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Trouble restoring a backup

jip40
jip40
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I had to reload Windows XP Pro and wipe out all data on my hard drive. Before doing the new install I backed up my benchmarks using the Firefox backup tool - it created a file "bookmarks" which is a Firefox HTML file which I saved on a flash drive. After the new install I went to do the restore and it seemed to be looking for a ".JSON" type file because it wouldn't accept the HTML file - the "backup" file did not have a file extension with it so I edited the name adding .JSON and it still wouldn't accept it.

Is there any way that I can restore my benchmarks - I have well over 100 that I would not be able to go back and recreate.

Thanks,

Jeff Pollack

I had to reload Windows XP Pro and wipe out all data on my hard drive. Before doing the new install I backed up my benchmarks using the Firefox backup tool - it created a file "bookmarks" which is a Firefox HTML file which I saved on a flash drive. After the new install I went to do the restore and it seemed to be looking for a ".JSON" type file because it wouldn't accept the HTML file - the "backup" file did not have a file extension with it so I edited the name adding .JSON and it still wouldn't accept it. Is there any way that I can restore my benchmarks - I have well over 100 that I would not be able to go back and recreate. Thanks, Jeff Pollack

Chosen solution

Note also Windows does not always show full filenames for all file types, and it is possible to have more than one dot in a filename, and inadvertently add multiple extension suffixes. Using Firefox to view a filename and content is a good tip. Some background information:

You will not do lasting damage to a file by renaming it.

Once the file has the correct name if it is a

  • .json backup restore the bookmarks backup from your Bookmarks library.
  • .html files import the file from the bookmarks library option.
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All Replies (4)

Wesley Branton
Wesley Branton
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If you exported your old bookmarks into HTML format, you should be able to do the following:

  1. Open the Firefox Bookmarks Library
  2. Select Import Bookmarks from HTML...

I fear that changing the HTML file to a JSON may have damaged the file. Please change the file back to an HTML file.

If the above method does not work, please report back.

cor-el
cor-el
  • Moderator
  • Top 10 Contributor
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Are you sure that you created an HTML backup?

Make sure that the backup file with the bookmarks has the correct file extension:

  • .html for a HTML backup
  • .json for a JSON backup

You can check the type via the right-click context menu of that file and open the Properties.

If you are not sure about the file type then you can open the file in Firefox via "File > Open File"

A JSON backup will show as one long text line without line breaks and a HTML backup as a web page with clickable links.

A JSON backup starts with: {"title":"","id":1,"dateAdded": An HTML backup starts with: <!DOCTYPE NETSCAPE-Bookmark-file-1>

John99
John99
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Chosen Solution

Note also Windows does not always show full filenames for all file types, and it is possible to have more than one dot in a filename, and inadvertently add multiple extension suffixes. Using Firefox to view a filename and content is a good tip. Some background information:

You will not do lasting damage to a file by renaming it.

Once the file has the correct name if it is a

  • .json backup restore the bookmarks backup from your Bookmarks library.
  • .html files import the file from the bookmarks library option.
Kadir Topal
Kadir Topal
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Hi jip40, did any of the suggestions in this thread solve your problem?