Recently, when FF starts up, not all of the restored windows/tabs are the most recent ones.

[Scott Cowles Jacobs]

With the latest FF (or perhaps one version before?) a weird thing happens when I start up my FF profile:

Once all the windows and tabs are loaded, and I peruse the list of windows in my bottom panel,
I will see things that were NOT as I left them when I shut FF down last.

Ex. I see that one window has the focus tab (the one tab per window that actually gets loaded when FF starts up) has the text "BBQ Crock Pot..." This is a recipe that I no longer need, and have deleted - several times. The 4 tabs that follow that tab I also deleted.
I have just deleted them again, but I know that when I start FF tomorrow, THERE they will be again...

Next, there is a tab labeled "Rochester Gas..." a site where I can find low gas prices here in Rochester, NY. Now I know that when I leave this window, I leave it on the Weather tab almost every time. Probably once in the last couple of weeks it was on the gas prices tab when I shut FF down. Apparently THAT was the day that FF keeps resurrecting (for that window, at least...)

Another window tab shows the correct tab, Google Translate, but when I go there to translate something, the text that it resurrects from "the last time" is actually from several sessions (maybe a week?) before (and naturally, it is something embarrassing that I wouldn't want people to see...! Of course.)

Although it has finally gone away, there was one time that I opened up a window to look up probably 8 to 10 things on the same subject, finished with them, deleted the tabs, and then the window - but then had the window/tabs reappear every time FF loaded, perhaps for the next 4-5 days.

---

Basically - something changed in FF that causes it to not load the most recent windows/tabs,
but some earlier set.

Now... this could mean that when shut down, FF IS saving the windows and tabs, but not loading the most recent set when re-starting.... OR
FF is not always saving windows/tabs every time it shuts down, but is resurrecting the most recent copy it has available...

Those are the two scenarios that I have thought up, but of course there are probably others...

---

[NOTE: before I invoked ubuntu-bug to file this report, there was a weird problem that caused Amazon.com pages to display improperly and be almost unresponsive (memory problem? FF problem? Amazon problem? - who knows...) Anyway, I decided it would be good to shut FF down and restart. Apparently FF crashed during the shut-down (I had to delete .parentlock before I could restart the profile). So ubuntu-bug probably will have pulled in stuff that relates to that crash, that will have nothing to do with the bug I am reporting, as it is not a crash - merely weird behavior. ]

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scott@scott-Asus-M2N68-AM-Plus:~$ uname -a
Linux scott-Asus-M2N68-AM-Plus 4.4.0-31-generic #50-Ubuntu SMP Wed Jul 13 00:06:14 UTC 2016 i686 athlon i686 GNU/Linux
scott@scott-Asus-M2N68-AM-Plus:~$ lsb_release -dsc
Ubuntu 16.04.1 LTS
xenial
scott@scott-Asus-M2N68-AM-Plus:~$ echo $DESKTOP_SESSION
Lubuntu

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 16.04
Package: firefox 47.0+build3-0ubuntu0.16.04.1
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 4.4.0-31.50-generic 4.4.13
Uname: Linux 4.4.0-31-generic i686
NonfreeKernelModules: nvidia
AddonCompatCheckDisabled: False
ApportVersion: 2.20.1-0ubuntu2.1
Architecture: i386
AudioDevicesInUse:
 USER PID ACCESS COMMAND
 /dev/snd/pcmC0D0p: scott 1240 F...m pulseaudio
 /dev/snd/controlC0: scott 1240 F.... pulseaudio
 /dev/snd/controlC2: scott 1240 F.... pulseaudio
 /dev/snd/controlC1: scott 1240 F.... pulseaudio
BuildID: 20160606113900
Channel: Unavailable
CurrentDesktop: LXDE
Date: Tue Jul 26 23:25:47 2016
DefaultProfileIncompatibleExtensions:
 English (South Africa) Language Pack - <email address hidden>
 English (GB) Language Pack - <email address hidden>
 Default - {972ce4c6-7e08-4474-a285-3208198ce6fd}
DefaultProfilePlugins: Shockwave Flash - /usr/lib/flashplugin-installer/libflashplayer.so
DefaultProfilePrefSources: prefs.js
ForcedLayersAccel: False
IfupdownConfig:
 # interfaces(5) file used by ifup(8) and ifdown(8)
 auto lo
 iface lo inet loopback
InstallationDate: Installed on 2016-05-05 (83 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Lubuntu 16.04 LTS "Xenial Xerus" - Release i386 (20160420.1)
IpRoute:
 default via 192.168.0.1 dev enp0s7
 192.168.0.0/24 dev enp0s7 proto kernel scope link src 192.168.0.2
MostRecentCrashID: bp-44f9dd73-a7cd-4e42-bc1b-3aa0f2160727
PciNetwork:

Profile1IncompatibleExtensions:
 Global Menu Bar integration - <email address hidden>
 English (South Africa) Language Pack - <email address hidden>
 English (GB) Language Pack - <email address hidden>
 Default - {972ce4c6-7e08-4474-a285-3208198ce6fd}
Profile1PrefSources: prefs.js
Profile2Extensions: extensions.sqlite corrupt or missing
Profile2IncompatibleExtensions: Unavailable (corrupt or non-existant compatibility.ini or extensions.sqlite)
Profile2Locales: extensions.sqlite corrupt or missing
Profile2Plugins: Shockwave Flash - /usr/lib/flashplugin-installer/libflashplayer.so
Profile2PrefSources: prefs.js
Profile2Themes: extensions.sqlite corrupt or missing
Profiles:
 Profile0 (Default) - LastVersion=47.0/20160606113900 (In use)
 Profile1 - LastVersion=28.0/20140410211157 (Out of date)
 Profile2 - LastVersion=47.0/20160606113900
RfKill:

RunningIncompatibleAddons: True
SourcePackage: firefox
SubmittedCrashIDs:
 bp-44f9dd73-a7cd-4e42-bc1b-3aa0f2160727
 bp-cb6c0288-10f2-4cc9-afdd-662552160622
 bp-062d78b9-0997-469d-ac2b-2c25f2160620
 bp-33012966-2403-4ed0-a9f0-e94f02160519
 bp-649eea70-f030-4f17-857b-f9eeb2160510
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)
dmi.bios.date: 06/10/2010
dmi.bios.vendor: American Megatrends Inc.
dmi.bios.version: 1802
dmi.board.asset.tag: To Be Filled By O.E.M.
dmi.board.name: M2N68-AM Plus
dmi.board.vendor: ASUSTeK Computer INC.
dmi.board.version: Rev X.0x
dmi.chassis.asset.tag: Asset-1234567890
dmi.chassis.type: 3
dmi.chassis.vendor: Chassis Manufacture
dmi.chassis.version: Chassis Version
dmi.modalias: dmi:bvnAmericanMegatrendsInc.:bvr1802:bd06/10/2010:svnSystemmanufacturer:pnSystemProductName:pvrSystemVersion:rvnASUSTeKComputerINC.:rnM2N68-AMPlus:rvrRevX.0x:cvnChassisManufacture:ct3:cvrChassisVersion:
dmi.product.name: System Product Name
dmi.product.version: System Version
dmi.sys.vendor: System manufacturer

[Scott Cowles Jacobs (scott092707)]

Update: On the next boot and FF startup:
The "Crockpot" tab and the 4 to the right were back, as expected, although the focus was on the rightmost tab of the tabs which I had deleted.

The "Gas prices" tab was again the focus of that window, despite the fact that when I left, the focus was on the "Weather" tab for that window.

The "Google Translate" tab actually had the most recent translation I did last night.

Although not mentioned yesterday, one window has a "Google Maps" tab, where I look up local places and directions to them. Typically, lately, the map/directions shown on FF start would be several destinations in the past. Today, it appeared to be the most recent search.

This very bug tab came up as if I had not completed filing the bug: The only things on the page were the "A bunch of files will be added to your report when you finish" message, and the title of the bug , as I had entered it. (I "searched" by the title I had entered, and the bug came up; I then right-clicked on it to get it to come up in another tab, as otherwise, the original tab only wanted me to answer whether the bug affected me, "too".)

One thing I forgot to mention:

I don't know if it is at all related to the problem, but since 1 or 2 versions ago, the window tabs displayed in my panel seem to be in no particular order (except the first, which is always AOL mail, from which window/tab I (almost) always shut FF down). Prior to whatever version made the change, my window tabs were always in the same order in the panel: If I wanted to do email, I went to the first tab; if I wanted to check the weather or gas prices, that was the 2nd tab, if I wanted google maps, that was the 3rd tab. Now, I must search for the relevant tab (from currently 11 - yes I know: I ought to clean things up a little...).

If this behavior is revert-able to the way it was, I would appreciate knowing how to do it.

[Scott Cowles Jacobs (scott092707)]

In doing some research about this, I came across
https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/1050588
which lead me to
resource:///modules/sessionstore/SessionFile.jsm

I currently have a previous.js (dated 08/16), recovery.bak and recovery.js
(along with some upgrade.js- files that are dated most recently 07/29)
The recovery.xxx files before FF is launched are dated yesterday (08/19) at what I guess
was around the time I launched it yesterday.
After launch (today, 8/20, about 15:34), the recovery.xxx files changed to today's date, about 15:35, but subsequently changed again to 15:59, but have not changed again (now is 17:22).

the resource: file says that:
 previous.js is "Updated whenever we successfully load from `clean`"
and that for each of: recovery.js and recovery.bak
"... this file is therefore removed during clean shutdown"

I must therefore conclude that FF is essentially crashing each time it shuts down, since apparently 08/16.

I do not quite understand:
" Paths: Object.freeze({
    // The path to the latest version of sessionstore written during a clean
    // shutdown. After startup, it is renamed `cleanBackup`.
    clean: Path.join(profileDir, "sessionstore.js"),
"
as I do not have anything labelled cleanBackup or sessionstore.js anywhere I have looked...

Once or twice I got the "This is embarrassing" (at which I thought: "That's funny - FF didn't crash!?!"), but mostly the only difference I have noted in FF is that when shutting down (File-->Quit) all the tabs disappear at once, instead of rippling closed from right to left in maybe 1/2 second(?).

FF is now at 48.0 (48.0+build2-0ubuntu0.16.04.1), but all else is as originally reported.

[Scott Cowles Jacobs (scott092707)]

Well, things are now even worse...

Today, I got the "Well, this is embarrasing..." window/tab restore window.
I have had it many times over the years (not too much lately, which is odd, as
I believe FF crashes on exit every time now...). I just click on restore, and all
windows/tabs come up just fine.

This time was apparently no different.

However, after I did I checked my email, i suddenly noticed that I had only four FF windows, instead of the usual ten or eleven.

I pulled up the profile directory and session store backups directories, as I have been doing every session lately, and noted that the recovery.js/.bak files (created for this session upon startup, as usual) were only 4.8MB in size. My previous.js was as expected, about 23MB.

I tried to get my tabs back (admittedly 2 weeks old, as previous.js was dated August 16).
I shut down FF, deleted recovery.js, copied previous.js to recovery.js and restarted FF.

BIG mistake - I should have copied previous.js TWICE, once to something FF would not have recognized...

When FF restarted, it was again only 4 windows, again only about 4.8MB. And NOW, the previous.js file was dated today, and was only about 4.8MB.

Where the hell is FF getting its windows/tabs info??!!??

It sure wasn't getting it from the recovery.js file after I copied previous.js to it, as it had been 23MB.
It wasn't sessionstore.js, as I have yet to see anything labelled that(or cleanBackup) in either my profile directory or its sessionstore-backups directory since before I started this bug.
And yes, I did check - both when FF was running, and when it was not running.

[I suppose it's too late, but if anyone has any idea how to get back all my windows/tabs, I would be very grateful to hear it... Perhaps some temporary file, or trash directory - I did check tmp and my Trash - nothing obvious there...]

By the way - is there any way of having FF take a running session and making a session store file somewhere on demand (hopefully with the ability to name it myself) so that I can copy it for disasters like this?

[Scott Cowles Jacobs (scott092707)]

For the first time in weeks, I think that FF shut down properly last night.

Today, there was a sessionstore.js file (5.5MB) in my profile folder before launching FF.
I copied it, just to be on the safe side.
Prior to launch, previous.js in the sessionstore-backups directory was yesterday's early size (4.8MB). After launch, sessionstore.js was gone, previous.js was yesterdays final size (5.5MB).

I still have no clue what had been going on since August 16 (remember that until yesterday, previous.js had not changed.), and I would still like my windows/tabs back...

[Paul White (paulw2u)]

Hi Scott, you reported this bug some time ago and there have been many changes in Ubuntu and Firefox since that time.

Presumably this problem is no longer an issue? Can the bug report now be closed? If we do not hear from you the bug report will close itself in approximately 60 days time.

Thank you again for helping make Ubuntu better.

Paul White
[Ubuntu Bug Squad]

[Scott Cowles Jacobs (scott092707)]

I have been using Firefox less often lately, but I don't think that this is happening anymore.
I guess you can close this, and I'll file a new one, if it recurs...
Thank you.

[Paul White (paulw2u)]

Thanks for your reply Scott.

I'm closing the bug with "Invalid" as it was never confirmed.