172245 - System shut down while prefs.js file is being written, causes prefs.js file to be corrupt

Status: VERIFIED DUPLICATE of bug 132517

(Core Graveyard :: QuickLaunch (AKA turbo mode), defect)

Description

[esther]

Using branch build 20020925 on winxp trying to reproduce a reported case of
Profile not seeing mail accounts, address books and bookmarks when relaunching
after a system crash I found this can happen if the timing is right.  

Comment from Susie Wyshak: This just happened to me on 9/23 commercial branch
build on Win2K

I had closed down without shutting down.
I tried launching the build upon starting up. Nothing happened so I clicked the
icon again. Nothing.

So I went to see if there were processes running and there were 2 running. So I
ended one.

Then the browser started up with no profile :-((((((


I'm not sure of all the times we write to the prefs.js file, but 12 tries, my
prefs.js file lost pointers to mail, address books 5 times, resulting in a
Profile that was basically default.  My test is to basically do a system shut
down by turning off the power (similiar to a system crash that doesn't shut down
nicely which is what happened to Susie) when:
1. NS7 is up QL is enabled but I am not doing anything at the time   =no problem
2. NS7 is up, QL not enabled and I just changed a Preference then OK'd the
dialog = no problem
3. NS7 is up, QL enabled and I just changed a Preference then OK'd the dialog =
prefs.js file is corrupt giving configuration error in line 443 or at 1 byte.

Comment 1

[esther]

I haven't tested our original tests for bug fix 155080 with the 9-25 branch
build to see it that scenario causes the problem, I can check that tomorrow. 
Again, this newly reported bug included a system crash and shutdown while NS7
was up and running.  Also, in all the testing today I never saw 2 instances of
Netscape running in the task manager when rebooting and launching NS7.

Comment 2

[Harald Koschinski]

Same Problem for me with mozilla 1.1 on Linux without quicklaunch.
The prefs.js is completely destroyed during a abnormal system shutdown.
I had it now the 3. time on to different Pc`s.

Comment 3

[Nick Schweitzer]

I've also had this happen to me (several times), running 1.1 on WinXP. A few of
the times, the system never crashed, I just shut down as normal and when I turn
on the computer the next day, *POOF* all accounts and settings are gone (the
prefs.js AND the prefs.bak have been reset). Until fixed, there is a quick trick
to protect yourself. When you have Mozilla all set up and working normally, make
a copy of the prefs.js file as a backup somewhere else on your computer. If your
settings reset again, simply replace the default prefs.js that comes up with the
one you've saved as a backup. Your settings and accounts should reappear.

Comment 4

[Andrew Hagen]

Dupe.

*** This bug has been marked as a duplicate of 132517 ***

Comment 5

[Grace Bush]

verified