Can't copy old details into new Firefox
Long story short, I didn't know about Firefox Sync, and my old Windows installation is corrupt due to a corrupt HD, and I've reinstalled Windows on a new PC.
I have Firefox installed on the new PC, and in the past I would just copy files like places.sqlite over to the new profile and the bookmarks would be restored, but that hasn't worked. In fact, I replaced every single item (just straight up copy and paste to override the new files) from the old profile into the new one, but when I reopen firefox, it's still a fresh installation; no saved passwords, cookies, history, nothing.
Any ideas?
Обране рішення
Did you try to use the Profile Manager?
- To start it, press Windows key + R
- Type firefox.exe -ProfileManager and click on OK
- Create a new profile and choose the folder with your saved files
- Close the Profile Manager and start Firefox
Усі відповіді (9)
Вибране рішення
Did you try to use the Profile Manager?
- To start it, press Windows key + R
- Type firefox.exe -ProfileManager and click on OK
- Create a new profile and choose the folder with your saved files
- Close the Profile Manager and start Firefox
It may be better to copy the total old profile to the new computer to work on it. But make sure of what profile(s) you are working on.
Type about:support in the address bar and press enter.
Under the page logo on the left side you will see Application Basics. Under this find Profile Folder. To it’s right press the button Show Folder. This will open your file browser to the current Firefox profile. Now Close Firefox.
What is the full folder path to the folder that you are pasting into? I trust that you are aware that there are 2 "Profile" folders. One in /App Data/Roaming/ (where the real Profile data files are located) and another in /App Data/Local/ for the somewhat transitory files such as the cache are located.
Banban said
Did you try to use the Profile Manager?
- To start it, press Windows key + R
- Type firefox.exe -ProfileManager and click on OK
- Create a new profile and choose the folder with your saved files
- Close the Profile Manager and start Firefox
I tried that, it didn't work.
FredMcD said
It may be better to copy the total old profile to the new computer to work on it. But make sure of what profile(s) you are working on. Type about:support in the address bar and press enter. Under the page logo on the left side you will see Application Basics. Under this find Profile Folder. To it’s right press the button Show Folder. This will open your file browser to the current Firefox profile. Now Close Firefox.
I used this method to identify the correct folder. What next?
the-edmeister said
What is the full folder path to the folder that you are pasting into? I trust that you are aware that there are 2 "Profile" folders. One in /App Data/Roaming/ (where the real Profile data files are located) and another in /App Data/Local/ for the somewhat transitory files such as the cache are located.
It's the one in Roaming. I used the about:support page to identify the directory where the current data is stored (Roaming folder) in C;Drive, and my previous HDD was located in F Drive; I copied the files from the F-Drive default profile into the C-drive one with firefox closed, and when I reopened firefox it remained the same.
Banban said
Did you try to use the Profile Manager?
- To start it, press Windows key + R
- Type firefox.exe -ProfileManager and click on OK
- Create a new profile and choose the folder with your saved files
- Close the Profile Manager and start Firefox
Actually never mind. In my haste when trying repeatedly, I may have accidentally copied the new blank profile into the old drive. I had a backup in a separate profile (not sure how or why it exists, but it's there), and I Selected that folder in Profile Manager and it worked.
Thanks for your help boys and girls! Now I can finally format the old drive and get it replaced :)
If it works, great! Thanks for your feedback!
Garbothing said
FredMcD saidIt may be better to copy the total old profile to the new computer to work on it. But make sure of what profile(s) you are working on.I used this method to identify the correct folder. What next?
If the problem is fix, Great! !
Please flag your last post as Solved Problem so others will know.
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