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Unable to reset firefox.

  • 17 replies
  • 8 have this problem
  • 1 view
  • Last reply by FredMcD

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Hi

My PC is on Win9 and firefox. Reformatted 2 months ago.

Unable to save some webpages for the past couple of days, I did the usual "reset firefox" when I have these kinds of problems. But this time it would not reset. I get the msg:

"Well, this is embarrassing.

Firefox is having trouble recovering your windows and tabs. This is usually caused by a recently opened web page.

You can try:

   Removing one or more tabs that you think may be causing the problem
   Starting an entirely new browsing session"

No webpage was open at this time. Also unable to update firefox.

Please help.

Thanks

Hi My PC is on Win9 and firefox. Reformatted 2 months ago. Unable to save some webpages for the past couple of days, I did the usual "reset firefox" when I have these kinds of problems. But this time it would not reset. I get the msg: "Well, this is embarrassing. Firefox is having trouble recovering your windows and tabs. This is usually caused by a recently opened web page. You can try: Removing one or more tabs that you think may be causing the problem Starting an entirely new browsing session" No webpage was open at this time. Also unable to update firefox. Please help. Thanks

Chosen solution

Hope you are getting better. Run the full installer. If this fixes the problem, great. If not, we will go on from there.

Read this answer in context 👍 2

All Replies (17)

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Please do the following:

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You can check for problems with the sessionstore.js and sessionstore.bak files in the Firefox profile folder that store session data.

Deleting sessionstore.js will cause App Tabs and Tab Groups and open and closed (undo) tabs to get lost and you will have to recreate them (make a note or bookmark them if possible).

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Hi Tyler

You are asking me to repeat what I had already done before reporting the problem. Anyway I did both your links again but still same result.

Do you have any solution?


Hi cor-el

I can't make out what to do from your two links. Too complex. I am not that good on computers, pls make it simpler in step by step.

Thanks

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sessionstore.js and sessionstore.bak files

Type about:support in the address bar and press enter.

Under the page logo on the left side you will see Application Basics. Under this find Profile Folder. To it’s right press the button Show Folder. This will open your file browser to the current Firefox profile. Now Close Firefox.

Locate the file. Then rename or delete it. Restart Firefox.

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Hi Fred

sessionstore.bak cannot be opened as per ms box.

sessionstore.js has a script error:

Windows Script Host

Script: C:\Users\user\AppData\Roaming|Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\wad1lo11 default-1414428787162\sessionstore.js Line: 1 Char: 11 Error: Expected Code: 800A03EC Source: Microsoft jScript compillation error

Both those files could not be found thru the normal ms search function. Spent alot of time looking around.

Regards

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You did not follow my instructions. Please read them again (the last line).

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Hi BenStevenson, I realize it wasn't so clear that Fred was listing the file names to look for before telling you the most direct way to find those files.

For Firefox 33, Firefox's session history files have moved and had their names changed, so here's the new way to check:

You can open your current Firefox settings (AKA Firefox profile) folder using either

  • "3-bar" menu button > "?" button > Troubleshooting Information
  • (menu bar) Help > Troubleshooting Information
  • type or paste about:support in the address bar and press Enter

In the first table on the page, click the "Show Folder" button.

In the window that launches, scroll down and double-click into the sessionstore-backups folder. Here you'll probably find:

  • recovery.js: the windows and tabs in your currently live Firefox session (or, if Firefox is closed, your last session)
  • recovery.bak: a backup copy of recovery.js
  • previous.js: the windows and tabs in your last Firefox session
  • upgrade.js-build_id: the windows and tabs in the Firefox session that was live at the time of your last update

Leaving this window open, exit out of Firefox. Pause until the recovery.js timestamp is updated.

Then you can simply drag these files to a new location, such as Documents, where Firefox won't look for them at the next startup (but they will be handy on the off chance that you actually need one of them).


Note: By default, Windows hides the .js extension. To ensure that you are looking at the files I mentioned, you may want to turn off that feature. This article has the steps: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/show-hide-file-name-extensions


For future reference, it is best not to double-click .js files like sessionstore.js (or recovery.js, on newer versions of Firefox). Windows will execute .js files and depending on their contents, this could modify or delete important Windows files. Always safest to right-click > Edit a script file if you want to see its contents.

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Hi Fred

Did it again and deleted the sessionstore.bak file. sessionstore.js was not present. Close firefox.

After restart firefox, tried to reset firefox again, but get the same "embarrasing msg again. No go. Restart the computer again and open firefox and try to reset firefox again, but still no go. sessionstore.bak appeared again in the : Show Folder.



Hi jscher

>>In the first table on the page, click the "Show Folder" button.

In the window that launches, scroll down and double-click into the sessionstore-backups folder.<<

The sessionstore-backups folder or file is not there.


Thanks

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Hi Ben, after you get the session restore screen, and assuming you opt to start a new Firefox session, what happens at that point?

If you check your desktop for the Old Firefox Data folder, how many semi-randomly-named profile folders can you find inside, if any?

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Did it again and deleted the sessionstore.bak file. sessionstore.js was not present. Close firefox.

If this post is correct, you did not follow the instructions Again !

Open Firefox, use FF to open the current user profile.

CLOSE FIREFOX ! ! ! ! ! !

Now delete the file.

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Hi Fred

Did exactly as you told.

The last msg is a small box for a second or two that says something like:

"please wait while firefox cleans out your files or data."

Open firefox and try to reset again, but same "embarrassing msg again.

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Even though the "embarrassing" msg, some form of reset seems to have happened. An app or two on the home page has disappeared.

Tried to udate latest version 31 Yahoo version and waited thru the 42 meg but update failed.

Opened yahoo finance home page and it is just about half the normal size and the font is much smaller. Resize both of them to carry on.

So some kind of reset did occur, it seems.

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Hi Fred

Sorry for the one week delay. Got hospitalised for a breathing problem.

What do I do with the download.

Thanks

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Chosen Solution

Hope you are getting better. Run the full installer. If this fixes the problem, great. If not, we will go on from there.

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Hi Fred

I did the download and then tested by "Reset Firefox" again and it worked.

Looks like the problem is over. Thanks so much and for your simplicity and patience with me.

Next time you see my question pls respond as I would rather work with you since I had difficult times with others before and had to give up with no solution.

You should be given reward points.

Thanks

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I will be glad to help, but I am not one of the big guys. Someday, maybe. If you ask a question, and don't understand the answer, ask them to explain better.

Happy Computing.