Issues with Firefox

Amodeius · Joined: Aug 28, 2004 Posts: 9

I was wondering if my firefox has some kind of issue. The same problem happened on my other hard drive before (I switch between os because I use different versions of xp). Well the issue is that firefox would delete all my bookmarks, history, and cookies. The bookmark menu even looks different, not like it was just reinstalled with a newer version or anything. Is this to do a virus or spyware. I don't want to check my banking or other personal stuff because I'm afraid I've been compromised.

zlim · Joined: Mar 11, 2005 Posts: 2747

You should install FF in both versions of XP and use a different profile for each.
FF doesn't remove bookmarks. I'd be more inclined to think that some sort of registry cleaner was removing those items.

drwho07 · Joined: Nov 29, 2007 Posts: 2238 Location: Central FL, USA

Amodeius,

I've been using FF since the early beta days and I've never seen it delete any of it's own saved info, like Bookmarks. That's just not a normal FF function. If something is deleting them, it's got to be some outside force.
It saves those things in a folder just like I.E. does.

At this time, I'd not even venture a guess at what might be deleting those files. I'd sure be doing a very thorough malware scan of the computer.

I might even delete FF completely (UN-Install) and download and install the latest version. I'm currently running FF 3, Beta 4 and it's working beautifully.

I tried beta 5, but it was incompatible with my "AdBlock+" add-on....
absolutely necessary to block all the ad's, banners and popups on this site.
So I reloaded FF 3, Beta 4.

Good Luck,
The Doctor

AD · Joined: Dec 27, 2007 Posts: 53

As well you might want to try this program for backing up all your FireFox settings, bookmarks, extensions, cookies, etc. I use it often and it works great. It's called Mozbackup and it free.

http://mozbackup.jasnapaka.com/

3 clicks of the mouse and you can create or restore any FireFox, Thunderbird, etc profile from a created file you store somewhere convenient. Just back up a copy of a Firefox profile you are satisfied with and you can install it in any computer you have that program in.

I agree with the Doc, make a backup of your profile, completely uninstall whatever version of FF you have, then install the newest and restore your profile, see how that works.

And yeah do a malware scan, perhaps even using an online scanner like TrendMicro offers. It ain't fast but it will give you peace of mind to double check your installed anti-malware app. It's what I've done in the past.