This site will have limited functionality while we undergo maintenance to improve your experience. If an article doesn't solve your issue and you want to ask a question, we have our support community waiting to help you at @FirefoxSupport on Twitter and/r/firefox on Reddit.

Search Support

Avoid support scams. We will never ask you to call or text a phone number or share personal information. Please report suspicious activity using the “Report Abuse” option.

Learn More

Bookmark html files appear to have disappeared

more options

I recently had an issue with my last computer where it stopped powering on. I determined the best course of action was to purchase a new computer.

My old computer was running Firefox 15.0.1 on Windows XP. My new computer has a fresh download of Firefox at the newest version of 16.0.2 on Windows 7.

I saved the hard drive from my last computer as I managed to do a backup of all my files except I forgot to do my bookmarks from both internet explorer and Firefox.

Today my new computer came, and I attached the old hard drive to my new computer assuming that my bookmarks would still be available on that hard drive and I could just move them over to my computer.

However, after a little digging in the Firefox program files I came across a document called removed-files. I opened it as a Microsoft Word document and searched for the word "bookmark*" in the file.

I came across some disturbing evidence that looks to me as though my bookmarks have been arbitrarily deleted from my old hard drive's Firefox program files, as I came across 3 files with the word bookmark in this document:

components/bookmarks.xpt defaults/profile/bookmarks.html modules/services-sync/engines/bookmarks.js

So my question is, do I have any hope of recovery of my old bookmarks? Or are they lost forever? I had probably close to 100 there, so it would obviously be very time consuming to add them all back manually.

Any help anyone could provide would be most help helpful.

I recently had an issue with my last computer where it stopped powering on. I determined the best course of action was to purchase a new computer. My old computer was running Firefox 15.0.1 on Windows XP. My new computer has a fresh download of Firefox at the newest version of 16.0.2 on Windows 7. I saved the hard drive from my last computer as I managed to do a backup of all my files except I forgot to do my bookmarks from both internet explorer and Firefox. Today my new computer came, and I attached the old hard drive to my new computer assuming that my bookmarks would still be available on that hard drive and I could just move them over to my computer. However, after a little digging in the Firefox program files I came across a document called removed-files. I opened it as a Microsoft Word document and searched for the word "bookmark*" in the file. I came across some disturbing evidence that looks to me as though my bookmarks have been arbitrarily deleted from my old hard drive's Firefox program files, as I came across 3 files with the word bookmark in this document: components/bookmarks.xpt defaults/profile/bookmarks.html modules/services-sync/engines/bookmarks.js So my question is, do I have any hope of recovery of my old bookmarks? Or are they lost forever? I had probably close to 100 there, so it would obviously be very time consuming to add them all back manually. Any help anyone could provide would be most help helpful.

Chosen solution

Firefox stores your personal data in the Firefox Profile Folder.

The "Application Data" folder in XP/Win2K and the "AppData" folder in Vista/Windows 7 are hidden folders.

See also:

Read this answer in context 👍 1

All Replies (3)

more options

1. "removed-files" isn't related to Firefox
2. Bookmarks aren't stored in Firefox program files. Whatever files you find there are the "program files" and the default files which Firefox uses to create a new Profile. The bookmarks.html file you found there contains the bookmarks which come with Firefox.
3. bookmarks.html files haven't been actively used in Firefox since the Firefox 2.0 versions. A file named places.sqlite is where Firefox stores the users bookmarks.
4. https://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/Backing+up+and+restoring+bookmarks

more options

Chosen Solution

Firefox stores your personal data in the Firefox Profile Folder.

The "Application Data" folder in XP/Win2K and the "AppData" folder in Vista/Windows 7 are hidden folders.

See also:

more options

Thanks, cor-el. I had no idea the Application files were hidden folders. Once I had hidden folders shown, I had the problem fixed in 5 minutes....restored from the most recent date and VOILA!!! Favorites now restored.

Thanks again.