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Can't restore previous session despite replacing sessionstore.js

  • 4 uphendule
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  • Igcine ukuphendulwa ngu cor-el

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Despite following various routines to rename sessionstore.bak file to .old and then replacing sessionstore.js with *.bak, then re-starting Fireox, the previous session is not restored. Firefox simply ignores the "old" session and starts a new one - even if you have altered the options to open up all the previous tabs.

The session I am interested in recovering had 30 tabs open, with no tab referencing a site that would cause it to crash. This occurred through the annoying situation that occurs when another copy of Firefox is started behind the browser you are working on, and you need to close Firefox to restart your computer after installing updates.

On closure of Firefox, a warning should be made that you are 'closing' a number of tabs and warn that there are other copies of Firefox also open, before being allowed to close.

Even so, replacing the most recent sessionstore.js file with a recovered one (whether .bak, or a previous file that has been 'undeleted') should allow a restore to a previous session (on a particular date or time - even from a restored backup file).

Can someone assist with this?

Despite following various routines to rename sessionstore.bak file to .old and then replacing sessionstore.js with *.bak, then re-starting Fireox, the previous session is not restored. Firefox simply ignores the "old" session and starts a new one - even if you have altered the options to open up all the previous tabs. The session I am interested in recovering had 30 tabs open, with no tab referencing a site that would cause it to crash. This occurred through the annoying situation that occurs when another copy of Firefox is started behind the browser you are working on, and you need to close Firefox to restart your computer after installing updates. On closure of Firefox, a warning should be made that you are 'closing' a number of tabs and warn that there are other copies of Firefox also open, before being allowed to close. Even so, replacing the most recent sessionstore.js file with a recovered one (whether .bak, or a previous file that has been 'undeleted') should allow a restore to a previous session (on a particular date or time - even from a restored backup file). Can someone assist with this?

Okulungisiwe ngu AJNiteOwl

All Replies (4)

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On each Firefox start Firefox copies the current sessionstore.js file that has the tabs of the previous session to sessionstore.bak to make is possible to retrieve that previous session at any time during the current session via "History > Restore Previous Session".

If you do not have a copy of sessionstore.js or sessionstore.bak with that lost session then you are out of luck and can consider that session as lost.

You need to rename sessionstore.bak to sessionstore.js to make Firefox use the file.
Firefox doesn't do anything with a sessionstore.bak file apart from what I wrote above.

Make it a habit and use "Firefox/File > Exit" (Mac: "Firefox > Quit"; Linux: "File > Quit") to close Firefox if you are currently doing that by clicking the close X on the title bar to avoid getting surprised by other windows that are still open.
Only the last closed Firefox window is restored.
Other browser windows may be found under History > Recently Closed Windows.

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Cor-el did you even read the main issue - being the replacement of the sessionstore.js file and the inability of FF to read and restore from it?

I take your point about using the File>Exit and will try this in future to see if the problem can be avoided. Thanks.

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I used this moving/renaming of the sessionstore file, as well. It does not work.

What I do have, is a long string of code where I can see the information about the prior tabs, so I know the information is there.

In other words, Firefox is not using the renamed sessionstore file (from bak to js - moved from original window to folder - renamed and moved back) to restore my tabs when I open a new Firefox browser/window.

However, if I double-click on that sessionstore file, it will open up a Firefox window and display a single line at the top with this very long string of code, where I can see the actual names of the tabs I had open and pages I was visiting.

So, my question is, how do I translate all that information into separate windows/tabs.

It's there. It's just not functioning as it should (opening up multiple tabs - or restoring those tabs) when the Firefox Browser is opened.

Thank you

Okulungisiwe ngu ashleyer

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See: