What I would say is that if you have any bookmarks at all at present that you make a manual backup of them, and then continue to make manual backups as any recovery efforts proceed.

• see Restore bookmarks from backup or move them to another computer

There is a possibility that you had corrupt files, and may then have inadvertently overwritten any files that may have contained bookmarks. It is a good idea to make manual backups, for cases where the auto backups do not. work as expected.

If you have already followed the instructions carefully about lost bookmarks and without resolving the situation, there may not be much you can do about your personal bookmarks. If they are important and you are willing to try there may be a possibility using file recovery software, &/or sqlite editors that something could be salvaged, but not something I can advise on, I am not currently a Mac user.

The default bookmarks should be fairly easy to restore. You can probably also start the bookmarks working again. Trying the simplest options first:

1. work from [safe mode]
   • at this stage when you see the first dialogue window with options do not make changes, press the continue button
2. use the customise / customize option from the toolbars and reset defaults
   • Mac may differ from my Windows XP, I can right click bookmarks, or use the tools menu see Customize Firefox controls, buttons and toolbars
3. if that has failed to resolve the problem go back to safe mode as in step 1 but this time use reset toolbars and controls.

By now you should have the default bookmarks back and maybe the bookmarks work and will save new bookmarks, try it whilst still in safe mode, before going back to try in ordinary mode. If it works in safe mode but not in ordinary mode you probably have some add-on managing to cause problems

If you still have problems and bookmarks will not save see bookmarks not saved that probably indicates corrupt places.sqlite &/or localstore.rdf the linked article explains how to find and delete them.

That combination of problems indicates a problem with the file that stores bookmarks. For details on fixing it see http://kb.mozillazine.org/Locked_or_damaged_places.sqlite

I also can't use the back or forward buttons on my toolbar, it's not saving any history, and I can't add new bookmarks. I tried running it in Safe Mode and resetting the toolbar. I'm not really worried about recovering my old bookmarks as long as I can add new ones!! I will read that article, thanks and I will see if any of that helps....fingers crossed.