You can try to use the profile once with Firefox 68 esr to run some migration code. See:

• https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/1279915#answer-1291776

Start Firefox in Safe Mode {web link}

A small dialog should appear. Click Start In Safe Mode (not Refresh). Is the problem still there?

FredMcD said

Start Firefox in Safe Mode {web link} A small dialog should appear. Click Start In Safe Mode (not Refresh). Is the problem still there?

Yes :(

cor-el said

You can try to use the profile once with Firefox 68 esr to run some migration code. See:

• https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/1279915#answer-1291776

Hi sorry for the delay, but I have been unwell. I did as you suggested, loaded 68 esr, but sadly to no avail. I have spent the day going back much further until I got my logins/passwords and bookmarks to show. Believe it or not, the 'latest' version of FF that works totally is..... 57.0.4!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The upshot of that was in a bit earlier version, I was able to save my logins to my computer to a cvs file.

Anything later than that password/logins do not show. On the more up to date versions my profile>logins show that my passwords/logins are there (size of file). I have noted that the files of Key4 and cert9 did not update on my recent roll-back, but I assume that they are 'left-over' from my previous attempts to update to the newer version. Unfortunately even though I have now got a saved login/password file, I cannot 'import' as it will only give me a choice of Internet Explorer (which I have never even used) or nothing.

I have noticed that I have now got 3 profiles, but the default one is the only one that shows my logins and bookmarks?

I only use a laptop and a desktop. The laptop has not had update problems, although I am loathe to update from 72 to 73 because of the problems I am having with the desktop. My desktop was using a much older version until I tried to update a couple of days ago. I tried the 'sync' option to transfer/share across my devices, but that is no good as it wanted to sync with my smart phone??????? No....really that was the only option I was given.....

Any more thoughts as to what might have happened or another work-around? TIA

From the profile with the working passwords, copy the password files to the other profiles.

logins.json and key3.db [v58+]key4.db : These are the password files. Copy Both !

In the event that the passwords information is lost, you should record all information in a separate text file somewhere else on your hard drive, or written down. You can easily copy and paste if you need to do so. If you are concerned about someone else looking at that file, you can compress it using a password.

FredMcD thanks for your reply, sadly I am still working on this.

OK well, your suggestions did not work :( the files are showing in the 'about:' window, they are just not opening in the browser.

If you can make it work in an older Firefox version and still have a key3.db file then try to move key4.db to a safe location or rename the file to key4OLD.db to force Firefox to create a new key4.db. Make sure to backup all three files (logins.json and key4.db and key3.db) if you haven't done that yet.

Hi cor-el, thank you for your reply. I admit my brain isn't still up to speed after my illness, and it is truly addled with this, but when you write about the key4.db (moving or renaming) are you asking me to do this in the old/working profile, or the new one that wont show the logins? I think we must be in different parts of the world with different time zones as there is such a lag in our replies!!!!!! ...I truly appreciate your and FredMcD's help with this problem.

Hello, I'm sorry for you, Go into the Explorer in the Firefox folder and search for profiles there look for a file named ,, signons2.txt and ,,key3.db open it if you are lucky you will find your passwords in the file when you open it in the editor I hope I could help.

Hi Julian, many thanks for your sympathies. Sadly there is no file named signons2.txt in my profile folder.

The signons2.txt file hasn't been used for a very long time (its predecessor was signons.txt), since then there has been signons3.txt and signons.sqlite and currently logins.json is used to store login (username and password) data.

My suggestions about renaming key4.db to key4OLD.db was about the not working profile folder that still has a key3.db file. Using that profile with a Firefox 68 ESR version would trigger Firefox to create a fresh key4.db file that hopefully will work with current Firefox releases.

Firefox 68 will complain that the profile has been used by a newer version and you will have to edit a Firefox desktop shortcut and add a space and -allow-downgrade to the firefox.exe path in the properties of that shortcut.

1. create a copy of the regular Firefox desktop shortcut
2. right-click this copy and open the Properties in the right-click context menu
3. click in the target field and add a space and -allow-downgrade

You can add the -P switch to make Firefox show the Profile Manager when you start Firefox, so you can select the correct profile folder.

The target line will then look like this:

• "C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe" -allow-downgrade -P

Sadly still working on this. The PC is back to 57.4.... the first quantum! Please bear in mind that 'tech' is not my thing, just a (previously) satisfied FF user almost since it began. It was always user friendly be it for the young or seniors. It has sadly become more user unfriendly.

I downloaded (off line) 68 esr, the profile it created was devoid of everything, just like a brand new clean install. There were none of my settings at all.

If only I could get my logins/passwords out to a programme that would allow me to import into the new, I can reinstall the rest I am sure.

Was at the hospital yesterday so not much time to spend on it, will try again tonight....please keep the suggestions coming, but please remember not anything too tech or 'codes' Many thanks

Stil working on this, no luck so far :(