Yes, your entire old profile folder is in that Old Firefox Data folder. It's a little unreliable trying to copy individual extensions from folder to folder, and may break automatic updating of extensions as well as losing their settings and previously accumulated data (if any). We generally recommend reinstalling the extensions from their original sources.

But to provide a "live" Firefox as a reference, or if you'd rather live with it being sluggish than rebuild so much, you could roll back the Refresh into a separate profile. Here's how (copy/pasted, so apologies for a little redundancy):

Refresh moves your old profile (settings) folder to your desktop inside an Old Firefox Data folder. You can use that to "roll back" the Refresh, but it does involve several steps. This takes 5 minutes, but that may be faster than recovering individual files and loading those into your new profile manually.

Check inside the "Old Firefox Data" folder that Refresh adds to your desktop 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 described in more detail below:

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 completely, and then start up in the Profile Manager by pasting the following into the Windows search box, or the 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 using either:

• "3-bar" menu button > "power" button
• (menu bar) File > 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 you just popped open -- NOT the one on your desktop -- select all the contents (you can use Ctrl+a) and delete (you can press the Delete key on the keyboard).

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?

These can't get your data back, but will help in the future.

These add-ons can be a great help by backing up and restoring Firefox

FEBE (Firefox Environment Backup Extension) {web link} FEBE allows you to quickly and easily backup your Firefox extensions, history, passwords, and more. In fact, it goes beyond just backing up -- It will actually rebuild your saved files individually into installable .xpi files. It will also make backups of files that you choose.

OPIE {web link} Import/Export extension preferences

Apparently this is a problem because WHY would Mozilla make it so you could roll back a refresh? Even still, it is unreliable and there are NO guarantees!

Furthermore, why isn't this process automated? If Microsoft can roll back Windows, how hard can it be for you write a utility that essentially does the same for FF?

WHY is is ALWAYS placed on the USER to FIX the problem and the fix that is suggested MIGHT NOT WORK or if it does, just barely? This is just your way of avoiding accountability. Accountability for writing poor code, for not thinking things through, for not caring about who or how your software is used. This is blatant disrespect and refusing to take responsibility for your shortcomings. Thanks to you, I have lost MANY years of data!! NOW I MUST SUFFER for your inability to provide a quality product. And, as usual, I'm not likely to get a response from Mozilla/FF. What a terrible company! Way to go.

In all honestly, doing a "roll-back" STILL likely WON'T FIX the problem that I had (inability to see images in Facebook AND other apps... even Google!). While doing a Refresh did initially fix it, but only temporarily as the problem resurfaced a short while later WITHOUT making ANY changes to FF AT ALL!!

I will still be left with a browser that is USELESS!!

You know, I just volunteer here. I've been listing this procedure for a couple years now and I've only had one report that it didn't work. Of course, often people do not report back at all.

It's an excellent question why images do not show, and we should try to figure that out, especially if they were initially working normally and then stopped displaying for no apparent reason. We do have an article with some things to check: Fix problems that cause images to not show.

I have followed those steps and IT STILL DIDN'T FIX the problem!!!!!

Useless info and waste of time!! FF is junk! Your programmers couldn't write code to save their lives!! Try providing a product that ACTUALLY WORKS and no one would have to jump through FLAMING HOOPS to try and get your shit software to work!!

rick414r said

I have followed those steps and IT STILL DIDN'T FIX the problem!!!!!

Do you mean you didn't get your add-ons back, or you still can't load images? If you didn't get your add-ons back, did you notice any step of the process where things didn't operate as I described them?

NO IMAGES!!! I haven't even tried to work on the Add-ons.

However, after I noticed that the add-ons disappeard yesterday... AFTER doing the refresh, I re-installed it (Session Manager) hoping that it would automatically "recover" my YEARS of data, but NO!! PLUS, one VERY strange thing happened... Even though it was NOT on the list of add-ons (and presumably wiped out with the rest), Video Download Helper reappeared but yet was NOT listed (when you go to Tools -> Add-ons). PLUS, when I go there (Tools --> Add-ons) NEITHER Video Download Helper NOR Session Manager appear ANYWHERE, yet they BOTH seem to be functioning!! WHAT THE F? Do You people even KNOW what is wrong? FF used to be a great program, but NOW the IDIOTS you have coding it have F'ed it all up!! To the point where I have LOST ALL OF MY YEARS OF DATA!! Thanks!!

Oh, and I HAVE tried using FF Safe Mode... same problem. Doesn't change a thing!! Good Job, guys.

Again, I won't EVEN go into how many times I';ve had FF crash on my Andriod phone today (like EVERY other day!). Useless software!! My time is worth money and you have wasted BOTH. Glad that you're getting paid 'cause I'm NOT!! Instead I get to wrestle with your incompetence. Thanks again!!

Hi rick414r, this thread is about undoing a Refresh. Session Manager stores sessions in your profile folder and after a Refresh that profile folder is inside the Old Firefox Data folder, so what you experienced is normal and can be addressed by manually rolling back the Refresh.

Let's take your image issues to your thread:

https://support.mozilla.org/questions/1115719

And P.S., I don't get paid a cent for helping out here.

As far as the refresh goes... clearly this is something NEW. I've NEVER had to do it and MUST be an issue. Why would you even give an option to roll-back if there wasn't issues?!! And, of course, it's ALL on the USER to jump through FLAMING HOOPS to facilitate the said roll-back!! YOUR programmers couldn't POSSIBLY make it EASIER... that's too much like work! Maybe they just don't care or know how! If they've screwed up FF to to point of where it is now, who's to say that they wouldn't screw that up TOO!! What once was a single problem IS NOW MULTI-FOLD!! Good job, Mozilla. And as I said before, it's appears that FF is a problem on EVERY platform... PC, Android, ... And you can't even make them appear the same on any of them!! It crashes CONSTANTLY on my Android phone, won't even run a minute or two on my Android tablet, and NOW it's practically useless on my PC!!

P.S. - I guess we get what we pay for!

Hi rick414r, there is no built-in option to roll back a Refresh. That is something I researched and developed since the feature was added back around Firefox 13.

Anyway, since you appear more intent on wasting my Friday night than solving your problem, goodbye and good luck.

Good for you! Congratulations! But that is the typical response I have come to expect. Considering the DAYS I've spend trying to resolve the MANY issues I've had with FF (and that is just the MOST RECENT). Over time, FF has failed and has only gotten worse!! With less and less accountability.

With that being said, as a volunteer (and I question your motivation), you don't get paid. While I have to waste MY time trying to FIX something that you people have screwed up royally. I"M THE ONE who has LOST YEARS of research data and spent MORE HOURS than I can to admit. I DO get paid for my time and you have wasted both my time AND my money! So, honestly, who has more to lose here? Hmmm? Thanks again!!

Yesideez

Are you still needing help ?

rick414r If you change your mind and decide you would like us to try to help you may I request you use the new thread you started here => /questions/1115719 for both the images and the addons and data issues.