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SDD Crash - How to port Mozilla Bookmarks sqlite file to new install

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  • Last reply by pjcoomb

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I had a crash on my SSD (WIn7 Ultimate) - " Operating system missing" error. I saved the data and want to reinstall Win 7 and import previous Bookmarks data to new install of Moziilla Firefox.

I transferred the sqlite file (s88qn337.default) from the previous install (now non working system) to the existing working Firefox directory (C:/Users/My Name/AppData/Roaming/Firefox/Profiles/xxx.default.

I then renamed "default.XXX.old" (the previous install had only one file in the Profile directory - ie s88qn337.default)

When I try to open Mozilla Firefox, with the single file (s88qn337.default) in the Profile directory, I get the error "Can't find user data".

When I then open fresh install of Mozilla Firefox on working SSD (Win 7 Ultimate) and try to Import Bookmarks, the options are only "Import Bookmarks from Explorer" or "Import from html file".

How to resolve this problem, please?

I had a crash on my SSD (WIn7 Ultimate) - " Operating system missing" error. I saved the data and want to reinstall Win 7 and import previous Bookmarks data to new install of Moziilla Firefox. I transferred the sqlite file (s88qn337.default) from the previous install (now non working system) to the existing working Firefox directory (C:/Users/My Name/AppData/Roaming/Firefox/Profiles/xxx.default. I then renamed "default.XXX.old" (the previous install had only one file in the Profile directory - ie s88qn337.default) When I try to open Mozilla Firefox, with the single file (s88qn337.default) in the Profile directory, I get the error "Can't find user data". When I then open fresh install of Mozilla Firefox on working SSD (Win 7 Ultimate) and try to Import Bookmarks, the options are only "Import Bookmarks from Explorer" or "Import from html file". How to resolve this problem, please?

Chosen solution

Hi cor-el... Thanks for that... meanwhile, I looked more at the problem and decided to transfer the Directory called Mozilla which contained the sub-Directories Crash Reports, Pending Pings, Profiles and the two files, installs.ini and profiles.ini to the fresh install of Mozilla. This resolved the problem :)

Thanks again...

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You need to place places.sqlite from the old profile to the current profile in "AppData\Roaming" in the new install.


You can copy certain files with Firefox closed from one profile folder to the current profile folder to recover personal data.

Note that best is to avoid restoring a full profile folder and only restore important files that are safe to restore/transfer.


  • bookmarks and history: places.sqlite
  • favicons: favicons.sqlite
  • bookmark backups: compressed .jsonlz4 JSON backups in the bookmarkbackups folder
  • cookies.sqlite for the Cookies
  • formhistory.sqlite for saved autocomplete Form Data
  • logins.json (encrypted logins) and key4.db (encryption key/primary password) for logins saved in the Password Manager
  • cert9.db for certificates stored in the Certificate Manager
  • persdict.dat for words added to the spell checker dictionary
  • permissions.sqlite for Permissions and possibly content-prefs.sqlite for other website specific data (Site Preferences)
  • sessionstore.jsonlz4 for open tabs and pinned tabs (see also the sessionstore-backups folder)
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Hi cor-el... Thanks for that... meanwhile, I looked more at the problem and decided to transfer the Directory called Mozilla which contained the sub-Directories Crash Reports,

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Chosen Solution

Hi cor-el... Thanks for that... meanwhile, I looked more at the problem and decided to transfer the Directory called Mozilla which contained the sub-Directories Crash Reports, Pending Pings, Profiles and the two files, installs.ini and profiles.ini to the fresh install of Mozilla. This resolved the problem :)

Thanks again...