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Firefox updated to the latest 42 now I've lost all my bookmarks, how do I recover them.

  • 8 replies
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  • Last reply by cor-el

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My computer did an auto update and then I couldn't even get on line. I restored it to a previous date and got back on the net but found with the update I'd lost all my bookmarks and all the history. I see from the help how to restore 15 bookmarks but I would like them all back, can anyone help please. Please be gentle with your answers as I'm not that computer savvy.

My computer did an auto update and then I couldn't even get on line. I restored it to a previous date and got back on the net but found with the update I'd lost all my bookmarks and all the history. I see from the help how to restore 15 bookmarks but I would like them all back, can anyone help please. Please be gentle with your answers as I'm not that computer savvy.

All Replies (8)

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Hi, first try restarting Firefox - 3-bar menu > Exit Firefox in bottom right corner.

If that doesn't help, you can try this: Open bookmarks > Show All Bookmarks > Import and Backup > Restore, and see if you have a backup there - if you have, you can click on the date you want to restore from.

If not, please see -

If your question is resolved by this or another answer, please take a minute to let us know. Thank you.

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OK, sorry I'm not very good at this I've only just realised I needed to be logged in to reply. Right, I've followed scribes sugestions and got in a mess, lost the few new bookmarks and details I've added the last few days after restoeing Mozilla. I do have an "Old Firefox" folder but this goes right back to 2013, is this any use.

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Ripplerob said

but this goes right back to 2013, is this any use.

Is that the date of the folder inside the "Old Firefox" folder?

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Windows System Restore is unfortunately a regular destroyer of Firefox data.

When you used System Restore, how far back did you go? You could try a tool like the following to see whether Windows has stored anything useful in another restore point.

http://nicbedford.co.uk/software/systemrestoreexplorer/

Switch Windows to showing hidden files and folders if needed. This article has the steps: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/show-hidden-files

I have attached a screen shot showing where you can find backup bookmark files from another restore points. If you find anything promising, copy the files to the desktop or your documents folder for easier access.

Modified by jscher2000 - Support Volunteer

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Hi Fred, The main folder is dated as being created in Aug 2013, inside that is the same creation date but modified Aug 2014 and inside that the json files all created 2013. Don't know if that's any help. Rob

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Then all of your current data looks to be gone, unless you have a backup.

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Did you use a program like systemrestoreexplorer to see if there are restore points that have a places.sqlite file?

Did you check the bookmarkbackups folder for JSON backups?

You can consider to undo the restore point if that is possible and create a full backup of the profile folder.


You can check in Windows Explorer if there is a previous version of the places.sqlite file available.