Did you copy the full profile folder?

Copying selected database files should work if both versions are the same. Copying a full profile folder may not work and is also not recommended as this can cause issues.

You can copy files like these with Firefox closed to the current profile folder to recover specific data.

• bookmarks and history: places.sqlite
• bookmark backups: compressed .jsonlz4 JSON backups in the bookmarkbackups folder
• cookies.sqlite for the Cookies
• formhistory.sqlite for saved autocomplete Form Data
• logins.json (passwords) and key4.db (58+) or key3.db (57 and older) (decryption key) for Passwords saved in the Password Manager
  if you only have key3.db then make sure to remove an existing key4.db
• cert9.db (58+) or cert8.db (57 and older) for (intermediate) certificates stored in the Certificate Manager
  if you only have cert8.db then make sure to remove an existing cert9.db
• persdict.dat for words you added to the spelling checker dictionary
• permissions.sqlite for Permissions and possibly content-prefs.sqlite for other website specific data (Site Preferences)
• sessionstore.jsonlz4 for open tabs and pinned tabs (see also the sessionstore-backups folder)

You can use the button on the "Help -> Troubleshooting Information" (about:support) page to go to the current Firefox profile folder or use the about:profiles page.

• Help -> Troubleshooting Information -> Profile Directory:
  Windows: Show Folder; Linux: Open Directory; Mac: Show in Finder
• https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/profile-manager-create-and-remove-firefox-profiles

Firefox 67 and later can use a dedicated profile for each of the Firefox update channels and will lock the profile, so it can only be used by Firefox in a specific installation folder. For Release versions this profile would be a xxxxxxxx.default-release profile, profiles used in older Firefox versions usually used a xxxxxxxx.default profile (a refresh adds a time stamp).

See also "Determine if Firefox has created a new profile":

• https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/recover-lost-or-missing-bookmarks
• https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/dedicated-profiles-firefox-installation
• https://blog.nightly.mozilla.org/2019/01/14/moving-to-a-profile-per-install-architecture/

If you have issues with accessing a profile then try to rename/remove compatibility.ini in this profile folder with Firefox closed.

Thanks much. This gives me a few ideas to try.

As far as I can tell at this point the basic problem is that I can't get Firefox to access my old Profile. It ignores it and creates new profile information.

For example my present profile folder contains;

xxxx.default-1440459622223 xxxx.default-release xxxx.default-release xxxx.default-release

The first folder is the folder that contains the information that I'd like Firefox to use. Before I tried my last failed attempt I cleared out everything I could find that was Firefox related, then put in the old Profile (the .default folder), downloaded Firefox and ran it.

It ignored the old Profile and created the three new profiles.

According to your mail, my old Profile was created by and older Firefox which I can believe.

I will try two of your suggestions.

First, I'll copy the places.sqlite from my old Profile into the new Profiles.

Second, I'll try deleting/renaming the compatibility.ini file.

I have done the first one before but the compatibility.ini I have never seen before.

Wish me luck. This is actually driving me crazy at this point. I have spent about four fruitless hours searching and trying many things.

Cheers.

So here is a solution. Rather trying to get (braindead) Firefox to load an old profile I found this website.

https://www.jeffersonscher.com/ffu/bookbackreader.html

It take the old .jsonlz4 backup file and converts it to an HTML file. You can then import this into Firefox from the Bookmarks library and all your old Bookmarks are loaded.

I will definitely consider migrating from Firefox to another browser after this painful event. Maybe Safari or Chrome are able to deal with this more gracefully.

Cheers.

Have you been able to find and access the profile folder via the button on the troubleshooting information page or via about:profiles?

• ~/Library/Application Support/Firefox/Profiles/<profile>/

In Mac OS X v10.7 and later, the ~/Library folder in the Home directory is a hidden folder.

• http://kb.mozillazine.org/Show_hidden_files_and_folders#Mac_OS_X

It shouldn't be a problem to copy some database files from one profile folder to another profile folder as long as you are in the correct locations.

cor-el,

Thanks for the reply.

The problem was solved as I outlined above.

Thanks.