firefox loses form history despite settings

Author

Message

the-edmeister

25786 posts

Which Security Suite are you using?
Does it have an Option for clearing any Firefox personal data?

Example of a feature like that - Norton 360 calls it Firefox Privacy Cleanup:
https://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/configuring+Norton+360#Configure_Firefox_Privacy_Cleanup

Jack Joyce
Firefox user

Thanks for the suggestion.

I'm using Avast. I just looked at all the settings available to me and I can't find anything referencing Firefox or form history or persistent content or anything that looks to me to pertain.

Also, the windows firewall, but again nothing that appears to me to implicate this feature in Firefox.

The problem started with upgrade to version 3.5.2 and has persisted with 3.5.3.

Jack

the-edmeister

25786 posts

Overall, when Firefox "loses" something it is usually very consistent or it happens very, very occasionally.

I have used Firefox for over 7 years now, and I have had to spend less time cleaning up after my web surfing activities in a years time, than I would spend every day cleaning up after IE6 back in 2001 and early 2002. That said, IMO too damn many anti-this and anti-that programs, along with the most-popular security suites have jumped on the Firefox band-wagon and are starting to provide features that just aren't needed for Firefox - and in the process they are causing problems with stuff they shouldn't be messing with, to begin with.

Take a look at every program that appears in the Add /Remove Programs part of the Control Panel - anything that provides any type of "scanning" or "protection" should be looked at completely.

Jack Joyce
Firefox user

Thanks Edmeister - I've looked there now, but there's nothing there that I can see.

I've got two PCs with similar but not identical setups. Both developed the same problem right after upgrading to FF 3.5.2. Of course, there are many variables with MS security patches. . .Windows is such a hairball.

I'm reluctant to remove and reinstall as others have done to fix this issue.

Thanks again. Jack

Robdcradle
Firefox user

Having the same problem exactly, Jack. Firefox was amazing at never losing a session...until the upgrade to 3.5. Can't seem to find a fix anywhere. Might it be an add-on that's causing the problem? I'm using:

Adblock Plus 1.1.1
Cooliris 1.11.5
Download Tweak Mgr 0.8.6
Download Statusbar 0.9.6.5
Download helper 4.6.4
Java Quick Start 1.0
MS .NET Framework Asst 1.1
RealPLayer Browser Record Plugin 1.0

Are you using any of these?

Jack Joyce
Firefox user

Heya cradlerobber,

The only add-on from that list I'm using is the Java Quickstarter. And I hadn't yet upgraded any of my add-ons before this started. Windows is such a hairball, the issue could be anywhere and I'm not inclined to obliterating my installation and performing a fresh install (which I've read is a possible solution.)

Thanks for the suggestions. If I learn of something, I'll send it along.

Thanks again.

Jack

HumbleSage
Firefox user

I also have this weird random problem where Firefox removes my Form history. It's nothing to do with my protections. I think it's a Firefox bug, maybe the Privacy settings conflict with one another or some sort of order parsing of the like.

I am using the following Add-ons:

NoScript 1.9.9.15
Web Developer Toolbar 1.1.8
MS .NET Framework Asst 1.1
New Tab Homepage 0.4.1

Protections in Use:

Windows Firewall
SEP 11 (Symantec Endpoint Protection)

What I have Tried:

Reinstalled Firefox and my add-ons. Worked for about 1 week, then started to happen again.
Reinstalled Firefox, no add-ons. Worked for about 1 week, then started to happen again.

- HumbleSage

SimonF
Firefox user

I've had this for a long long time.

Double click a field, nothing, start typing, nothing. If however i type the form field in, press tab, the password is filled in!

So for example, i'll type my email into Facebook, no history comes up, press tab and the password box gets filled in.

Being a website developer having to test forms with long logins makes this an extremely annoying bug.

If however i restart my firefox, it'll work for the first session only. Once i close that session then go back to the site later on, it wont work through the whole firefox browser.

Annoying to say the least!

Addons:

Abduction 3.0.4
AdBlock Plus 1.1.1
ColorZilla 2.0.2.1
eBay sidebar 2.0.2
Firebug 1.4.5
Foxtab 1.2.1
Google toolbar 6.1
Regular expression tester 1.1.6.13
Web developer toolbar 1.1.8

Jack Joyce
Firefox user

Yeah, I'm tired of spending time on "features." Competition with MS has driven the ehnancement market - and all this stuff is great when it works and when it's not an opportunity for some new exploit.

I'm tired of trying to fix another thing after the last.

Anonymous

Once again , I'm going BACK to FF2 :(

Everytime I upgrade (help off till this week) I have this problem with FF3. I just CAN'T go on resigning-in to every forum I belong to.

Maybe Ill try Googles browser, I'm tired of this nonsense :D

I have the current AdBlock & FlashBlock only

Cate
Firefox user

Possible culprit is Google Toolbar 6.1.20091216W

I am having the same problem with my form history, it's been a few days now, and driving me crazy. It's not any of my add-ons, I've tested them all. It's only happened since the 3.5.6 update, and on both my desktop and laptop.

Like others said, sometimes the form history is there, other times it's not. I can restart browser and it works for a while, then it goes away.

One new thing I just thought of, I have Google toolbar, and just a few days ago it updated itself. I noticed right away as I had new icons and I notice any little change that sneaks into onto my screen! I wonder if it's a conflict with FF 3.5.6 and Google toolbar? I disabled the toolbar for this browsing session right now, and have not had any problem with form history. It's there everywhere I need it. I've logged in and out of sites several times, closing the tab each time, and the form history is there. I feel lost without my Google toolbar, so I hope if that is the culprit, it will work itself out soon.

I enabled Google toolbar just now, and sure enough, the form history problem is back. I also found a post that sounds like the same issue on Google support HERE:
http://www.google.com/support/forum/p/Toolbar/thread?tid=602d9329aa12ab7b&hl=en

Anonymous

Just an update to above post. I installed the latest version 7 of Google toolbar, and was still having the same problem. I have determined that disabling the toolbar solves the problem. I've been browsing for hours and my form history in FF has always been there, on all sites as it always had been before. As soon as I enable the Google toolbar, the problem begins. It will work a few times, then form history disappears.

I reported this on the Google toolbar support site, but am not sure where the fix needs to be, with Mozilla or Google?

Ephemeris Lappis
Firefox user

I have the same problem in similar conditions (FF 3.5.6, Google TB 6.1), and my forms fields seem forgotten for a while and come back after a browser restart...

Is the problem with FF and Google tool bar confirmed ? Any new information since the last post ?

Jack Joyce
Firefox user

Thanks to all who have written. I've updated FF at least a couple of times since first writing and I'm just resolved to live with it. No clues have revealed the source, no changes have made any difference. I'm living with inconsistent form-filling - it's like a step back in time.

Thanks for the posts.

Jack