Avatar for Username

Search Support

Avoid support scams. We will never ask you to call or text a phone number or share personal information. Please report suspicious activity using the “Report Abuse” option.

Learn More

This thread was archived. Please ask a new question if you need help.

Bookmark Backup doesn't work.

  • 8 replies
  • 2 have this problem
  • 2 views
  • Last reply by Ruva

Ruva
Ruva
more options

I recently had to uninstall and reinstall Firefox because I couldn't get rid of text enhance malware. Before that I created a backup of all my bookmarks. However, once the reinstall of Firefox was complete and I went to restore my bookmarks I discovered that the file didn't work. After trying a few things I realized that when I created the backup and changed the file name so that I could more easily ID, the file didn't save as a JSON file. It saved as just a FILE. I have no idea why. Is there anyway to fix this?

I recently had to uninstall and reinstall Firefox because I couldn't get rid of text enhance malware. Before that I created a backup of all my bookmarks. However, once the reinstall of Firefox was complete and I went to restore my bookmarks I discovered that the file didn't work. After trying a few things I realized that when I created the backup and changed the file name so that I could more easily ID, the file didn't save as a JSON file. It saved as just a FILE. I have no idea why. Is there anyway to fix this?

Chosen solution

Try using lower-case .json - and that file looks like it has a few characters added that the beginning of the file - the character 1 and a blank space or two.

Read this answer in context 👍 1

All Replies (8)

Wesley Branton
Wesley Branton
more options

Try the following:

  1. Create a copy of that file
  2. Change the copied file type to HTML
  3. If that doesn't work, change it to JSON

Please upload the file somewhere if the above doesn't work and I will see what I can do with it.

cor-el
cor-el
  • Moderator
  • Top 10 Contributor
more options

Make sure that the backup file with the bookmarks has the correct file extension:

  • .html for a HTML backup
  • .json for a JSON backup

You can check the type via the right-click context menu of that file and open the Properties.

If you are not sure about the file type then you can open the file in Firefox via "File > Open File"

A JSON backup will show as one long text line without line breaks and a HTML backup as a web page with clickable links. 

A  JSON backup starts with: {"title":"","id":1,"dateAdded":
An HTML backup starts with: <!DOCTYPE NETSCAPE-Bookmark-file-1>
Ruva
Ruva Question owner
more options

It doesn't have the correct file extension. Although when I open it up it looks like a JSON.

Ruva
Ruva Question owner
more options

Changed it to HTML and tried to import that, but nothing happened. Changed it to JSON and tried to restore that, but all I got was a message saying that the file was an unsupported type. I uploaded it here:

http://www.mediafire.com/view/sw99rh0dme9rau2/Bookmarks

cor-el
cor-el
  • Moderator
  • Top 10 Contributor
more options

If first you have changed the type to .html and then to .json then it is possible that now the file extension is .json.html (Windows hides the .html file extension). So make sure that the file type is JSON if you inspect this in the Properties via the right-click context menu.

the-edmeister
the-edmeister
  • Moderator
more options

Chosen Solution

Try using lower-case .json - and that file looks like it has a few characters added that the beginning of the file - the character 1 and a blank space or two.

Ruva
Ruva Question owner
more options

Awesome! It's fixed. Thanks a bunch guys!

Ruva
Ruva Question owner
more options

Oh and for any futures persons having the same problem. I made sure to create two copies of the original backup and changed each file type only once.