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How do I recover Firefox bookmarks after installing new Windows O/S

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  • Last reply by FredMcD

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I updated from Windows 7 Pro to Windows 7 Ultimate. In the process Windows Ultimate (WU) copied all of my old programs to a subfolder called Windowsold. I tried to open Firefox from my old program location. It wouldn't work. I then installed another copy onto my hard drive (not under the old /Windowsold. All of my bookmarks are not there in the new installed Firefox. I've tried going through the directions to retrieve my bookmarks in the old file location of Firefox but there is no subfolder there with backup bookmarks. Any idea where they may be?

Thanks

I updated from Windows 7 Pro to Windows 7 Ultimate. In the process Windows Ultimate (WU) copied all of my old programs to a subfolder called Windowsold. I tried to open Firefox from my old program location. It wouldn't work. I then installed another copy onto my hard drive (not under the old /Windowsold. All of my bookmarks are not there in the new installed Firefox. I've tried going through the directions to retrieve my bookmarks in the old file location of Firefox but there is no subfolder there with backup bookmarks. Any idea where they may be? Thanks

Chosen solution

Open your file browser to the Windowsold folder and look for the original user profile.

  • \Users\<user>\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\

Open a second file browser to the current user profile. Type about:support in the address bar and press enter.

Under the page logo on the left side, you will see Application Basics. Under this find Profile Folder. To its right press the button Show Folder. This will open your file browser to the current Firefox profile. Now Close Firefox.

Warning ! ! Only Copy the files you are told. We will avoid anything that might be the cause of your problems. Here is the list of files;

cookies: cookies.sqlite Do not bother. Cookies will be created when you return to the website. However, you will have to log in everywhere. And you may lose any settings that websites store on your computer.

extensions(add-ons, themes): it would be better to download them fresh. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ key3.db and logins.json : These are the Password files. Copy Both !

persdict.dat : custom dictionary – words you added to the dictionary

mimeTypes.rdf : What to do with what type of file.

places.sqlite : History and Bookmarks.

prefs.js : Your settings. Note, If you were having problems, this could be contaminated.

cert8.db and possibly cert_override.txt : Stores all your security certificate settings and any SSL certificates you have imported into Firefox. If removed, the file will be replaced.

search.json.mozlz4 file stores the user-installed search engines that are available in the Firefox v47+

search.sqlite file and searchplugins folder store the search engines that are available in the Firefox Search bar before Firefox v47

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Copy these files from the old to the new. You will get a message that the files already exist. Choose to over-write for each file.

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Chosen Solution

Open your file browser to the Windowsold folder and look for the original user profile.

  • \Users\<user>\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\

Open a second file browser to the current user profile. Type about:support in the address bar and press enter.

Under the page logo on the left side, you will see Application Basics. Under this find Profile Folder. To its right press the button Show Folder. This will open your file browser to the current Firefox profile. Now Close Firefox.

Warning ! ! Only Copy the files you are told. We will avoid anything that might be the cause of your problems. Here is the list of files;

cookies: cookies.sqlite Do not bother. Cookies will be created when you return to the website. However, you will have to log in everywhere. And you may lose any settings that websites store on your computer.

extensions(add-ons, themes): it would be better to download them fresh. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ key3.db and logins.json : These are the Password files. Copy Both !

persdict.dat : custom dictionary – words you added to the dictionary

mimeTypes.rdf : What to do with what type of file.

places.sqlite : History and Bookmarks.

prefs.js : Your settings. Note, If you were having problems, this could be contaminated.

cert8.db and possibly cert_override.txt : Stores all your security certificate settings and any SSL certificates you have imported into Firefox. If removed, the file will be replaced.

search.json.mozlz4 file stores the user-installed search engines that are available in the Firefox v47+

search.sqlite file and searchplugins folder store the search engines that are available in the Firefox Search bar before Firefox v47

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Copy these files from the old to the new. You will get a message that the files already exist. Choose to over-write for each file.

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Hello,

Thank you for the help. I couldn't figure it out until I realized that particular folder was "hidden". Once I made it visible then your solution worked.

Thanks!

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Glad to help. Safe Surfing.