Waterfox update Profile deleted

Bernardus · 26 Apr 2016

Almost any time now Waterfox installs an "update" it has the annoying habit to create a new barebone profile-folder or user-profile, leaving you with nothing. No cookies, no passwords, no favorite websites, no extensions, no bookmarks, no customised background or theme etc.
It also corrupts or resets your whole settings and changes your homepage into waterfox.

As soon as the update has been carried out, to your surprise it starts up with the menu "will you import settings from other browsers". No, because I have made different choices. That leaves you with frustrations.
I loved to work with Waterfox, but lately I changed to Opera because of these annoying problems.

Trough Firefox information sources it was possible to find the "hidden" Profile-folder, it is wise to copy this whole folder to a safe location outside your OS.
When that naked version of Waterfox appears, you can't even find a profile manager to choose another or previous profile?
So every time I had to delete the new profile-folder, or change the name, or to exchange the whole content of it with the backed-up one.

Is there an option to stop this kind of hijacking? I have disabled the "automatic update".
I know there is something like Febe, but it wasn't very helpful, since all extensions are deleted after an update which seems to be an "upgrade" or fresh install.
Also Febe didn't copy everything and so it couldn't restore all settings.

Callender · 26 Apr 2016

Suggest: Switch to Cyberfox or PaleMoon.

If you want to backup Waterfox use:

Hekasoft Backup & Restore Download (Softpedia download)

Warning: Do not attempt to download from the manufactures site as the "Lite" version has been removed and the only version available there is bundled with adware.

The Softpedia download is the clean "Lite" version.

I use it to backup Cyberfox (FF variant) and a few other browsers.

Screenshots:

Full ist of apps that it can backup:

Alternatively copy your Profiles folder and Profiles.ini file before applying updates - to a folder on your desktop.

See the post here by member FerchogtX

Look what I just found with Firefox.

After update open your old profile alongside your new one and copy what you need. You may need to open some files with your text editor to copy details across.

Bernardus · 27 Apr 2016

Thank you for your reply, I'll have to sort that out.
In my case I decided to backup my whole profile-folder somewhere. (some 130 MB)
Could also use Acronis backup to do so. Since that can restore specific files.

You get no warning when an upgrade has taken place, or before it is carried out.
So it's secretly or hidden done after a cold start or while Waterfox is idle or not in use.
Strange, since normally Waterfox always warned about it and restored the settings or addons for as much compatible with the update. However the update is an upgrade or clean fresh version or something has changed in their policy.
I wonder why they always create a new profile? (The old ones are still sitting next to it in hidden folders).
Perhaps to install a new version and leave the old data for the ones clever enough to find it.
Creating a lot of rubbish on your drive. I had even four files which means about 500 MB redundant data.

With regards

Callender · 27 Apr 2016

Personally I use Cyberfox 64bit (installed) and Firefox 32bit (Portable)

I've used Waterfox in the past but don't like waiting for (in some cases) weeks before security critical updates are released by the Waterfox developer.

I've seen problems with profiles usually when a major upgrade is released rather then upgrades that deal with minor changes.

I always backup profiles before running a manual update check.

Bernardus · 28 Apr 2016

I've seen problems with profiles usually when a major upgrade is released rather then upgrades that deal with minor changes.

I'm going to try that Cyberfox 64bit too and yes.
I agree to backup profiles before any update takes place or after important personal changes.
Pity they changed their policy, so ignorant.

Hekasoft runs smooth, although I have to stop Chrome.exe *32 (?? 64 bits OS) in taskmanager, because Chrome.exe *32 seems to start up with Windows and runs in the background and Hekasoft can't catchup with it while running?

Callender · 28 Apr 2016

RE: Chrome. Personally I don't use it as I prefer SRWare Iron but I don't even use it much.

Maybe try looking at running processes after you switch your computer on. If you don't see any Chrome processes listed - backup Chrome at that time.

RE: Cyberfox. There's a portable version available if you just want to test it. It uses it's own profile so doesn't mess with Firefox/ Waterfox.

As for updates - I've found it better to just download the new version of Cyberfox and install straight over the top of the old version. When you do it like that you get the choice of either installing over the top or performing a "fresh install"

A fresh install wipes the old profile!

FerchogtX · 28 Apr 2016

Just for the record, if you want to keep your cookies and browsing history for another profile, don't clear your browsing history and cookies before copying/doing a backup of places.sqlite. To keep your cookies, just copy cookies.sqlite, but don't clear them before copying (if you clear them, the file renders useless until you start browsing and loging in to sites again). Places.sqlite not only holds your bookmarks and organization for them, but also, your browsing history, as long as you don't clear it.

If your profile is corrupted somehow, it's your best bet to oly copy the files I suggest, as they normally don't get corrupted, and in the case they do, you can manually recover information from them (mainly prefs/user.js, as the others are more likely never prone to corruption)

Also, as Callender says, I recomend Cyberfox, it's fast, steady and it's really FF compatible (Waterfox is trying some nasty stuff with profiles lately, while ol' reliable profile manager is still accesible in Cyberfox, just like FF does)... or in case you wanna try, FF has now a 64 bit flavour, and Electrolisys works even better with it (unless you got incompatibe extensions, Electrolisys is now enabled in FF46 and beyond)

The last point... try to periodically do backups of your profiles, sometimes browsers do strange things (althoug FF has become more stable through releases) that can only be fixed with a fresh profile, just with settings and important things restored. Or, just for manateinance (I just wipe my profile and do a new one with settings, bookmarks and passwords restored every 2 major releases)

Bernardus · 29 Apr 2016

Thanks for the suggestions.
It's possible with CC (Cookie Clean) to choose which cookies you like to keep.
So it wipes only those you want to get rid of, including history and TMP or junk etc.
Good to hear there is a 64 bits version available of FF.

I have been using SRW Iron for a while, but support was very poor or almost non existent.
Also they didn't support some applications.
Never got my account or postings approved and I dropped it for that reason.
Didn't see any advantage in it, except perhaps some privacy-rules.

I don't like Google or IE browsers, because of their wel known agressive spying and adds policy.
But some searchmachines like Duck Duck or Startpage are more private (I Hope?)

Bernardus · 29 Apr 2016

I'm using magic actions on you tube, the very best add-on with a switch for cinema mode and dark background HTML etc.
However can't find it in the Cyberfox list?
I wonder if most Firefox add-ons could also be used on Cyberfox? But how?

Bernardus · 29 Apr 2016

Got it, Cyberfox is extremely fast.
It wasn't listed in the Cyberfox addons, but looking in FF add-ons and install it, in cyberfox it was prevented but you may ingnore that. It's working perfect.,