Firefox is not retaining cookies after the session is closed.

[SlyMaelstrom]

Windows Vista 64-bit. I just rebooted today for the first time in a few days and Vista installed a few Automatic Updates. Since the reboot, Firefox will not retain cookies after I close it even though the options state that it will retain cookies until they expire. Internet Explorer retains cookies after the session is closed, so the problem is restricted to Firefox. I checked Internet Options, etc... can't find anything that's doing it. I also uninstalled whatever updated I got from Windows in the past few days that they allowed me to uninstall. No fix, however there are a few updates that Vista doesn't even appear to allow me to install.

Anyone else with Vista experiencing this?

EDIT: Interestingly, Google Chrome also seems to store cookies no problem. It seems to be completely limited to Firefox.

[Mario F.]

Hmm... try deleting cookies.sqlite in your profile folder:
<HD>:\Documents and Settings\<name>\Application Data\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\<your profile folder>

[SlyMaelstrom]

Hmm... try deleting cookies.sqlite in your profile folder:
<HD>:\Documents and Settings\<name>\Application Data\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\<your profile folder>

Heh, I took it one step further and just uninstalled and reinstalled Firefox and it fixed the problem.

I attempted to duplicate the problem by installing the updates on a desktop running Vista x64, but after it installed the updates, the problem didn't occur. This makes me feel something else caused it. What it was, I have no idea... but it's strange that it happened exactly on a reboot where Vista installed "Important Security Updates." I'm really not certain what the problem was, now.

Anyway, all is good... I just have to import my bookmarks and reinstall a few essential add-ons and I should be good to go. Google Chrome is nice and all, but I'm happy to go back to my Firefox.

It appears your solution of deleting cookies.sqlite would be the correct one after doing a little more researching.

[Mario F.]

Yeah. Even more strange because Firefox cookies aren't really much. There's no strange voodoo. Just a couple of sqlite databases (cookies.sqlite and permissions.sqlite). For anything wrong to happen these files would have to be tampered with...

[SlyMaelstrom]

For anything wrong to happen these files would have to be tampered with...

*Cut to image of Bill Gates sitting behind a really large desk in the dark with a large fireplace blazing behind him*

Gates: "Muahahahahaha!!"

[Thantos]

Nah, FF has enough thing wrong with it that bill doesn't need to do anything...