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HELP PLEASE. I'm desperate.

  • 5 replies
  • 1 has this problem
  • 20 views
  • Last reply by FredMcD

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Firefox glitched last night and I had to reinstall it. In the process, I've lost everything. I have an "old data" folder on my desktop, but no matter how many times I import it, none of my old stuff shows in Firefox. It also stalls on files and says the names are too long. This is all complicated by the fact that I am almost blind. I am desperate for help as most of my site passwords were generated by firefox so I don't have a single clue what they are. Bookmarks are all gone. I'm literally crying. Please help.

Things I've already tried: Import old data by copy/paste method. Repeatedly. Replace sqite files for passwords, sessions, etc.

Firefox glitched last night and I had to reinstall it. In the process, I've lost everything. I have an "old data" folder on my desktop, but no matter how many times I import it, none of my old stuff shows in Firefox. It also stalls on files and says the names are too long. This is all complicated by the fact that I am almost blind. I am desperate for help as most of my site passwords were generated by firefox so I don't have a single clue what they are. Bookmarks are all gone. I'm literally crying. Please help. Things I've already tried: Import old data by copy/paste method. Repeatedly. Replace sqite files for passwords, sessions, etc.

Chosen solution

Open the "Old Data." folder. Are these files inside?

logins.json and key3.db [v58+]key4.db : These are the password files. Copy Both !

persdict.dat : custom dictionary - words you added to the dictionary

mimeTypes.rdf [v55+]handlers.json : What to do with what type of file.

places.sqlite : History and Bookmarks.

prefs.js : Your settings. Note: If you were having problems, this could be contaminated.

cert8.db [v58+]cert9.db and possibly cert_override.txt : Stores all your security certificate settings and any SSL certificates you have imported into Firefox. If removed, the cert8.db, cert9.db file will be replaced.

search.json.mozlz4 : file stores the user-installed search engines that are available in the Firefox v47+

search.sqlite file and searchplugins folder store the search engines that are available in the Firefox Search bar before Firefox v47


Copy these files from the old to the new. You may get a message that the files already exist. Choose to over-write for each file.

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Are the files in the Old Firefox folder intact? Did you change them?


Look on your desktop. Do you see a folder called; Old Firefox? Look inside. Look for the folder with the latest creation date.

https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/recovering-important-data-from-an-old-profile

https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/back-and-restore-information-firefox-profiles

https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/how-run-firefox-when-profile-missing-inaccessible


https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/recover-user-data-missing-after-firefox-update

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The folder on my desktop is named "Old Data." I have not changed anything in the folder.

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Chosen Solution

Open the "Old Data." folder. Are these files inside?

logins.json and key3.db [v58+]key4.db : These are the password files. Copy Both !

persdict.dat : custom dictionary - words you added to the dictionary

mimeTypes.rdf [v55+]handlers.json : What to do with what type of file.

places.sqlite : History and Bookmarks.

prefs.js : Your settings. Note: If you were having problems, this could be contaminated.

cert8.db [v58+]cert9.db and possibly cert_override.txt : Stores all your security certificate settings and any SSL certificates you have imported into Firefox. If removed, the cert8.db, cert9.db file will be replaced.

search.json.mozlz4 : file stores the user-installed search engines that are available in the Firefox v47+

search.sqlite file and searchplugins folder store the search engines that are available in the Firefox Search bar before Firefox v47


Copy these files from the old to the new. You may get a message that the files already exist. Choose to over-write for each file.

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FredMcD, you are the very best! Thank you so much!!!

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Glad to help. Safe Surfing.