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Bookmarks disappering

  • 6 replies
  • 1 has this problem
  • 1 view
  • Last reply by FUBAR-BDHR

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My profile is stored on a mapped network drive. Recently they have started to disappear. When I first start firefox they are there. After a random period of time they just no longer show up. My categories remain but selecting one just brings up a list that contains (empty). I've had this same setup with my profile since the days of netscape with no issues until the last couple of weeks.

My profile is stored on a mapped network drive. Recently they have started to disappear. When I first start firefox they are there. After a random period of time they just no longer show up. My categories remain but selecting one just brings up a list that contains (empty). I've had this same setup with my profile since the days of netscape with no issues until the last couple of weeks.

Chosen solution

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

You can try to set up a new profile in case that there is a problem with the current profile on the network drive.

See "Creating a profile":

If the new profile works then you can transfer some files from an existing profile to the new profile, but be cautious not to copy corrupted files to avoid carrying over the problem.

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Firefox automatically creates backups of your bookmarks, which can be helpful if your bookmarks are lost or missing. To recover them, follow the instructions below.

  1. Use one of these methods to open the Bookmarks Library window:
    • Click the Firefox button to open the menu and click on Bookmarks.
    • Click the Bookmarks menu and click on Show All Bookmarks.
  2. At the top of the Library window, click the "Import and Backup" menu and select Restore.
  3. Click the date of the bookmark backup you want to recover.
  4. In the new window that appears, click OK.
  5. Your bookmarks from the selected date should now be restored.

For more information, see the Restore bookmarks from backup or move them to another computer article. For other solutions, see the Recover lost or missing Bookmarks article.

Please report back soon.

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The problem isn't that the bookmark files aren't there they just disappear (as in no longer show up) from within Firefox. The files are still in the correct location. Restarting Firefox restores the bookmarks but over time they disappear again. It's like they are getting cleared from memory and not read back in from the file.

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In order to better assist you with your issue please provide us with a screenshot. If you need help to create a screenshot, please see How do I create a screenshot of my problem?

Once you've done this, attach the saved screenshot file to your forum post by clicking the Browse... button below the Post your reply box. This will help us to visualize the problem.

Thank you!

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Chosen Solution

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

You can try to set up a new profile in case that there is a problem with the current profile on the network drive.

See "Creating a profile":

If the new profile works then you can transfer some files from an existing profile to the new profile, but be cautious not to copy corrupted files to avoid carrying over the problem.

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Attaching 2 screenshots both are the same profile. One is after I left Firefox open for awhile and the category just shows empty. The other is right after restarting Firefox and displays the correct bookmarks.

I've also noticed that sometimes a category will still show the proper bookmarks even when the rest disappear. This seems to happen with categories that I have recently viewed before they disappear. So for instance if I recently looked at the bookmarks in Other it will still show them but if I try to go to say News which I haven't looked at it will show (empty)

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The places.* stuff might be the issue. There was a rather large .corrupt version. Deleted those files and pulled in a backup of the bookmarks from 8/2/13 which is before the issue existed. Of course only time will tell now.