Lost my bookmarks after doing a restore
I just did a system restore, and now I have no bookmarks in my bookmarks menu. I did the restore because when I did a Firefox refresh it screwed up my computer browsing. So, I did a restore to a earlier date, about 3 days prior. How do I recall all my bookmarks, and have them in the correct order? Understanding I have 300 bookmarks, it is important they appear in their correct order. Can someone help? Thank you.
All Replies (6)
Hi, System Restore can get you out of a real jam, but can also cause other problems - I'd also say the same about Refresh, so first try restarting Firefox - 3-bar menu > Exit Firefox in bottom right corner.
If that doesn't help, and since you did a Refresh, please look on your Desktop for a file named Old Firefox Data - Refresh Firefox - reset add-ons and settings.
If the file isn't there, you can try this: Open bookmarks > Show All Bookmarks > Import and Backup > Restore, and see if you have a backup there.
If not, please see -
If your question is resolved by this or another answer, please take a minute to let us know. Thank you!
Hi Scribe, thank you for your reply. I really didn't understand your first suggestion" so first try restarting Firefox - 3-bar menu > Exit Firefox in bottom right corner. I don't see where I can exit FF in the lower right corner and what is 3-bar menu?
The second suggestion, and using Old Firefox Data, I do see a link from my desk top for that data. But following the instructions, it seems to want me to do another refresh of FF? And, that's what got me into trouble to begin with. Are you advocating doing another refresh, as it seems to be saying if I use the info for OLD FF data?
I was able to export my bookmarks (they call them favorites) from the browser I.E. which also had those 300 bookmarks. And I now do have those 300 bookmarks with FF. But, all those bookmarks are all jumbled up and in no order like the precise order I had them in. It would take for ever for me to get them back in order, so I'm trying to do a method where when they are restored, they are also in the correct order, or the order they were in before the refresh. Can you please further explain? I do appreciate your help and patience Scribe. Thank you.
edited to fix the leading spaces idents that trigger a horizontal scrollbar in this forum software - please don't do blank spaces to try to create a paragraph indent appearance.
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Don't do another Refresh! You need to copy the bookmarks file (places.sqlite) from the old profile in Old Firefox Data on your Desktop, and paste it into the new profile that was created when you did the Refresh. Instructions start under Copying files between profile folders in Recovering important data from an old profile.
Scribe, thank you for your reply again. I'm just getting more confused here. When I click on the icon old FF data in my desk top to get that data, I get a window I guess shows files, but none that say "places.sqlite" as you state. When I try and open some various bookmark files or folders, frankly I don't know the difference, and click on that file or folder, I get a window where I can open, again various files. But, when I try and open a given file, nothing happens, I get a momentary flash on my screen and the previous files window just keeps popping up. In other words, it seems the file won't open, or if it is, it is opening somewhere else?
Not sure where to start, but where do I access the file you mention: "places.sqlite"? Again, I don't see that file when I access "old FF data" from my desk top, Scribe. Following the link you sent, it suggests doing a refresh, which I certainly don't want to do, and as you strongly suggest I don't do again. But, following those directions, I have to close FF, which makes things more difficult to follow and complete. So, I use I.E. browser to try and complete things, and that makes things all the more confusing switching back and forth trying to solve my FF problem. While I can see files that say bookmarks when I access a given files/folder window, when I click on that given file, it just seems nothing is being shown that is in that file, when I ask to open it? I'm just caught in some kind of loop within my computer when I ask to open a bookmark file. Confusing, at least to me. So, while I do actually certainly see many bookmark files on my computer, it seems as thought I can't do anything with them? How can I actually access the info in them, and translate that data into my old bookmarks lists that I had? I do show my old bookmarks in my bookmark tab, in my FF browser. I as able to export them from my I.E. browser, luckily. But they are all screwed up in the order they are, and being I have 300 of them, it is important they appear in the order I had them in, and what I am attempting to do in get them back in their correct order. Frankly, I don't know what I'm doing wrong, and I am trying to follow instructions. But when I try and follow them, I just keep getting stymied. Hopefully you can be patient Scribe, and still helpful, and maybe we can solve this issue. I also have the same problem with my bookmarks in a folder named New Folder bookmarks, which I keep my bookmarks for you tube video's in. And that is even more screwed up in the order they are in now. I started another help session for that though, which maybe you saw.
You don't open the bookmarks file; just copy and paste it from Old Firefox Data into your current profile. However, I've a feeling that doing the System Restore AND Refresh may have messed up the profile.
Can you not just re-order the ones you have imported from IE - it's a bit of work but you will only have to do it once! It might be easiest in the sidebar (Ctrl+B). You can just drag, or cut and paste them to their new positions.
Scribe, Thank you once again for your reply. Being I'm not a computer wizard, I don't know why the various procedures and suggestions are not working as I thought they would. I am trying to follow the various instructions carefully, but to no avail. After spending hours trying to fix the problem, and with no success, just frustration, I did do what you have just suggested, recategorize all my bookmarks the way they were. It took some time, but they are finally where want them. It turned out, and I finally decided, that would actually be the best way to solve the problem.
I do appreciate your help though, Scribe. I did learn something. NEVER use the FF refresh procedure. As I mentioned, it actually cause's more trouble than benefit. Nonetheless, thank you Scribe for your help. It was appreciated.