Yes but OP is saying that built-in ability doesn't work for him for whatever reason. In my case I like to be able startup the browser without opening all the p

Yes but OP is saying that built-in ability doesn't work for him for whatever reason. In my case I like to be able startup the browser without opening all the prior tabs, but then be able to selectively reopen the prior tabs by window or by individual tab. That's what session managers do.