Cannot transfer bookmarks to older Firefox esr. Why?
I need to use the mydlink website for cameras. Dlink updates for Firefox plugins cannot keep up with Firefox updates. So I use Firefox 52.2.0 (32-bit) ESR and that works with the mydlink website and plugin. Unfortunately Firefox 52.2.0 (32-bit) esr will not allow me to use bookmarks, I cannot import from bookmarks.html, Chrome, Edge and it will not allow me to restore or create new ones. Since I have invested a lot of money in D Link cameras I need to use Firefox, for some reasons I don’t understand, their connections do not work with Chrome, or Edge or others and they cannot update their plugins to keep up with Firefox updates so I need to use FireFox 52.2.0 (32-bit) esr since it is the only version I have saved. How do I get bookmarks to work in Firefox 52.2.0 (32-bit) esr?
Also if you click the green Automatically add button it jumps to a page that does nothing and erases the above details when you try to go back!!!! So do not click anything except the blue Post Question button.
Chosen solution
Sorry the share data/add info button didn't work. Maybe it's not compatible with Firefox 52 since the very recent site redesign?
You can use IE11 or (according to this page) Chrome for the mydlink site:
https://www.mydlink.com/faq#id-menu_SD18/ans-4
That would allow you to use a modern version of Firefox for your regular browsing. Would that work for you?
Now, about your bookmarks, can you add bookmarks interactively (e.g, Ctrl+d)? If not, could you test whether one of your extensions is at fault?
For example, test in Firefox's Safe Mode. In its Safe Mode, Firefox temporarily deactivates extensions, hardware acceleration, and some other advanced features to help you assess whether these are causing the problem.
You can restart Firefox in Safe Mode using either:
- "3-bar" menu button > "?" Help button > Restart with Add-ons Disabled
- (menu bar) Help menu > Restart with Add-ons Disabled
and OK the restart. A small dialog should appear. Click "Start in Safe Mode" (not Refresh).
Any improvement?
If it's not an extension: try the steps in this article to generate a fresh Places database:
Fix "The bookmarks and history system will not be functional" error message
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Chosen Solution
Sorry the share data/add info button didn't work. Maybe it's not compatible with Firefox 52 since the very recent site redesign?
You can use IE11 or (according to this page) Chrome for the mydlink site:
https://www.mydlink.com/faq#id-menu_SD18/ans-4
That would allow you to use a modern version of Firefox for your regular browsing. Would that work for you?
Now, about your bookmarks, can you add bookmarks interactively (e.g, Ctrl+d)? If not, could you test whether one of your extensions is at fault?
For example, test in Firefox's Safe Mode. In its Safe Mode, Firefox temporarily deactivates extensions, hardware acceleration, and some other advanced features to help you assess whether these are causing the problem.
You can restart Firefox in Safe Mode using either:
- "3-bar" menu button > "?" Help button > Restart with Add-ons Disabled
- (menu bar) Help menu > Restart with Add-ons Disabled
and OK the restart. A small dialog should appear. Click "Start in Safe Mode" (not Refresh).
Any improvement?
If it's not an extension: try the steps in this article to generate a fresh Places database:
Fix "The bookmarks and history system will not be functional" error message
ojnabo said
So I use Firefox 52.2.0 (32-bit) ESR
Firefox 52.2.0 ESR was released June 13, 2017 while the last 52 ESR was 52.9.0 ESR released on June 26, 2018.
http://archive.mozilla.org/pub/firefox/releases/52.9.0esr/win32/
The old Firefox 52 ESR was officially made EOL as of Sept 5th with no more updates for security and or stability fixes planned for it.
Modified by James
See also https://www.mydlink.com/faq#id-topFAQ/ans-131
You can install a portable (ESR) Firefox version to access websites that do not work with the current Firefox release. The portable version comes with its own profile folder and doesn't interfere with currently installed Firefox versions.
- http://portableapps.com/apps/internet/firefox_portable
- http://portableapps.com/apps/internet/firefox-portable-esr
- http://sourceforge.net/projects/portableapps/files/Mozilla%20Firefox%2C%20Portable%20Ed./
You may have to use an HTML backup or use Sync to transfer bookmarks to an older Firefox version.
IE 11 seems to work wookith both Mydlink and bookmarks once I figured out how to activate it. So that is a good back up but I really like Firefox. And since Microsoft is continuously updating and retiring software like Firefox who knows how long that will be an option. Safe mode did not work. Generating a fresh Places database finally did work. Now I have Firefox 52.0.0 ESR working with my bookmarks. The only problem I have is that it keeps wanting to update and I have to really pay attention or it will update automatically to Firefox 60 or 62. How do I stop Firefox from wanting to update? The portable apps sounds like an option too.
You shouldn't use a profile used by Firefox 55+ version with older Firefox versions. The profiles are not compatible and you you can get all kind of issues.
- Bug 1357428 - Profiles used with Firefox 55 will no longer work with older versions of the browser
(please do not comment in bug reports
https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/page.cgi?id=etiquette.html)
ojnabo said
IE 11 seems to work wookith both Mydlink and bookmarks once I figured out how to activate it. So that is a good back up but I really like Firefox. And since Microsoft is continuously updating and retiring software like Firefox who knows how long that will be an option.
I don't think you have to worry about IE 11 discontinuing support for ActiveX controls. That's what Edge is about.
Generating a fresh Places database finally did work. Now I have Firefox 52.0.0 ESR working with my bookmarks. The only problem I have is that it keeps wanting to update and I have to really pay attention or it will update automatically to Firefox 60 or 62. How do I stop Firefox from wanting to update?
Why not use a secure version of Firefox for normal browsing now that you know you can use IE11 for your D-Link devices?
I'll probably do that in the long run. Once I'm sure that I can access the more advanced parts of operating the D Link cameras. Thanks for all the help.