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Technical News & Discussion => Windows News & Discussion => Topic started by: Rik on Apr 15, 2012, 11:57:49

Title: Odd Firefox 11 problem
Post by: Rik on Apr 15, 2012, 11:57:49
It's suddenly started clearing cookies on shutdown, despite the fact it's set not to. I've tried using custom settings for history, but this doesn't seem to 'stick'. Googling reveals lots of people who can't get it to delete cookies, but little on my problem other than from v3.x.

It started yesterday, but nothing on the machine was changed that I am aware of.

Any ideas?
Title: Re: Odd Firefox 11 problem
Post by: Glenn on Apr 15, 2012, 12:05:35
Delete and re-install?
Title: Re: Odd Firefox 11 problem
Post by: cavillas on Apr 15, 2012, 12:08:58
 Delete entirely and use another browser. :evil: ;D
Title: Re: Odd Firefox 11 problem
Post by: Rik on Apr 15, 2012, 12:20:46
But I like FF, Alf. :)
Title: Re: Odd Firefox 11 problem
Post by: Rik on Apr 15, 2012, 12:21:13
Quote from: Glenn on Apr 15, 2012, 12:05:35
Delete and re-install?

That's what I was beginning to think. :(
Title: Re: Odd Firefox 11 problem
Post by: Simon on Apr 15, 2012, 12:23:03
It's on 11 now?   :o

The only thing I can suggest, is turn the setting off, close Firefox, reboot (might not be necessary, but never hurts), restart Firefox, turn the setting on again, close Firefox, restart Firefox and see if that makes it stick.  Have you got a backup of your cookies?   
Title: Re: Odd Firefox 11 problem
Post by: Rik on Apr 15, 2012, 12:30:23
Done all that, and yes. :(
Title: Re: Odd Firefox 11 problem
Post by: Glenn on Apr 15, 2012, 12:34:30
Is this on your pc or iPad (assuming it's available for the iPad)?
Title: Re: Odd Firefox 11 problem
Post by: Rik on Apr 15, 2012, 12:40:55
Main desktop, Glenn, it's not available on the iPad.
Title: Re: Odd Firefox 11 problem
Post by: Simon on Apr 15, 2012, 12:54:54
Have you looked in the Profile folder to see if the cookie file is still 'full'?  If not, try replacing it with a backup copy (with Firefox closed).  Maybe it's somehow wiped them, and now, there are none to be saved?
Title: Re: Odd Firefox 11 problem
Post by: Rik on Apr 15, 2012, 13:01:22
I use cookie culler to protect cookies I want kept. They are still there. Switching to the netbook, it is retaining all cookies until I manually delete them - which is how things should be. Both have the same privacy settings. If I get FF itself to reveal the cookies that are stored, protected ones remain after an exit, others are only kept for the session.  :dunno:
Title: Re: Odd Firefox 11 problem
Post by: Baz on Apr 15, 2012, 14:12:52
dont suppose they have expired naturally  :dunno:

thats what my default FF settings are in the drop down list
Title: Re: Odd Firefox 11 problem
Post by: Rik on Apr 15, 2012, 14:24:20
No, Baz, I checked for dates. It's not that big an issue as I protect the cookies I need, but I hate odd changes in behaviour which I can't explain.
Title: Re: Odd Firefox 11 problem
Post by: Baz on Apr 15, 2012, 14:31:52
anything on here Rik

http://ask.metafilter.com/198836/Why-did-Firefox-start-losing-my-login-cookies

theres mention of CCleaner ive seen on other sites too or may be anti virus or malware programs causing it, but on this link about ¾ of way down is a post starting 'Solution: DO NOT clear site preferences...'   which is in Tools/Options/Privacy/Clear history when firefox closes...the Settings box next to it then in the  Data section.

Title: Re: Odd Firefox 11 problem
Post by: Rik on Apr 15, 2012, 14:37:39
Thanks Baz, I'll check the site preferences setting when I'm back on the desktop. :thumb:
Title: Re: Odd Firefox 11 problem
Post by: Rik on Apr 15, 2012, 17:54:10
It's not checked. :(
Title: Re: Odd Firefox 11 problem
Post by: Glenn on Apr 15, 2012, 18:07:03
Check it and save the change, then go back in and uncheck it, saving the change.
Title: Re: Odd Firefox 11 problem
Post by: Rik on Apr 15, 2012, 18:23:31
Check. :)
Title: Re: Odd Firefox 11 problem
Post by: Rik on Apr 15, 2012, 18:25:24
There's no option to save it. Checked it, exited, went back in an it was unchecked again. Other settings have been remembered.
Title: Re: Odd Firefox 11 problem
Post by: zappaDPJ on Apr 15, 2012, 18:27:55
I've found the latest version of FF to be quite unstable on all the PCs and laptops I have here but I've not encountered that issue. At least I don't think I have.
Title: Re: Odd Firefox 11 problem
Post by: Rik on Apr 15, 2012, 18:34:03
It started for me yesterday, Zap, but is only affecting one machine. Re-installation seems to be the only thing left to try.
Title: Re: Odd Firefox 11 problem
Post by: pctech on Apr 15, 2012, 19:17:04
Might be worth copying your cookie file elsewhere and uninstalling and reinstall firefox Rik.

Not had that problem myself but had some weird FF behaviour a few months back and a reinstall fixed it.

Title: Re: Odd Firefox 11 problem
Post by: Niall on Apr 15, 2012, 19:22:10
What I do on a fresh install is install all add ons I use, put in passwords, etc, then set it to private browsing. That way it keeps my passwords and doesn't keep cookies at all. I feel much safer knowing I hold no cookies in my browser.
Title: Re: Odd Firefox 11 problem
Post by: pctech on Apr 15, 2012, 19:25:45
Provided you purge them regularly cookies are not a problem, I really don't understand at all why people get so worked up about them.

Title: Re: Odd Firefox 11 problem
Post by: Niall on Apr 15, 2012, 19:31:26
The only reason I block them is on an old counterstrike clans website, their stats always showed where you've come from and I prefer no one to know what I do, even though I'll be coming from the BBC homepage as that's my homepage in firefox :D
Title: Re: Odd Firefox 11 problem
Post by: Baz on Apr 15, 2012, 20:51:46
just stumbled across this by chance Rik

in Flash Player Settings Manager/Advanced tab/Browsing Data and Settings section then the Delete All button is a tick box for Delete all site data and settings.


I know its flash player but might that be it  :dunno:
Title: Re: Odd Firefox 11 problem
Post by: Rik on Apr 15, 2012, 23:27:17
Thanks, Baz. :thumb:
Title: Re: Odd Firefox 11 problem
Post by: kinmel on Apr 16, 2012, 07:48:22
Rik

Is the box at the bottom of Cookie Culler's options page had the "tick" flipped from your own preference ?
Title: Re: Odd Firefox 11 problem
Post by: Rik on Apr 16, 2012, 09:58:46
No, it's still unchecked, Alan.
Title: Re: Odd Firefox 11 problem
Post by: Steve on Apr 16, 2012, 11:14:46
By shutdown do you mean PC shutdown? If so is any firewall software doing abit of tidying up.
Title: Re: Odd Firefox 11 problem
Post by: Rik on Apr 16, 2012, 11:16:46
No, just Firefox shutdown, Steve.
Title: Re: Odd Firefox 11 problem
Post by: armadillo on Apr 16, 2012, 15:59:33
Rik, you could go into your Firefox profiles folder and try renaming any .sqlite file with cookies in its name to something else. e.g. as .sqlite.old

Then Firefox will have to create a new one.

If it does not work, you can remove the .old from your original cookie sqlites.

This is assuming Firefox 11 uses sqlite files. I am still on Firefox 3.6!
Title: Re: Odd Firefox 11 problem
Post by: Rik on Apr 16, 2012, 17:03:52
Thanks, Dill. It appears to have changed format.  :(
Title: Re: Odd Firefox 11 problem
Post by: armadillo on Apr 16, 2012, 17:24:57
Odd how changes to format always make things more difficult, never easier. Remember the days when you could do your own car maintenance?
Title: Re: Odd Firefox 11 problem
Post by: Rik on Apr 16, 2012, 17:27:19
Indeed I do. I wish software designers would plan ahead and stop moving the goal posts.
Title: Re: Odd Firefox 11 problem
Post by: kinmel on Apr 16, 2012, 17:32:22
check your firefox setting     "about:config"  it should contain an entry............  privacy.clearOnShutdown.cookies;false        Userset        Boolean       False
Title: Re: Odd Firefox 11 problem
Post by: Rik on Apr 16, 2012, 17:43:01
That's how it's set, Alan. Thanks. :)
Title: Re: Odd Firefox 11 problem
Post by: Simon on Apr 16, 2012, 18:40:26
How do you know it's clearing the cookies, and not blocking them in the first place?
Title: Re: Odd Firefox 11 problem
Post by: Rik on Apr 16, 2012, 23:31:21
Because they can be seen before shutdown.
Title: Re: Odd Firefox 11 problem
Post by: Simon on Apr 17, 2012, 10:10:58
OK.  :dunno:  then. 
Title: Re: Odd Firefox 11 problem
Post by: Rik on Apr 17, 2012, 10:28:23
Exactly...  :shake:
Title: Re: Odd Firefox 11 problem
Post by: Simon on Apr 17, 2012, 10:31:21
They have so many updates, sooner or later, something was bound to get broken.  :sigh:
Title: Re: Odd Firefox 11 problem
Post by: Rik on Apr 17, 2012, 10:32:24
Yup.
Title: Re: Odd Firefox 11 problem
Post by: Gary on Apr 17, 2012, 10:37:43
From reading online a few people seem to be having problems with cookie culler, it seems 'cookie monster' does not have so many issues.

https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/cookie-monster/ maybe this would help.
Title: Re: Odd Firefox 11 problem
Post by: zappaDPJ on Apr 17, 2012, 10:39:13
It seems like your persistent cookies are being treated in the same manner a session cookies but I can't really see why that would happen unless you are using private browsing.

[EDIT] Or what Gary said. It may well be an add-on issue.
Title: Re: Odd Firefox 11 problem
Post by: Rik on Apr 17, 2012, 10:40:16
Quote from: Gary on Apr 17, 2012, 10:37:43
From reading online a few people seem to be having problems with cookie culler, it seems 'cookie monster' does not have so many issues.

https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/cookie-monster/ maybe this would help.

Thanks, Gary, I'll take a look. Cookie Culler is protecting the important stuff still, so I'm not sure it's that causing the problem, but there's one way to find out. :)
Title: Re: Odd Firefox 11 problem
Post by: Rik on Apr 17, 2012, 10:44:05
Quote from: zappaDPJ on Apr 17, 2012, 10:39:13
It seems like your persistent cookies are being treated in the same manner a session cookies but I can't really see why that would happen unless you are using private browsing.

[EDIT] Or what Gary said. It may well be an add-on issue.

Cookie Culler is still protecting those cookies I've marked, Zap, and has no menu options, so unless it's gone rogue, it shouldn't delete anything unless I do it manually. The Firefox settings are correct too, so this is getting to be one of those "I can't explain it" issues. I'll try the Monster, if that doesn't work, it looks like the only thing left is a re-install.

Curiously, I can't work out what triggered it, and other machines are not affected, so it has to be something on this box.
Title: Re: Odd Firefox 11 problem
Post by: Gary on Apr 17, 2012, 10:47:25
Quote from: Simon on Apr 17, 2012, 10:31:21
They have so many updates, sooner or later, something was bound to get broken.  :sigh:
Chrome has many updates and most of the Mozilla ones are just security and tweaks so its still pretty much as it was before, just with new numbering instead of point updates. Mozilla recently whiletlisted many apps as working with all the new versions by default now so their should be less problems. I think though the interoperability of add ons gets to be an issue though.
Title: Re: Odd Firefox 11 problem
Post by: Rik on Apr 17, 2012, 11:06:07
 :blush: :blush: :blush: :blush: :blush: :blush: :blush: :blush: :blush: :blush: :blush:

Something had changed the CookieCuller 'delete all cookies on startup' in the Add-ons, options menu. I hadn't thought to look there. Sorry everyone.
Title: Re: Odd Firefox 11 problem
Post by: zappaDPJ on Apr 17, 2012, 11:11:17
Ah well, it could have been worse. At least you didn't find your slippers in the fridge ;D
Title: Re: Odd Firefox 11 problem
Post by: Rik on Apr 17, 2012, 11:14:08
Yet... ;D
Title: Re: Odd Firefox 11 problem
Post by: Simon on Apr 17, 2012, 11:34:19
That's because they're in the oven, Zap.  ;)
Title: Re: Odd Firefox 11 problem
Post by: zappaDPJ on Apr 17, 2012, 18:13:35
 :laugh: