I was seeking help on the Waterfox browser, so I'm not sure how to contact the Waterfox forms that you are alluding to. More help please!

Hi dlfoster1, I guess their "forum" is actually something on the Reddit site: https://www.reddit.com/r/waterfox