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Firefox 50 update wiped out ALL of my preferences. How do I restore them?

  • 2 replies
  • 2 have this problem
  • 3 views
  • Last reply by FredMcD

DonWanderer
DonWanderer
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Despite my turning off automatic updates Firefox update to 50. I launched the browser to discover my entire setup GONE!!! 

ALL preferences wiped out, all add-ons, bookmarks, theme, toolbars, and my entire configuration reverted to a naked default browser. Back to ZERO.

WTF!!!!!! WHY????

There is no folder anywhere that I can find with a copy of the old set-up. This will be MONTHS of work to restore, if it can ever be done. HOW THE HELL AM I SUPPOSED TO DEAL WITH THIS, or fix it  ?????

Despite my turning off automatic updates Firefox update to 50. I launched the browser to discover my entire setup GONE!!! ALL preferences wiped out, all add-ons, bookmarks, theme, toolbars, and my entire configuration reverted to a naked default browser. Back to ZERO. WTF!!!!!! WHY???? There is no folder anywhere that I can find with a copy of the old set-up. This will be MONTHS of work to restore, if it can ever be done. HOW THE HELL AM I SUPPOSED TO DEAL WITH THIS, or fix it ?????

All Replies (2)

jscher2000 - Support Volunteer
jscher2000 - Support Volunteer
  • Top 25 Contributor
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Hi Don, have you tried shutting down Windows and restarting it since this problem occurred? Sometimes after Windows updates, Firefox does not have full permissions to your data and starts up with missing settings, so I'd like to rule that out.

Second, is there an "Old Firefox Data" folder on your desktop? If so, could you check its contents to see how recently they were updated?

Third, could you check for any additional profile folders (Firefox settings folders) in the standard location? As a shortcut to open that, you can copy the following shortcut and paste it into the Windows 7 Start menu search box and press Enter to launch it:

%APPDATA%\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles

That should expand to this folder, which is on a hidden path:

C:\Users\username\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles

Do you find multiple folders here?

FredMcD
FredMcD
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These can't get your data back, but will help in the future.

These add-ons can be a great help by backing up and restoring Firefox

FEBE (Firefox Environment Backup Extension) {web link} FEBE allows you to quickly and easily backup your Firefox extensions, history, passwords, and more. In fact, it goes beyond just backing up -- It will actually rebuild your saved files individually into installable .xpi files. It will also make backups of files that you choose.

OPIE {web link} Import/Export extension preferences