The user data is stored in the profile folder. You can copy the data manually by copying the contents of the profile folder, for details see http://kb.mozillazine.org/Profile_backup or https://support.mozilla.com/kb/Backing+up+your+information

Thank you, TonyE. Telling me where to find the profile info gives me the solution to half the problem. I still have to figure out where to put this stuff on my Windows 7 computer.

Help > Troubleshooting Information > Open Containing Folder = that is the location of your Profile folder on either PC

Thanks to both of you for your help. It was easier than I thought!

I'm usually good with this stuff, but there's too much fragmented info on how to do it. Is there a step-by-step guide or post for this? I got a new PC yesterday (Win7) and want to simply transfer my Firefox bookmarks and T-Bird address book to the new PC.

I copied the Mozilla folder in its entirety onto a thumb drive. When I tried to drag that folder from the thumb drive to the Win7 file mentioned above, it wouldn't let me.

Also, did I read correctly that this should be done before running these programs for the first time? If so, should I uninstall both and then copy the particular files to them before running?

Why, in an open source environment like this does this have to be so difficult? I would think that a techie would have devised a script or plug in to do this. LOL

Thanks,

Bob

For bookmarks alone, it is easy.
Source:
Bookmarks > Show All Bookmarks (or Organize Bookmarks) -> Import & Backup - Export HTML... - to a USB stick
then for the destination"
Bookmarks > Show All Bookmarks (or Organize Bookmarks) -> Import & Backup - Import HTML... - from file on that USB stick

For the topic being discussed in this thread, the "automated" solution is MozBackup.
http://mozbackup.jasnapaka.com/

Thanks, Ed-Meister! Exactly what I needed. Now, on to Thunderbird stuff...

Bob

Thank you all for your help. I have now learned to use MozBackup to maintain everything in case of crashes, this has been very handy.

I found that transferring settings, mail, address books and all is actually really easy both in Firefox and in Thunderbird. Once you know where the profile folders live on both machines, all you have to do is move the profile folder bodily to the new environment. Problem solved!