Firefox 3.5.3 won't remember log-ins or passwords

23.10.2009 15:52 PST #

Forfatter

Melding

23.10.2009 18:35 PST #

cor-el

59852 poster

Check that you do not start Firefox in Private Browsing mode (Tools > Stop Private Browsing is grayed)
Tools > Options > Privacy, choose the setting Firefox will: Use custom settings for history
Un-check: [ ] "Automatically start Firefox in a private browsing session"

24.10.2009 08:00 PST #

Joe
Firefox user

Unfortunately, these do not fix the problem.

In Tools, I have the option to "Start Private Browsing" which means I'm already in Public Browsing.

In Tools > Options > Privacy, I indeed have "Firefox will: Use custom settings for history". (I tried using "Remember History" but Firefox won't save that option and keeps reverting to the "custom settings for history" option.)

I do not have the box checked for "Automatically start Firefox in a private browsing session."

Thank you for your help, but problem remains.

24.10.2009 14:48 PST #

cor-el

59852 poster

You can export your passwords with the Password Exporter extension if you see passwords in the Password Manager (Tools > Options > Security: Passwords > "Saved Passwords")
Password Exporter: https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/addon/2848
Check that the exported (xml) file has all the names and passwords.

Rename key3.db and signons.sqlite (Firefox 3.5) and all signons#.txt files (if any exist, Firefox 3.0 uses signons3.txt) in the Profile_Folder.
You can add .old to the file names (key3.db.old , signons.sqlite.old , signons3.txt.old) or move them to another folder to make it possible to undo the action.
You need to set a new Master Password after renaming or deleting key3.db and you lose all your currently saved passwords.

You can re-import the passwords with the Password Exporter extension if you have saved them with that add-on.
If that works then you can remove the no longer needed renamed .old files.

24.10.2009 16:46 PST #

Joe
Firefox user

Thank you again, but this is far complex for me. I don't know where to find the key3.db file & I fear that I'll do something that will only make things worse. Moreover, I see that I "need to set a new Master Password" but I never set a master password in the first place.

If Firefox 3.5.3 is so corrupted that complex stuff needs to be done to files, shouldn't I just uninstall Firefox and use Internet Explorer to download & re-install Firefox again?

Joe

26.10.2009 10:54 PST #

Wally
Firefox user

Joe

I was experiencing the exact same symptoms when I upgraded to Firefox 3.5.3. This has worked for me so far.

1) Close FireFox

2) Go to the following path:
C:\Documents and Settings\\Application Data\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\ptc4an0n.default

3) Deleting these two files:
cookies.sqlite
cookies.sqlite-journal

29.10.2009 19:14 PST #

Joe
Firefox user

I'm unable to delete these files:

cookies.sqlite
cookies.sqlite-journal

Because I deleted them before & my computer says they no longer exist!

08.11.2009 11:12 PST #

starry
Firefox user

Thank you so much Wally!!

I've struggled to find a solution to the same problem and after deleting those 2 files finally Firefox remember the log-ins again!

Thank you again! =D

09.11.2009 20:18 PST #

Joe
Firefox user

I already deleted those files. (Several times.) Regret to say that does not solve the problem.

12.11.2009 10:59 PST #

Anoniem

Yeah I'm having the same problem. I tried deleting the SQL files but no luck.

This issue started for me when I realised that FF wasn't prompting to remember my new gmail password. I deleted the old one from the saved passwords list, hoping that would stimulate FF to prompt to remember it as a brand new login and password, but it just logged me in without a prompt.

Something to do with cookies is definitely fubar tho. If I logout of gmail, then Clear Recent History (everything) and immediately try to log back into gmail, the login link will not activate.

Perhaps this issue has something to do with Google?

12.11.2009 11:15 PST #

Anoniem

previous poster again:

Scratch that, my FF issue auto-magically resolved itself after deleting the sqlite files a few times. :s

12.11.2009 14:14 PST #

Joe
Firefox user

Problem remains with all my log-ins, not just Google. If Firefox is so "great," why can't this log-in problem be fixed? I'm at my wit's end.

12.11.2009 14:58 PST #

SeanMc98

185 poster

Joe wrote:

''... unable to delete these files:

cookies.sqlite
cookies.sqlite-journal

Because I deleted them before and my computer says they no longer exist''

If you deleted these files, Firefox will have re-created them in the profile you started Firefox with (sorry, dangling preposition!). Make certain that you are locating the correct profile.

When you start Firefox, and navigate to a website that you have a saved username, what happens when you click on the username field? (If anything is saved for that field, you will see a "drop-down" list).

To check for any saved logons & passwords, go to "Tools — Options — Security". Verify that the option "Remember passwords for sites" is checked. If so, click the "Exceptions" button. This will display a panel for those sites that Firefox has been instructed NOT to remember logon/password information.

Below the "remember" box is a button for "Saved Passwords". Click that button and a panel is displayed with all the sites that Firefox has been instructed to remember logon/password information.

Post back to this forum with the results of the above (obviously, do not include your usernames and passwords).

One last WAG: disable AVG "Safe Search" (and any AVG toolbar(s)). All too often, something AVG and something Firefox do not play well together.