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Firefox Bookmarks - recover from backed up file that is not HTML?

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I had to do a Windows reset, which erases program data for Firefox along with the program. There was no way to export the pre-reset bookmarks into an HTML file that could be imported later. Firefox was freshly downloaded after the reset, likely the same version, but no bookmarks of course. I have the Profile folder from Firefox before the reset, and I can delete the new profile folder and paste in the old one, which of course has all my bookmarks. However, this has not worked so far. Should this method work? If so, are there any tips? If this paste-in method will not work, are there workarounds to solve the problem?

I had to do a Windows reset, which erases program data for Firefox along with the program. There was no way to export the pre-reset bookmarks into an HTML file that could be imported later. Firefox was freshly downloaded after the reset, likely the same version, but no bookmarks of course. I have the Profile folder from Firefox before the reset, and I can delete the new profile folder and paste in the old one, which of course has all my bookmarks. However, this has not worked so far. Should this method work? If so, are there any tips? If this paste-in method will not work, are there workarounds to solve the problem?

Chosen solution

If you have the previous profile folder, that makes life a lot easier for you.

It sounds like you have the right understanding about what to do to recover your profile folder. However, rather than deleting the profile folder that Firefox makes, paste the contents of your old profile folder into the contents the profile folder that Firefox makes. Either than or you need to rename your old profile folder to whatever Firefox has set for the profile folder.

Otherwise, the random profile folder name that Firefox generates will not be the same, so Firefox won't be able to see it.

Hope this helps.

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Chosen Solution

If you have the previous profile folder, that makes life a lot easier for you.

It sounds like you have the right understanding about what to do to recover your profile folder. However, rather than deleting the profile folder that Firefox makes, paste the contents of your old profile folder into the contents the profile folder that Firefox makes. Either than or you need to rename your old profile folder to whatever Firefox has set for the profile folder.

Otherwise, the random profile folder name that Firefox generates will not be the same, so Firefox won't be able to see it.

Hope this helps.