SOLVED - Firefox loses its settings

[Maurice]

Every so often I put my Firefox (v9.0.1) settings (.mozilla) into a backup directory to keep them up to date. I did this the other day but made a bit of a blue.

Instead of copying the file there I moved it. So then I promptly copied it back again and assumed that all would be OK.

All was not OK though. Now Firefox will not keep my settings. For example I set it to start with an empty page but it tries (but fails) to start on a previously opened tab causing me to start a new session.

Also I have it is set to delete cookies at the end of a session but it won't delete them. I have also lost the Google search engine.

Most of the other settings seem to work fine, probably because I haven't needed to change them yet.
 
I've done a search but found nothing relevant. I don't want to have to start off with a new Firefox. Any ideas anyone?

Thank you
Maurice

[rubentje1991]

Maybe moving the folder again; then start firefox and close it...
=> after that just copy the folders/files that you need (bookmarks, history, ....), and configure it again yourself....

Another option in the future is using Firefox Sync (look in Properties in the menu) 

[Maurice]

Maybe moving the folder again; then start firefox and close it...
=> after that just copy the folders/files that you need (bookmarks, history, ....), and configure it again yourself....

Another option in the future is using Firefox Sync (look in Properties in the menu)  

Thanks rubentje. I'll have to give that a bit of serious thought. The last time I fiddled with that file I messed things up.

[menotu]

The Firefox FEBE Add-on is a nice tool for backing up extensions & themes etc. (see image)

There is also the CLEO Add-on which will "pack" the FEBE backup into one file.

You can tell it where to put the backups and it timestamps the folders

I've used these forever for my extensions and themes

[Maurice]

The Firefox FEBE Add-on is a nice tool for backing up extensions & themes etc. (see image)

There is also the CLEO Add-on which will "pack" the FEBE backup into one file.

You can tell it where to put the backups and it timestamps the folders

I've used these forever for my extensions and themes

They sound good menotu - thanks. However, we're in the middle of a heatwave down here, hovering between 35 and 39 for days on end, and I'm going to bed right now hoping to get a bit of sleep, so I'll have a look at them tomorrow.

[Xenaflux]

For what's it worth:
I have my .mozilla folder on a separate partition < /mnt/data1/FF/.....
if I reinstall, I only have to change the path and the " profiles.ini > file.
I still back it up ..

we're in the middle of a heatwave down here, hovering between 35 and 39 for days on end

That's not a heath wave. That's normal here.
Room temp usually 33

[djohnston]

if I reinstall, I only have to change the path and the " profiles.ini > file.

Maurice, I think Xenaflux is on to something there. Check the contents of your .mozilla/firefox/profiles.ini file. Make sure the Path= line is pointing to the correct folder.

[General]
StartWithLastProfile=1

[Profile0]
Name=default
IsRelative=1
Path=jv2wbhrm.default

[Maurice]

The Firefox FEBE Add-on is a nice tool for backing up extensions & themes etc. (see image)

There is also the CLEO Add-on which will "pack" the FEBE backup into one file.

You can tell it where to put the backups and it timestamps the folders

I've used these forever for my extensions and themes

I checked these menotu but they are for extensions and don't help with my problem. But thanks.

[Maurice]

For what's it worth:
I have my .mozilla folder on a separate partition < /mnt/data1/FF/.....
if I reinstall, I only have to change the path and the " profiles.ini > file.
I still back it up ..

My .mozilla folder is also on a separate partition and when I need it I just copy it over and the 'profiles.ini' file doesn't change. However I checked the path and it points correctly to to the 'default' file.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
That's not a heath wave. That's normal here.
Room temp usually 33
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

So maybe you should emigrate to cooler climes in Oz.  But it sure feels hot. And thanks for your help.

[Maurice]

Maurice, I think Xenaflux is on to something there. Check the contents of your .mozilla/firefox/profiles.ini file. Make sure the Path= line is pointing to the correct folder.

[General]
StartWithLastProfile=1

[Profile0]
Name=default
IsRelative=1
Path=jv2wbhrm.default

Thanks dj. My path is exactly like that but the problem hasn't gone away. .

[Maurice]

Maybe moving the folder again; then start firefox and close it...
=> after that just copy the folders/files that you need (bookmarks, history, ....), and configure it again yourself....

Another option in the future is using Firefox Sync (look in Properties in the menu)  

I finally did this rubentje and it worked  - to a certain extent.  .  FF now opens to a blank page which saves me from starting a new session. And it holds that setting. I have also got Google search back. But the cookies can't be deleted - in spite of the fact that I didn't transfer any of the 'cookie' files from the saved .mozilla folder.

However I'll figure this out later. The main problems are gone so I'll mark the thread solved. Many thanks for suggesting this.

Maurice

[Xenaflux]

But the cookies can't be deleted - in spite of the fact that I didn't transfer any of the 'cookie' files from the saved .mozilla folder.

What about finding the coockies files in <..../My6s$28Rs$&&( whatever) folder and changing the permissions. Delete the complete cookie files and create a new blank one. Then put the permissions back as they were.
Maybe ?

[Maurice]

But the cookies can't be deleted - in spite of the fact that I didn't transfer any of the 'cookie' files from the saved .mozilla folder.

What about finding the coockies files in <..../My6s$28Rs$&&( whatever) folder and changing the permissions. Delete the complete cookie files and create a new blank one. Then put the permissions back as they were.
Maybe ?

I had already deleted the cookie file completely and visited a couple of web sites but it did not open a new cookie file.

The cookies I can't get rid of are hundreds of old ones and I don't think new ones are being added. It's a bit odd.

[Xenaflux]

The cookies I can't get rid of are hundreds of old ones and I don't think new ones are being added. It's a bit odd.

Yes, it's ....a challenge.
Theoretical, every thing can be deleted. The trick is to find what-file and where-is-file
Hmm. If I get some info on this, I let you know


This comes from the Firefox website ( but maybe you were there already    )

=======================
Rename (or delete) cookies.sqlite (cookies.sqlite.old) and delete cookies.sqlite-journal and cookies.txt, if they exist, in the Profile Folder in case the file cookies.sqlite got corrupted.
=======================

Just for interest's sake, I came across a few links : general info ( for those reading here)
http://www.erase-history.net/erase-cookies.html
http://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/Cookies
https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/betterprivacy/

[trevatxtal]

A tip
whenever you copy files like Firefox check the permissions, only yesterday I forgot to do this and an hour later I found why Firefox would not except the copied folder.
The fault message is very misleading too as Firefox maintains it is already running but it is not, it seems to alter permissions to indicate to itself that it is running.
I had copied the folder for backup when Firefox was running this appears different to when not running.
I hope this helps
Trev