This advice probably comes too late, but, don't exit Firefox! Or if you already did, don't start it back up again!

If Firefox is running: Open your current Firefox settings (AKA Firefox profile) folder using either

• "3-bar" menu button > "?" button > Troubleshooting Information
• Help menu > Troubleshooting Information

In the first table on the page, click the "Show Folder" button. This should launch a new window listed various files and folders. For best results, change the view to "Details".

(If Firefox not running, get to this folder by pasting the following in the Run box on the start menu and pressing Enter: %APPDATA%\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles and then double-click into the most recently updated semi-randomly-named folder you find there.)

Then scroll down and copy all of the sessionstore files to a safe location (e.g., My Documents) so Firefox doesn't overwrite them. Then if we are not able to get those tabs to load again, you might be able to use one of the older files.

In addition to sessionstore.js, which stores the windows and tabs in your currently live session (or if you closed Firefox, your previous session), you may find sessionstore.bak, sessionstore.bak-datetime from your last update, and other sessionstore files. Could you report back on what you found?

Note: If Windows hides the .js file extension from you, you can change a setting so that you can see all file extensions (this helps when renaming files). This support article has the steps: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/865219

Note: the above is for Firefox 23 as reported by your browser. Firefox 33 changed a bunch of file names and locations, so if you actually have Firefox 33 or later, please post back for different instructions.

Hmm, your home page tabs list is unusually large. I wonder whether that is causing a problem with Firefox starting normally?

Incidentally, why Firefox 23?

I have seen a article on web. replace the current sessionrestore.js with sessionrestore .bak And then restart Firefox. I not sure If that is successful. With a file name change manipulation.

 If that is there should of made of built Firefox with a double date backup and person can choose from.

Are those current addons of use?

You should update to Firefox 34.0.5, just fyi. Firefox 23 is MUCH more unstable plus is very insecure. Update Firefox to the latest release

I'm not sure I understand your question/suggestion, but maybe you are looking for something like this:

https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/addon/session-manager/

I like to know how to use and view the sessionstore.bak  ?

Hi charles_s, sessionstore.bak and the update-specific .bak files all have the same internal structure as sessionstore.js. If you need to start up with a sessionstore.bak file, make a copy in a safe location, exit Firefox completely, rename sessionstore.js to sessionstore.old, and then rename the backup file to sessionstore.js and put it in place of the one you renamed. Firefox should read it at the next startup. If necessary (if Firefox isn't already set to resume you previous session), you can use the History menu to Restore Previous Session.

As for how to view it, it's plain text but extremely difficult to read. You could extract the URLs from a sessionstore file, assuming the file is not corrupted, using one of these methods:

(1) Using Firefox's "Scratchpad" web developer tool

(A) Original script: http://forums.mozillazine.org/viewtopic.php?f=38&t=622036&start=60&p=12098147#p12098147

(B) Variation: http://dev.jeffersonscher.com/sessionstore_reader.html

(2) Online tool (third party website): https://firefox-session-restore.herokuapp.com/

Do any of those work on your .bak file(s)?

I think they could of made a Firefox add on for next older date session restore.

Earlier I mentioned Session Manager. That might be more complex than you need, but...

i have the same issue on Mac w/ Firefox 34.0.5, where "about:sessionrestore" is the only tab that loads & it's a blank white window. I just made a copy of my whole Profile folder to make sure i backed up what i needed. I do see the "sessionstore-backups" folder but want to make sure i do this correctly so i don't lose countless tabs & windows...

do i try renaming previous.js to recovery.js while FF is closed and then relaunch? then i assume the upgrade.js files are the next most recent backups? i also have my own hard drive backups to pull from too.

thanks

Hi shape5, when Firefox closes, it creates the file sessionstore.js at the main level (not in the backups folder). That is the file Firefox reads at startup. After quitting out of Firefox, try renaming the sessionstore.js file to sessionstore.old, and then copy one of the available and promising-looking previous.js or recovery.js files to the main level and rename it sessionstore.js. Then start up Firefox and see whether you can restore that earlier session successfully.

Hi, thanks for the info. There actually wasn't a sessionstore.js file in that main Profiles/profilename.default directory though (unless it's supposed to disappear while FF is open), so i used the previous.js file, renamed it as you explained, and moved it up a level. This did the trick and was able to recover all my old tabs. Thank you!!

The issue started happening when i had this repeating kernel panic related to my graphics card. All other times my system crashed FF was able to restore the tabs or at least load the Restore Session window ("well, this is embarrassing..." that lists all the windows & tabs). Something must have happened in the kernel panic that prevented the sessionstore.js file from being written, so when it tried to load the missing sessionstore.js file, it displayed a blank white browser window. If the browser crashes, is it supposed to read from the recovery.js file when it opens again?

Also, how do i change the status of "shape5 is currently working on this problem." at the top? i didn't realize checking that box for "need more information" would do anything like this :) i thought it meant that i need more help than what has already been provided in order to fix my problem.

My Computer crashes Immediately while scrolling Firefox tabs. I know I use to may tabs for the computer memory.

My Computer crashes Immediately while scrolling Firefox tabs. I know I use to may tabs for the computer memory.

Hi charles_s, you said

My Computer crashes Immediately while scrolling Firefox tabs.

Do you mean scrolling a page in a tab, or using the left/right triangles on the tab bar to change the tabs that are visible on the tab bar?

When Firefox crashes, it usually records information about what was happening at that moment. You can submit that data to Mozilla and share it with forum volunteers to see whether it points to the solution. Please check the support article "Firefox Crashes" (especially the last section) for steps to get those crash report IDs, and then post some of the recent ones here.

If that's not possible, you could try doing it in Firefox's Safe Mode? That's a standard diagnostic tool to bypass interference by extensions (and some custom settings). More info: Diagnose Firefox issues using Troubleshoot Mode.

If Firefox is not running: You can start Firefox in Safe Mode by holding down the Shift key when double-clicking the desktop shortcut/icon.

If Firefox is running: You can restart Firefox in Safe Mode using either:

• "3-bar" menu button > "?" button > Restart with Add-ons Disabled
• Help menu > Restart with Add-ons Disabled

Either way, a small dialog should appear. Click "Start in Safe Mode" (not Reset).