Can I restore a session when Session Restore fails?
After a kernel panic (I presume that's what it was), I haven't been able to restore my session of Firefox, which had about 5 tabs open with a few dozen URLs within. As I'm writing this, there's been more kernel panics and Firefox crashes, and Firefox has allowed me to restore those subsequent sessions. However, it is the session that preceded the very first crash/panic that holds those tabs I wish to restore. Can that be achieved?
When I launched Firefox after the first crash, the Session Restore window didn't offer to restore my previous session, as the list was empty, showing no list of tabs.
I've tried to search for the sessionrestore.js and sessionrestore.bak files in my system (OSX Lion), but they're not here. Per the advice of some google search results, they said there should be a Firefox folder in Library>Application Support>Firefox, but I have no such Firefox folder, just a Mozilla folder, and the js/bak files aren't there either.
Lastly, I do have a backup (a clone) of my HDD from a few weeks ago, in case that can also be used to help restore my session.
I've included 2 Crash IDs below. The first one is one of the more recent ones (2/5/2012). There's in fact a dozen or so for that date, but this is the earliest (in time) of the bunch, so I assume maybe it'll pertain to my first crash, even though that happened last night (2/14). The second ID is the 2nd most recent crash dated 1/14.
Thank you for any help you can provide on this issue.
Chosen solution
You're welcome.
In Mac OS X v10.7, the $HOME/Library folder is a hidden folder.
Open Finder and use one of these:
- Go > Go To Folder (Shift-Command-G) and in the dialog type: ~/Library
- Open the "Go" menu and hold down the Option key to make the Library appear
You can also use this command in a Terminal window to remove the hidden flag.
- Mac HD > Applications > Utilities > Terminal
- chflags nohidden ~/Library
- http://kb2.adobe.com/cps/909/cpsid_90947.html Access hidden user library files
All Replies (5)
If you have the Time Machine then you can try to restore a sessionstore.js file from before that crash to restore the session that is saved in it.
You can use this button to go to the Firefox profile folder:
- Help > Troubleshooting Information > Profile Directory: Open Containing Folder
Hello Cor-el,
Using the "Help > Troubleshooting Information > Profile Directory: Open Containing Folder" tip, I did indeed see the sessionstore files! So now I know that I should have those files from a few weeks ago on my cloned backup. (I use Carbon Copy Cloner instead of Time Machine.)
However, it was only through using your tip, that I could reveal that Profile Directory folder in Finder. When I go back to one of the parent folders, Users/Username, I can no longer find the "Library" folder on display. I would need to be able to do so on my external cloned backup as well in order to copy over the sessionstore files. Does Finder not display this folder by default? And how else could I navigate myself into the Profile Directory folder on my cloned copy?
Thank you so much
Modified by libertinelush
Chosen Solution
You're welcome.
In Mac OS X v10.7, the $HOME/Library folder is a hidden folder.
Open Finder and use one of these:
- Go > Go To Folder (Shift-Command-G) and in the dialog type: ~/Library
- Open the "Go" menu and hold down the Option key to make the Library appear
You can also use this command in a Terminal window to remove the hidden flag.
- Mac HD > Applications > Utilities > Terminal
- chflags nohidden ~/Library
- http://kb2.adobe.com/cps/909/cpsid_90947.html Access hidden user library files
Wonderful! I can get there now to view the Profile directory on my internal HDD. However, I'm having trouble doing so with my external HDD containing the backup. Using the "Go" menu command while I viewing my external in Finder just brings me back to the internal's Library folder instead. I've also inputted the Terminal command you provided, hoping that would allow the Library folder to display on my external, but it doesn't.
Any idea on this part of the problem? Thanks.
EDIT: I've tried typing in: Western Digital My Book (Essential Edition) 1TB CCC/Users/Username/Library
The "Western Digital..." is my external HDD, but perhaps I don't have the proper syntax for this command?
EDIT #2: I got it. Indeed my syntax was wrong. "/Volumes/Western Digital My Book (Essential Edition) 1TB CCC/Users/Username/Library" worked.
Thank you again. Without your help, I wouldn't have recovered most of these tabs.
Modified by libertinelush
You're welcome
Thanks for sharing your findings.
Modified by cor-el