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Firefox upgrade did not preserve my bookmarks as it promised

  • 7 replies
  • 1 has this problem
  • 8 views
  • Last reply by fodaayoh

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When I go to "import and backup", then "restore", I choose any of the recently dated backup files, and get the following: "Unable to process the backup file". I avoided upgrading for so long. Now I wish I hadn't at all.

When I go to "import and backup", then "restore", I choose any of the recently dated backup files, and get the following: "Unable to process the backup file". I avoided upgrading for so long. Now I wish I hadn't at all.

Chosen solution

If you use Sync then best is to disconnect Sync temporarily during troubleshooting.

You can check for problems with the places.sqlite database (bookmarks and history) in the Firefox profile folder.

  • use "Verify Integrity" on the "Help -> Troubleshooting Information" (about:support) page

See also:

If "Verify Integrity" on the "Help -> Troubleshooting Information" (about:support) page cannot repair places.sqlite then remove all places.sqlite files in the Firefox profile folder. Firefox will rebuild places.sqlite and restore the bookmarks from a recent JSON backup in the bookmarkbackups folder.

You can use the button on the "Help -> Troubleshooting Information" (about:support) page to go to the current Firefox profile folder or use the about:profiles page.

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All Replies (7)

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Do you have a folder on your desktop called Old Firefox Data? If you do, refer to the Recovering important data from an old profile support documentation for information on restoring your data from this folder.

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Chosen Solution

If you use Sync then best is to disconnect Sync temporarily during troubleshooting.

You can check for problems with the places.sqlite database (bookmarks and history) in the Firefox profile folder.

  • use "Verify Integrity" on the "Help -> Troubleshooting Information" (about:support) page

See also:

If "Verify Integrity" on the "Help -> Troubleshooting Information" (about:support) page cannot repair places.sqlite then remove all places.sqlite files in the Firefox profile folder. Firefox will rebuild places.sqlite and restore the bookmarks from a recent JSON backup in the bookmarkbackups folder.

You can use the button on the "Help -> Troubleshooting Information" (about:support) page to go to the current Firefox profile folder or use the about:profiles page.

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"...then remove all places.sqlite files in the Firefox profile folder. Firefox will rebuild places.sqlite and restore the bookmarks from a recent JSON backup in the bookmarkbackups folder."

This did it! Thank you!!

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Problem is back. I installed latest firefox and it reintroduced the original problem. Now on version 30, I somehow located the following: As the image shows, a small pull-down includes "bookmarks". Click on this and you get the tray on the left. When I click "bookmarks menu", there are my old bookmarks.

How do I make these my main bookmark pull-down menu. I see no way to do this. Very annoying. There is also no way to save these as html though, I don't know that this would help.

I don't recommend the latest firefox to anyone running win 7. The installation seems full of bugs. For example, the favorite button is either missing or acts like it works but yields no link in the bookmarks. The lack of continuity of preferences alone, is reason enough to stay away. At very least, this has been one user-unfriendly experience.

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From what Firefox version is this screenshot?

The screenshot only shows the Sidebars button on the Navigation Toolbar. No Library button and no Page Actions button as added in recent builds.

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"From what Firefox version is this screenshot?

The screenshot only shows the Sidebars button on the Navigation Toolbar. No Library button and no Page Actions button as added in recent builds."


Hmmm,...as I said, I am running version 30, though neither it nor 61 work correctly. I suppose I can try installing 51, but a healthy installation seems increasingly out of reach at this point. Finally, no one as answered the following: Since my original bookmarks obviously still exist, how do I import these into my main bookmarks pull-down menu?

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Nevermind, I found a solution.