Regarding History: I read in another thread that you need to make at least one change to the default settings below that drop-down, otherwise, the drop-down will be set back to the default to reflect your actual settings.

Is the problem with cookies (staying logged in) or saved passwords (logging in initially)? If the problem is with logging in, you can edit/clear saved logons on the Security tab. If Firefox seems incapable of storing new passwords, I wonder whether a file might be corrupted?

Do you mean names and passwords in the Password Manager or do you mean that you are no longer logged on to (remembered by) websites after closing and restarting Firefox?

There is a difference between remembering the name and password in the Password Manager and a "remember me" check box on a web page to log you in automatically.
The latter usually involves the creation of a special "remember me" cookie that is stored on your computer and that is send to the server.
If that "remember me" cookie is removed or gets corrupted or is not send to the server then the server won't remember you anymore and you need to sign in once again.
Create an allow cookie exception (Tools > Options > Privacy > Cookies: Exceptions) to keep such a cookie, especially for secure websites and if cookies expire when Firefox is closed.

• http://kb.mozillazine.org/Cookies
• http://kb.mozillazine.org/Password_Manager

You were right that if you change one of custom settings then it will be defaulted to custom settings. That in itself solve the remembering of usernames and passwords. You may be right that existing login's may be corrupted. Hate to blow away existing login's that work only to discover that doesn't solve problem either. Then Firefox becomes useless to me.

All existing remembered usernames and passwords work. It's the new gmail ones that are not remembered. So, the stuff in Password Mgr works. I can't get system to remember new gmail accounts I've added recently.

I had the same problem this is how i solved it tools > options > Saved passwords > locate the corresponding site , you will see that the user name is missing highlight it and delete it. Return to the site log in enter your password and you will then be asked to save it..voila done

Thanks a million your solution worked. It made sense since I could save new site passwords. The old gmail address just wouldn't take.

Thanks again.

My pleasure, it had been driving me crazy too and like you I noticed new ones were being saved.