Strange browser bug?

[MuniAddict]

I've used Mozilla/firefox for a long time now and have never had any real problems. All of a sudden, a couple days ago, ALL my bookmarks VANISHED for no apparent reasons, and my "home page" became firefox. That's the first thing I don't fathom.

Second, while not as big of a deal, my browser window now opens "off center", so I have to either maximize it, or manually enlarge and center it. In the past when I did it manually, it used to "remember" that setting and then open that same way every time. But it STILL keeps opening off-center, and each time I have to re-size it. I ran a virus check-nothing. So what is up here? I defer to the 'puter experts for help!:confused:

[dudewithasock]

I've used Mozilla/firefox for a long time now and have never had any real problems. All of a sudden, a couple days ago, ALL my bookmarks VANISHED for no apparent reasons, and my "home page" became firefox. That's the first thing I don't fathom.

Second, while not as big of a deal, my browser window now opens "off center", so I have to either maximize it, or manually enlarge and center it. In the past when I did it manually, it used to "remember" that setting and then open that same way every time. But it STILL keeps opening off-center, and each time I have to re-size it. I ran a virus check-nothing. So what is up here? I defer to the 'puter experts for help!:confused:

I'm a huge fan and user of Firefox, and never had this happen...don't know what to tell you.

[MERCYME]

Firefox is the best browser, never had bugs or anything. Maybe somehow firefox became re-installed.

Wait for johnchilds, he should have an answer.

[The Bruiser]

I have had something like this before. What happened to me was it somehow switched profiles on me and i didnt know how to change it back. I did not know that Firefox even had profiles but it does, i couldnt figure it out so i just started over.

[john_childs]

Firefox is the best browser, never had bugs or anything. Maybe somehow firefox became re-installed.

Wait for johnchilds, he should have an answer.
Firefox has bugs (http://www.unicyclist.com/forums/showthread.php?t=50188). I run into them constantly.

[john_childs]

I've used Mozilla/firefox for a long time now and have never had any real problems. All of a sudden, a couple days ago, ALL my bookmarks VANISHED for no apparent reasons, and my "home page" became firefox. That's the first thing I don't fathom.
Your Firefox profile has gotten messed up. It happens occasionally.

Firefox keeps all your user settings and your bookmarks in a directory structure it calls the profile. Each user of the computer gets a different profile directory so different users are able to have individual settings.

Your profile is usually located at:
C:\Documents and Settings\[user name]\Application Data\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\[random].default

Shut down Firefox
go to your [random].default directory in the profile and find the bookmarks.html file. That's all your bookmarks. Copy that file to a safe place.

Copy the Profiles directory and everything below it to a safe place temporarily.
Then delete the Profiles directory and everything below it.

Launch Firefox. It should build you a new profile. If not, then reinstall Firefox.

Copy your bookmarks.html file back to your new profile so you can get your old bookmarks back.

You'll need to reinstall any extensions that you like to use.

Or, you can try using the Profile Manager (http://kb.mozillazine.org/Profile_Manager) to create a new profile.

[squirrel]

little hint: you'll have to set it so you can view hidden files/folders to be able to see the Applications Data folder!

[MERCYME]

Firefox has bugs (http://www.unicyclist.com/forums/showthread.php?t=50188). I run into them constantly.
Ahh sorry I didn't mean it doesn't have bugs.
I mean I've never ran into one.

[EvanWilson]

To switch profiles, do the following (I'm doing this off the top of my head, so it may be incorrect, but I'll check once I'm done typing)

Open the start menu to mozilla firefox, then right click on "mozilla firefox" and click copy.

Now, right click on the copy of mozilla firefox, and go to properties. There should be a line that says something like "C:\program files\mozilla firefox\etc..."

After "firefox.exe" press space and type -p

Then hit apply, or ok if apply isn't there.

Finally, right click the copy again, and rename it to profile manager.

Now, you can access the profile manager, change settings, and do all other kinds of fun things. I'll check on that right now to see if it still works.

EDIT: Yeah, still works for me.

[MuniAddict]

To switch profiles, do the following (I'm doing this off the top of my head, so it may be incorrect, but I'll check once I'm done typing)

Open the start menu to mozilla firefox, then right click on "mozilla firefox" and click copy.

Now, right click on the copy of mozilla firefox, and go to properties. There should be a line that says something like "C:\program files\mozilla firefox\etc..."

After "firefox.exe" press space and type -p

Then hit apply, or ok if apply isn't there.

Finally, right click the copy again, and rename it to profile manager.

Now, you can access the profile manager, change settings, and do all other kinds of fun things. I'll check on that right now to see if it still works.

EDIT: Yeah, still works for me.Thanks everybody for the help!

[john_childs]

little hint: you'll have to set it so you can view hidden files/folders to be able to see the Applications Data folder!
True that. I kind of assume that people have Windows Explorer set up to show hidden files. That's one of the first things I do when configuring Windows to my liking.

Using the Profile Manager (http://kb.mozillazine.org/Profile_Manager) is the more proper way to create a new profile or delete a damaged profile. Just be sure to copy the bookmarks.html file from your damaged profile to a safe place before deleting the profile.