Could you check for alien code files in your Firefox program folder. Check in these locations (varies for 32-bit / 64-bit):

• C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\defaults\pref
• C:\Program Files (x86)\Mozilla Firefox\defaults\pref

It is normal to find a file named channel-prefs.js here. Any other files are suspicious. Remove them to a neutral location for further analysis at your leisure. Be careful not to double-click them -- feel free to rename the .js extension to a .txt extension. (If you haven't already: How to show File Extensions in Windows)

Is Firefox running when this happens?

Yes, FFx is running.

Thanks. I checked this and no other files existsjscher2000 said

Could you check for alien code files in your Firefox program folder. Check in these locations (varies for 32-bit / 64-bit):

• C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\defaults\pref
• C:\Program Files (x86)\Mozilla Firefox\defaults\pref

It is normal to find a file named channel-prefs.js here. Any other files are suspicious. Remove them to a neutral location for further analysis at your leisure. Be careful not to double-click them -- feel free to rename the .js extension to a .txt extension. (If you haven't already: How to show File Extensions in Windows)

No other files exist here except: channel-prefs.js

Does this also happen if you close Firefox over night, Firefox isn't running at the time this happens?

cor-el said

Does this also happen if you close Firefox over night, Firefox isn't running at the time this happens?

This seems to happen when the day switches to midnight. I check the Library Browser History at just after midnight all that appears is "Today" (new day..which is of course empty at that moment since I have populated a new day's of history ) and anything i had browsed Yesterday is gone, in a few hours (after i have gone to bed). Seems something in the deep background has to be causing this, that clears things out and doesn't allow FFX to "hold" or keep more than say 24 hours of browsing history from midnight to midnight. Really odd---IF that's the issue.

I usually don't have FFx browsers open when I go to sleep.

Thanks again!!

This is a screen shot of this AM's (Fri Dec 22, 2017) Library Browsing History. After midnight tonight ( Sat Dec 23) I will post another screen shot my FFx Library Browsing History and see what if anything happens. So we expect the "Yesterday" you see here should be there but then renamed to Thursday (Dec 21) and "Yesterday" should be renamed to "Today" (Fri Dec 22) . Again I have no cleaners or Tasks Scheduler running that would /should make "Yesterday" into Thursday. We'll see. Stay tuned!

I don’t think screenshots of your sidebar view are useful, since the issue is clear. It’s obvious something is removing your history on a daily basis.

You should be able to see all scheduled and performed (!) tasks in the Windows logs even up to the exact point in time, both for Application and System. Have a look at those and allow their screens to load (i.e. be patient and don’t click ahead when you see an empty screen there), as loading may take a while with the many events logged.

Additionally, I see many things in your (tasks) screenshot that upset me personally, such as Spybot on the left (note that it isn’t even listed in the scheduled tasks), SpywareBlaster, Google stuff, IObit Malware Fighter (imf_autoscan), etc. My rule of thumb: never allow any piece of software to interfere with any Mozilla product, as a) they won’t provide additional security in most cases (but slow your system down instead), and b) they tend to cause issues like these rather than provide any benefit. And if you decide use one of such programs, don’t use multiple of them. Feel free to do what you like with that. :)

Tips: rather than waiting for another day to come, you could of course modify the system clock to just around midnight multiple times to see what happens for faster troubleshooting. Also, now you know what files are important (the places.* files - see here for more info), you could consider copying your profile folder for a backup first, then leave Firefox disabled (not launch it), and lock those files or even all of them by temporarily making them read-only. There’s a good chance the offending piece of software will complain about not being able to modify or delete the files as soon as it wants to, and if not, that event will be logged too.

Remember that computers are tools, and tools have their "masters" to operate and/or instruct them. You should know what is running on your system, or at least make sure you do. ;)

Thanks so much for your very helpful and detailed answer here, and good points (esp changing clock temporarily ). I will head your suggestions. I will again try deleting more stuff but if you have been following along, I did mention I have deleted these kinds of programs you mentioned to see if this fixes the issue ...so far none. I found one hidding in the background last night and deleted it (SpyHunter/Enigma Software) by looking at my Processes that are running (a more detailed good external little Win app to google Microsoft told me about is "Processes Explorer"...gives very detailed results of hidding gobblins in the background).

I will look at my Events log in Windows to look at that activity (a good idea to!). On my way out now but will attend to this a bit later tonight and let you know here.

Much thanks!!!

Tonnes said

Tips: rather than waiting for another day to come, you could of course modify the system clock to just around midnight multiple times to see what happens for faster troubleshooting.

Nice going on this tip! !! This is so bizarre:

I did as you suggested just temporarily changed my clock to 11:59 PM (it's 6PM now 12/22) with all Firefox browsers closed. Reopened when clock hit 12:01 AM and looked at my browsing history and there was a brand new (empty) "Today" created and "Yesterday" was still there (which of course is really today 12/22) but no third day..or further back. So your idea at least affirms my own thought that something fishy happens when my system clock hits midnight.

Now, just for kicks I wondered what would happen if I changed the date/clock back to this past Monday Dec 18 (with Firefox closed) to say 8 AM. I reopened browsing history, and BINGO it shows the Last 7 Days!!! Of course nothing is in there because it hasn't been keeping my history every day but "Last 7 Days" is listed as you can see. I don't know if just doing this has fixed the issue or corrupted file, or created some new file that will start being using. (See screen shot) But it will be interesting in, say, 3-4 days or so (after days have populated my browsing history with more day to day site history/web visits) if I have fixed the issue by resetting the clock back a few days then setting it to the present time and day. Very bizarre!!! I certainly will post here on Sunday/Monday to see if successive days start to appear and keep. This is a start. Thanks so much (so far!!! :-) ).... Not sure if it's fixed or not. "time" will tell :-)

Thanks to those who tried helping me out with my browsing history disappearance issue. After a week of trying virtually everyone's suggestions (deleting, disabling all cleaners, spyware, security software, external programs, etc. even all at the same time ) AND including wiping all traces of Firefox to uninstall and reinstalling a fresh new Firefox I still have the problem of Firefox not maintaining my browsing history. I'm feeling this is now some odd Windows 7 issue (or my system clock interfering with FFX as everything disappears at the stroke of 12AM ) or some issue of something running in the background . Very frustrating. I have given up.

Will now Probably will take my system out to a Windows engineer and let him hunt/peck to figure it out. Thanks to all (Merry Xmas!). Steven

I’m sorry to see you gave up, but I’m (almost) convinced something is overlooked. Did you actually lock the profile folder’s files by making them read-only and change the time as suggested?

Boston33 a écrit

When I go to Browsing History in Firefox all the sites i have visited beyond today/yesterday are gone. Only today/yesterday are retained/kept at a time and then those disappear. I have "Remember History" checked and no third party cleaner enabled or in use. What's the simple fix for this?

WestEnd a écrit

Here is a attached screen shot of the History settings which of these boxes do you have that is checked? The History by default in FF aren't checked so unless you checked those boxes that is only way to clear unless you choose the Menu and picked clear History that will also wipe any History out.

Boston33 a écrit

Thanks, let me tell you, I still have the problem after doing the following: -I DELETED/SHREDDED/UNISTALLED for 36 hours every possible security/spam/cleaner related program that could be remotely causing this (Malwarebytes, Advance Care System 11, spyware programs, Spy programs, registry cleaners, all Anti-tracking plugins/extensions, Norton Security 360 (disabled), etc. I have very few programs installed and running. -I did a Firefox Refresh, I changed the Places.Squl and added ".OLD to the end of file where FF created a new Places.Squl file. -I've gone through Task Manager disabled anything remotely external or internal and especially thats scheduled at or near at 12:00 AM when this happens. -I wish you were correct that this is being caused by an external program but it isn't. Frankly, this shouldn't be so hard and such a big deal or big deal to fix. I have just about given up. My Firefox only maintains "Yesterday" and Today" in the browsing history library and as soon as a new day hits at 12:00 AM all there is "Yesterday" and "Today" (a new day), it doesn't store anything previous (i.e., the days before "Yesterday" like past several days). I'm pretty tech savvy/intuitive. There is something going on about "time" in my machine or in FF that's causing this, as my last suspicion. That's my last guess. Still stumbled.