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How do I UPgrade to 25+ and keep my bookmarks and settings

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I am presently using: Mozilla/5.0 (Windows; U; Win95; en-US; rv:1.8.1.20) Gecko/20081217 Firefox/2.0.0.20 (.NET CLR 3.5.30729. I have tried to upgrade several times in the past, but each time the process took away my bookmarks and settings. I want to keep my bookmarks and settings. How do I upgrade without losing them? I have a Dell Inspirion Desktop and an older Sony Laptop. My O.S.is Windows XP Pro. It has SP2, although the Firefox sensor says it does not.

I am presently using: Mozilla/5.0 (Windows; U; Win95; en-US; rv:1.8.1.20) Gecko/20081217 Firefox/2.0.0.20 (.NET CLR 3.5.30729. I have tried to upgrade several times in the past, but each time the process took away my bookmarks and settings. I want to keep my bookmarks and settings. How do I upgrade without losing them? I have a Dell Inspirion Desktop and an older Sony Laptop. My O.S.is Windows XP Pro. It has SP2, although the Firefox sensor says it does not.

All Replies (5)

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You can download and save the Firefox installer to the desktop and start the installation with a double-click on the desktop icon.

You can find the full version of the latest Firefox 25.0 release in all languages and for all Operating Systems here:

With such a large version jump it would be best to start with a new profile and copy or import only data that you really need to keep: e.g. the bookmarks by importing the bookmarks.html file and the names and passwords by copying signons2.txt and key3.db So do not start Firefox after the installation finishes, but use the Profile Manager to create a new default profile.

See:

See also:

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If you are a very patient person, you might be able to have Firefox migrate your data automatically by installing several intermediate versions, such as Firefox 3.0, then Firefox 3.5, then Firefox 3.6, then Firefox 25. However, I think cor-el's approach probably is faster and has a lower risk of data corruption.

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It is best not to keep files like prefs.js and localstore.rdf and other files that are no longer used and that will happen if you keep using this old profile.

You should also remove the signons2.txt file (keep the key3.db file as this stores the encryption key) and possibly the bookmarks.html file once they have done their job and imported passwords and bookmarks if the check this in the Password Manager and the Bookmarks/History Manager (Library)

  • Tools > Options > Security: Passwords: "Saved Passwords" > "Show Passwords"
  • Bookmarks >Show All Bookmarks

See also:

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Thank you "Cher" monsieur but this is not the problem. Both Yahoo mail & another called GMX are no longer keeping my login name & pw as they used to. I worked with both and they say that the browser is not keeping them, and that is really what it looks like too. I have tried every combination & permutation of cookies retention in Ffox security. Nothing seems to work. ANYONE, Please help... Thank you. AH

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Hi ArletteGH, could you start a new question and include your system and add-on information?

When you are on the site where you want Firefox to save the cookie so you are logged in after you exit and restart Firefox, could you check that the cookies are set with a future expiration date. You can do this using either:

  • right-click and choose View Page Info > Security > "View Cookies"
  • Tools menu > Page Info > Security > "View Cookies"
  • click the padlock at the left of the URL on the address bar > More Information > "View Cookies"

There may be a variety of cookies, and as you mouse down through the list, the expiration date will appear in the lower area. "End of session" or dates in the past won't be saved/restored.

If the dialog is blank, you may be in a private browsing window.

Forgot the link: https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/new/desktop/fix-problems

Modified by jscher2000 - Support Volunteer