You can try this method: http://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/Importing+favorites+and+other+data+from+Internet+Explorer

If that does not work, you need to export Favorites from IE to an html file: http://kb.iu.edu/data/ahau.html#exportie and then import that html file into Firefox: http://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/Importing+Bookmarks+from+an+HTML+File

Also see: http://kb.mozillazine.org/Import_bookmarks#To_export_your_IE_Favorites_to_a_file http://kb.mozillazine.org/Import_bookmarks#Import_from_file

Other Issues: ~~red:You have installed plug-ins with known security issues. You should update them immediately.~~

Install/Update Adobe Reader for Firefox (aka Adobe PDF Plug-In For Firefox): your ver. 8.2.2; current ver. 9.3.3 (important security update release 06-29-2010; see: http://www.adobe.com/support/security/bulletins/apsb10-15.html) ~~red:Check your version here~~: http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/plugincheck/ See: http://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/Using+the+Adobe+Reader+plugin+with+Firefox#Installing_and_updating_Adobe_Reader ~~blue:You may be able to update from the Adobe Reader installed on your system~~ instead of going to the Adobe site and downloading. Start > Program Files, find and click Adobe Reader to open, click Help, click Check for Updates. Allow the download/update to occur. If you use this method, no need to proceed with the instructions below, but do look at the two bulleted items at the bottom "NOTE for IE:" and "Also see:". Restart Firefox and check your new version here: http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/plugincheck/ ~~blue:If you go to the Adobe site to download the current Adobe Reader:~~ -use Firefox to download and SAVE to your hard drive (save to Desktop for easy access) ~~red:-See the images at the bottom left of this post to see the steps to take on the Adobe site~~ -exit Firefox (File > Exit) -check to see that Firefox is completely closed (Ctrl+Alt+Del, choose Task Manager, click Processes tab, if "firefox.exe" is on the list, right-click "firefox.exe" and choose End process, close the Task Manager window) -double-click on the Adobe Reader installer you just downloaded to install/update Adobe Reader

• NOTE: On Vista and Windows 7 you may need to run the plugin installer as Administrator by starting the installer via the right-click context menu if you do not get an UAC prompt to ask for permission to continue (i.e nothing seems to happen). See this: http://vistasupport.mvps.org/run_as_administrator.htm
• NOTE for IE: Firefox and most other browsers use a Plugin. IE uses an ActiveX version. To install/update the IE ActiveX version, same instructions as above, except use IE to download the ActiveX installer. See: ActiveX
• Also see: http://kb.mozillazine.org/Adobe_Reader ~~red:AND~~ How do I edit options to add Adobe to the list of allowed sites

I have the same problem. I do not want to do the "export/import" operation and work with "favorites" that are becoming different from the source.

You might try a turnaround (might work for Windows as for linux/ubuntu) and works to satisfaction with other browsers.

Example : Windows XP 1. In windows explorer browse to folder Favorites 2. Rightclick on it and choose "send to desktop" (make shortcut to desktop) 3. Go to desktop and drag the new icon to toolbar at bottom left of the screen next to the Start button (quick launch toolbar). 4. Click on the new icon (a yellow star) to verify that it works. Windows explorer should open at Favorites folder. 5. Browse to folder and location that you want to open in Firefox. If this is an url , (doubleclick on the selected url) your default browser should open at the requested webpage. However make sure that FF is your default browser.

(You might try also a right-click on the selected url and go for any item in the context menu which points to "open with" or directly to Firefox)

In this way, you are working with the real favorites and not with a substitute imported file. However, also make your new bookmarks directly into in Favorites main folder, from where you might want to move it (using explorer or any other file manager) to a more suitable sub-folder.

In this way your IE "Favorites" can be accessed from any browser or file manager and from any operating system. Just to keep them in a safe place, make sure in Windows to move "Favorites" to "My Documents" and to move "My Documents" into a partition which is NOT your system partition.

Everything in the replies to the questions is either way too complicated for a relative newbie to all this techie stuff, or is for Windows XP. My laptop has Windows 7, and the directions don't work. Does anyone out there know how to import my Favorites/bookmarks etc from IE to Firefox EASILY?

In IE:
File > Import/Export - Export to HTML file

then in Firefox:
Bookmarks > Show All Bookmarks -> Import & Backup - Import HTML... = From HTML file

There is nowhere in Firefox Bookmarks to click on "Show All Bookmarks"

Prior to the Firefox 4 version, the Show All Bookmarks menu item was named Organize Bookmarks.

Thanks for the help, but still no dice. There simply isn't any selection for Importing & Backup within Show All Bookmarks.