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I need to recover bookmarks from a repaired IDE with a USB IDE Cable. I now have a SATA HD so I need to know how to get BKMarks from the IDE.

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  • Last reply by CAS123

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I need to recover bookmarks from a repaired IDE with a USB IDE Cable. I now have a SATA HD so I need to know how to get Bookmarks from the IDE using USB 2.0 to IDE Cable Adapter. I have not sent the IDE out for repair and have not bought the USB IDE cable but If the IDE can be repaired I will.

I need to recover bookmarks from a repaired IDE with a USB IDE Cable. I now have a SATA HD so I need to know how to get Bookmarks from the IDE using USB 2.0 to IDE Cable Adapter. I have not sent the IDE out for repair and have not bought the USB IDE cable but If the IDE can be repaired I will.

All Replies (11)

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See if this will may help http://www.gadgethelpline.com/transfer-google-chrome-bookmarks-to-new-google-account/


edited by a moderator Unless my eyes are lying, isn't this a Firefox support forum. Posting a Chrome fix for a Firefox support question - seems a bit nonsensical, doesn't it?

Modified by the-edmeister

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I can't help you with the technical aspects of mounting the old drive, but if you can access it as an F drive or other drive letter, then I can explain where to look for your old Firefox data.

Step 1: Make sure Windows lets you find hidden files and folders

See: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/show-hidden-files

Step 2: Explore your old hard drive here (your drive letter may vary):

Windows Vista-7-8+: F:\Users\your-username\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles

Windows XP: F:\Documents and Settings\your-username\Application Data\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles

Here you may find one semi-randomly-named folder, or more than one. If there is more than one, check each one.

Once you identify the right folder, I suggest copying it to a convenient place on your main hard drive, such as Documents or Desktop

Within the semi-randomly-named folder you should find a bookmarkbackups folder. These files are compressed and unreadable, but the file names usually contain a coded date so you can get a sense of when they were created.

Step 3: Restore the backup file

Please note that this will completely replace any existing bookmarks in your newly set up Firefox with the contents of the backup. If there is anything you need to save, you could make a note of it, or add the steps I've marked (optional) on this list:

  1. (Optional) Export recently-added bookmarks: Export Firefox bookmarks to an HTML file to back up or transfer bookmarks
  2. Restore your older backup: Restore bookmarks from backup or move them to another computer -- use the Choose File item to point Firefox to the old file in Documents/Desktop, as the case may be
  3. (Optional) Import the recently-added bookmarks: Import Bookmarks from an HTML file
  4. (Optional) Reorganize the imported bookmarks into logical locations (they might be in an Imported Bookmarks folder on the menu or in Unsorted bookmarks)

Success?

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Ashish Mishra said

See if this will may help http://www.gadgethelpline.com/transfer-google-chrome-bookmarks-to-new-google-account/ edited by a moderator Unless my eyes are lying, isn't this a Firefox support forum. Posting a Chrome fix for a Firefox support question - seems a bit nonsensical, doesn't it?

Thanks but I don't have Chrome. I have Fire Fox.

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jscher2000 said

I can't help you with the technical aspects of mounting the old drive, but if you can access it as an F drive or other drive letter, then I can explain where to look for your old Firefox data. Step 1: Make sure Windows lets you find hidden files and folders See: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/show-hidden-files Step 2: Explore your old hard drive here (your drive letter may vary): Windows Vista-7-8+: F:\Users\your-username\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles Windows XP: F:\Documents and Settings\your-username\Application Data\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles Here you may find one semi-randomly-named folder, or more than one. If there is more than one, check each one. Once you identify the right folder, I suggest copying it to a convenient place on your main hard drive, such as Documents or Desktop Within the semi-randomly-named folder you should find a bookmarkbackups folder. These files are compressed and unreadable, but the file names usually contain a coded date so you can get a sense of when they were created. Step 3: Restore the backup file Please note that this will completely replace any existing bookmarks in your newly set up Firefox with the contents of the backup. If there is anything you need to save, you could make a note of it, or add the steps I've marked (optional) on this list:
  1. (Optional) Export recently-added bookmarks: Export Firefox bookmarks to an HTML file to back up or transfer bookmarks
  2. Restore your older backup: Restore bookmarks from backup or move them to another computer -- use the Choose File item to point Firefox to the old file in Documents/Desktop, as the case may be
  3. (Optional) Import the recently-added bookmarks: Import Bookmarks from an HTML file
  4. (Optional) Reorganize the imported bookmarks into logical locations (they might be in an Imported Bookmarks folder on the menu or in Unsorted bookmarks)
Success?

I'll have to save this when I get my drive back. I haven't sent it out yet.

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Try it now before "sending it out"! Just because that drive didn't work in your PC and boot Windows and other programs, doesn't mean it is totally dead. Many drives that just "don't work" have a enough life left in them to be connected via USB to IDE / SATA cable for data recovery purposes. - UNLESS that drive suffered physical damage, like it was dropped and then quit working.

IMO, unless you would be sending that out to a data recovery service - the "repair" might involve swapping out your drive for one that was already repaired. The chances that your data will be recoverable after "repair" are very slim to none.

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the-edmeister said

Try it now before "sending it out"! Just because that drive didn't work in your PC and boot Windows and other programs, doesn't mean it is totally dead. Many drives that just "don't work" have a enough life left in them to be connected via USB to IDE / SATA cable for data recovery purposes. - UNLESS that drive suffered physical damage, like it was dropped and then quit working. IMO, unless you would be sending that out to a data recovery service - the "repair" might involve swapping out your drive for one that was already repaired. The chances that your data will be recoverable after "repair" are very slim to none.

The IDE HD suffered damage from a power fluctuation from a short in the power cables. I guess I'll order that USB IDE cable from Amaazon first. It includes: Package Includes:

  • One USB2.0 TO IDE Cable
  • AC-DC Power Supply (100-120V 50-60Hz) 12V & 5VDC for 3.5" & 5.25" devices
  • One Power Cable
  • Driver CD

Outsource Data Recovery got some bad reviews, but some good ones saving and repairing drives.

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However my local shop could not do anything with the drive. Do you think the USB IDE cable will make a difference? I tried calling the shop but I can't get a response. I have to check with them first to see how they tried to access the drive.

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OK, so you are intending upon sending that drive out for data recovery, rather than just for repair. The latter usually doesn't even try to recover data before attempting to repair the drive.

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the-edmeister said

Try it now before "sending it out"! Just because that drive didn't work in your PC and boot Windows and other programs, doesn't mean it is totally dead. Many drives that just "don't work" have a enough life left in them to be connected via USB to IDE / SATA cable for data recovery purposes. - UNLESS that drive suffered physical damage, like it was dropped and then quit working. IMO, unless you would be sending that out to a data recovery service - the "repair" might involve swapping out your drive for one that was already repaired. The chances that your data will be recoverable after "repair" are very slim to none.

However my local shop could not do anything with the drive. Do you think the USB IDE cable will make a difference? I tried calling the shop but I can't get a response. I have to check with them first to see how they tried to access the drive.

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the-edmeister said

OK, so you are intending upon sending that drive out for data recovery, rather than just for repair. The latter usually doesn't even try to recover data before attempting to repair the drive.

No. "Outsource Data Recovery" states they can fix the drive if it can be fixed, however judging from some of the reviews it appears that they know they have customers over a barrel and they try to get them to pay the high cost of data recovery. I guess business people who need the data are hard pressed to pay those cost. I however can try other options in the meantime if I can get a reply back from my local shop first on what they did to to drive to access info. If they say that they used a USB IDE cable with a separate power source then I won't be ordering one on Amazon. Furthermore Outsource Data Recovery called me the next day to see if I had any questions. They appear eager to shake me down.

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the-edmeister said

OK, so you are intending upon sending that drive out for data recovery, rather than just for repair. The latter usually doesn't even try to recover data before attempting to repair the drive.

I won't be able to contact the shop until 10am tomorrow either in person or on the phone. Tell me if you know what methods they would use to access the drive? I've got until tomorrow to find out and the less anxious I appear to ODR then the better off I am for that option.