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I have lost both the ability to use the "back" arrow and to copy a website to a new tab, do I need to reinstall firefox?

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  • Last reply by cor-el

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I had a computer crash and when I started Firefox back up my Bookmarks column was empty. I did a restore and shut down the column and redisplayed. That worked, however I have lost the ability to: 1) use the "back" arrow (to provide previous website: go to Google search, select a website but then I can not return to Google with the back arrow); 2) I can not copy a website to a new tab (right click website, select copy to new tab but no tab shows up) or window (right click tab, select copy to new window but new window shows up without website); 3) I have lost the bookmarks toolbar (below the tabs).

I have restarted firefox and computer several times without change to the problems. Do I need to reinstall firefox?

I had a computer crash and when I started Firefox back up my Bookmarks column was empty. I did a restore and shut down the column and redisplayed. That worked, however I have lost the ability to: 1) use the "back" arrow (to provide previous website: go to Google search, select a website but then I can not return to Google with the back arrow); 2) I can not copy a website to a new tab (right click website, select copy to new tab but no tab shows up) or window (right click tab, select copy to new window but new window shows up without website); 3) I have lost the bookmarks toolbar (below the tabs). I have restarted firefox and computer several times without change to the problems. Do I need to reinstall firefox?

All Replies (1)

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You can check for problems with the places.sqlite database file in the Firefox profile folder.


You can check if "Bookmarks Toolbar items" is on the Bookmarks Toolbar.

Make sure that toolbars like the "Bookmarks Toolbar" are visible.

  • "3-bar" Firefox menu button > Customize > Show/Hide Toolbars
  • View > Toolbars
    Tap the Alt key or press F10 to show the Menu Bar
  • Right-click empty toolbar area

Open the Customize window and set which toolbar items to display.

  • "3-bar" Firefox menu button > Customize
  • check that "Bookmarks Toolbar items" is on the Bookmarks Toolbar
  • if "Bookmarks Toolbar items" is not on the Bookmarks Toolbar then drag it back from the Customize palette into the Customize window to the Bookmarks Toolbar
  • if missing items are in the Customize palette then drag them back from the Customize window on the toolbar
  • if you do not see an item on a toolbar and in the Customize palette then click the Restore Defaults button to restore the default toolbar setup