old firefox bookmarks on old drive
I had to recover Windows 10, so instead of losing all my data on the old drive I left it alone and loaded Windows 10 on a new SSD. So the old drive is still intact (on a different drive letter in the same PC), other than the operating system not working. I can access everything else. Firefox is running on the new SSD now. so, how can I get the old Firefox bookmarks off the old drive.
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You can find the Firefox profile folder in this hidden location.
- C:\Users\<user>\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\<profile>\
"AppData" (XP: Application Data; Mac: ~/Library; Linux: ~/.mozilla) is a hidden folder.
You can copy files like these to the current Firefox profile folder to recover specific data.
- bookmarks and history: places.sqlite
- bookmark backups: JSON backups in the bookmarkbackups folder
- SQLite files like cookies.sqlite (cookies) and formhistory.sqlite (saved form data)
- logins.json and key3.db (decryption key) for Passwords saved in the Password Manager
- cert8.db and possibly cert_override.txt for (intermediate) certificates stored in the Certificate Manager
- persdict.dat for words you added to the spelling checker dictionary
- permissions.sqlite for Permissions and possibly content-prefs.sqlite for other Site Preferences
- sessionstore.js for open tabs and pinned tabs and tab groups
You can use this button to go to the current Firefox profile folder:
- Help -> Troubleshooting Information -> Profile Directory:
Windows: Show Folder; Linux: Open Directory; Mac: Show in Finder - http://kb.mozillazine.org/Profile_folder_-_Firefox
See also:
Using your file browser, open the old profiles folder on the old drive. Find and open the profile you want to use. Check for the latest date.
When you are ready, we can start moving parts of your old data and Copy it to the new profile.
Now open another file browser to the New 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 v45+
search.sqlite file and searchplugins folder store the search engines that are available in the Firefox Search bar. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 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.
Thanks both of you for your help. I tried to copy 'places.sqlite' from the old drive to the new drive, but no change. I did discover a 'bookmarkbackups' folder in the same folder as that the 'places.sqlite' file. In that backups folder was a backup file ('bookmarks-2016-04-24_273_A1NTyafVonUxjHnRm7IcPw==') that was around the same date as right before I reloaded the operating system and changed harddrives. I copied that backup file to the desktop. Then from the Firefox backup window I implemented a backup restore using that file. I guess it was just luck that the backup file was there, because I was not actively doing backups. I assume Firefox was doing a periodic backup by default.
I assume Firefox was doing a periodic backup by default.
I does. But only bookmarks. nothing else.
These add-ons can be a great help by backing up and restoring Firefox
FEBE (Firefox Environment Backup Extension) {web link} FEBE allows you to quickly and easily backup your Firefox extensions, history, passwords, and more. In fact, it goes beyond just backing up -- It will actually rebuild your saved files individually into installable .xpi files. It will also make backups of files that you choose.
OPIE {web link} Import/Export extension preferences