Why do I suddenly need permission to xcopy my firefox profile
I have been making a copy of my Firefox profile and other files for disaster recovery for years. Tonight I need permission to copy logins.json and a few other files. What has changed to create this issue?
Chosen solution
hdwg1340 said
Tonight I need permission to copy logins.json and a few other files.
Was Firefox running when this happened -- does the problem occur if Firefox has fully shut down?
I don't think Firefox treats those files specially. Could you compare the security settings of logins.json with some other (unaffected) file in your profile.
You can open your profile folder from the Troubleshooting Information page. Either:
- "3-bar" menu button > "?" Help > Troubleshooting Information
- (menu bar) Help > Troubleshooting Information
- type or paste about:support in the address bar and press Enter
In the first table on the page, next to Profile Folder, click the "Open Folder" button. This should launch a new window listing various files and folders in Windows Explorer.
Right-click logins.json, Properties, then in the Properties dialog, click the Security tab. Move this dialog out of the way so you will be able to access a second file. Then toward the bottom, click the Advanced button. This should display a second dialog panel showing all the users and their permission levels, and a tab labeled Owner. Move this one to the side as well.
Select a comparison file such as places.sqlite (bookmarks + history) or prefs.js (customized settings) and open the Advanced Security dialog.
Notice any odd discrepancies?
It's possible that other software on your system has a special affinity for Firefox data files. That would be troubling...
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If you're transmitting your profile from the AppData, then its for some security reasons ;)
Chosen Solution
hdwg1340 said
Tonight I need permission to copy logins.json and a few other files.
Was Firefox running when this happened -- does the problem occur if Firefox has fully shut down?
I don't think Firefox treats those files specially. Could you compare the security settings of logins.json with some other (unaffected) file in your profile.
You can open your profile folder from the Troubleshooting Information page. Either:
- "3-bar" menu button > "?" Help > Troubleshooting Information
- (menu bar) Help > Troubleshooting Information
- type or paste about:support in the address bar and press Enter
In the first table on the page, next to Profile Folder, click the "Open Folder" button. This should launch a new window listing various files and folders in Windows Explorer.
Right-click logins.json, Properties, then in the Properties dialog, click the Security tab. Move this dialog out of the way so you will be able to access a second file. Then toward the bottom, click the Advanced button. This should display a second dialog panel showing all the users and their permission levels, and a tab labeled Owner. Move this one to the side as well.
Select a comparison file such as places.sqlite (bookmarks + history) or prefs.js (customized settings) and open the Advanced Security dialog.
Notice any odd discrepancies?
It's possible that other software on your system has a special affinity for Firefox data files. That would be troubling...