Make sure that you do not run Firefox in permanent Private Browsing mode.

• https://support.mozilla.com/kb/Private+Browsing
• You enter Private Browsing mode if you select: Tools > Options > Privacy > History: Firefox will: "Never Remember History"
• To see all History and Cookie settings, choose: Tools > Options > Privacy, choose the setting Firefox will: Use custom settings for history
• Deselect: [ ] "Permanent Private Browsing mode"

I'm sorry, but why would simply upgrading to a new maint. release suddenly put me in this "private browsing" mode (whatever that is)? I wasn't running this private mode before, and simply installing a service update shouldn't change that.

But as it turns out, after I restarted FF3.6.18 two or three times suddenly my "remember me" info. was back. -- ???

Again, adequate beta testing should show these kinds of behavior. Sorry to be a curmudgeon, but I had to uninstall FF4.0 and try to find old 3.x a few months ago to restore things that stopped working with the new FF release (e,g, Lazarus and Interclue). And this appears to be another case of "too quick out the door".

Thanks for your help, though.

Regards,

Webbie

You're welcome.

Can you clarify which data you mean with "remember me" info ?

Are that user names and passwords or other data?

That is correct. All of the userID's, passwords, etc. that I count on FF to remember so I don't have to.

Of course, IE8 doesn't remember ANY of them even though I've checked "remember me" many times. So I guess I should be thankful that FF works at all, eh?

Webbie.

There is a difference between remembering the name and password in the Password Manager and a "remember me" check box on a web page.
The latter usually involves the creation of a special "remember me" cookie that is stored on your computer and that is send to the server.
If that "remember me" cookie is removed or gets corrupted or is not send to the server then the server won't remember you and you need to sign in once again.

Websites remembering you and automatically log you in is stored in a cookie.

• Create an allow cookie exception (Tools > Options > Privacy > Cookies: Exceptions) to keep such a cookie, especially for secure websites and if cookies expire when Firefox is closed.

• In Private Browsing - Use Firefox without saving history mode all cookies are session cookies that expire if that session is ended, so websites won't remember you.
• In Private Browsing - Use Firefox without saving history mode Firefox won't fill names and passwords automatically and won't offer to store new passwords.

• Do not use Delete browsing, search and download history on Firefox to clear the "Cookies" and the "Site Preferences"

Clearing "Site Preferences" clears all exceptions for cookies, images, pop-up windows, software installation, and passwords.

• http://kb.mozillazine.org/Cookies

Good information. Thank you.

I guess my point is primarily a "before/after" one. It worked before installing 3.6.18, but not afterward -- at least, not until I had restarted FF 3.6.18 twice.

I've learned the hard way not to run some "clean-up" tools on security setting because they destroy cookies. I just do not expect installation of a maint. update to change FF (or any other program's) behavior. So my point is, are these things beta-tested? To me, server-side cookies should still be there regardless, and client-side cookies, user settings, profiles, etc. should be backed up and restored, n'est ce pas?

But all's well now. Many thanks!

Webbie

You're welcome

You can never predict the behavior of cleanup software.

A change can be saving cookies that apply to a secure (https) connection versus cookies from a regular (http) connection. It is always better to create an allow exception to make sure that you keep cookies that you want to keep and let the others expire at the end of the session when you close Firefox.