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How do I fix this error? The bookmarks and history system will not be functional because one of Firefox's files is in use by another application.

  • 7 replies
  • 1 has this problem
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  • Last reply by dubmango

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I have tried numerous solutions being posted in this support forum. I went in and deleted my places.sqlite file so that it created a whole new profile. I then tried to restore my bookmarks, and nothing happened. I went in and discovered I had a places.sqlite.corrupt file. As suggested by one of the links provided in other articles, I deleted the other places.sqlite files, and then renamed the corrupt one as just places.sqlite. I restarted firefox and still nothing.

Please don't just copy and paste the links to the two articles that have no yet helped me. I need to find out how to fix this because I had a lot of important information in my bookmarks!

I have tried numerous solutions being posted in this support forum. I went in and deleted my places.sqlite file so that it created a whole new profile. I then tried to restore my bookmarks, and nothing happened. I went in and discovered I had a places.sqlite.corrupt file. As suggested by one of the links provided in other articles, I deleted the other places.sqlite files, and then renamed the corrupt one as just places.sqlite. I restarted firefox and still nothing. Please don't just copy and paste the links to the two articles that have no yet helped me. I need to find out how to fix this because I had a lot of important information in my bookmarks!

Chosen solution

You shouldn't copy places.sqlite if you had problems with the history or bookmarks.

You will have to restore the bookmarks from a JSON backup in the bookmarkbackups folder that has all your bookmarks.

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All Replies (7)

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Hi,

You can try creating a new profile, copy the bookmarkbackups folder from the old profile to the new and Restore a dated backup via Firefox Bookmarks (Alt + B) > Import and Backup on the new profile.

To open the profile folder within Firefox: Help (Alt + H) > Troubleshooting Information > Show Folder.

Firefox Profile Folder

Firefox Profile Folder & Files

You can also try to Reset Firefox on the old (previous) profile via Help (Alt + H) > Troubleshooting Information.

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Did you try to delete all places files as suggested?

Doing that should Firefox use a JSON backup in the bookmarkbackups folder to rebuild the bookmarks.

Which security software (firewall, anti-virus) do you have?

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Yes, I did. I have AVG.

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I tried creating a new profile and moving the bookmarks folder from my old profile to my new one, but I wasn't able to restore the bookmarks. Now that I have a new profile, it seems to have fixed the history issue. Before, it wasn't saving any of the pages I had been to, but now it is.

If you only you all could help me recover my bookmarks!

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If the Vista version has the Previous Versions you could try to Copy and use a working older version of the places.sqlite file or the bookmarksbackup folder.

You can also try to run chkdsk. Turning off AVG for a few minutes may also help.

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Chosen Solution

You shouldn't copy places.sqlite if you had problems with the history or bookmarks.

You will have to restore the bookmarks from a JSON backup in the bookmarkbackups folder that has all your bookmarks.

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So I copied the bookmarksbackup folder from my old profile to my new profile. And then I restored my bookmarks from a way older file than I tried before, and it worked! Thank you all!