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General discussion

Where in the Word are My Bookmark Files: Netscape & Firefox?

May 13, 2005 3:34AM PDT

I had an infortunate incident of trying (sadly) a product that I read was okay to try, but that's besides the point. Anyway, the software was horrid and before I could get rid of it and run spyware which showed me how, it ate icons and wiped out all my documents (sadly I hadn't backed those up for too many months. That won't happene again). But it also ate all my bookmarks in Netscape (which had a ton) and Firefox, which also had all my Explorer ones in there. I rarely use IE because it was hijacked.

Anyway, I used to back up my bookmarks every few days. Now I haven't been able to because I can't find them. I go under both programs and Profiles, etc., and I find Bookmarks.html, but they are not my bookmarks. I'd be ever so greatful if you could tell me how in the world to find them.

Thanks.

Discussion is locked

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Tried, No Help
May 13, 2005 4:16PM PDT

I tried and tried. I cannot find them and nothing is helping me find them. I can't understand why they are hidden so well.

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Try...
May 13, 2005 11:20PM PDT

A command prompt. Here's mine.

C:\>dir bookmarks.* /s/a/p
Volume in drive C is BPXP
Volume Serial Number is BCD1-C61D

Directory of C:\Documents and Settings\Mary\Application Data\Mozilla\Profiles\default\ovrh5bme.slt

12/14/2004 08:03 AM 3,616 bookmarks.html
1 File(s) 3,616 bytes

Directory of C:\Documents and Settings\proffitt\Application Data\Mozilla\Profiles\default\dmlhsgug.slt

05/14/2005 08:55 AM 119,504 bookmarks.html

Not hidden at all. Look for yours.

Bob

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Tried, Found. But Strange
May 14, 2005 2:16AM PDT

I tried that as well, but I have odd things going on. I have Netscape bookmarks listed under Firefox. I have different bookmarks being used for Firefox, but zero record of a list! I'm perplexed.

Lori

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If you have XP
May 13, 2005 10:40PM PDT

These are usually not found in Program Files but associated with your login profile. You need to look in Documents and Settings/(your login name)/Application Data/.
The application will be Netscape, Mozilla or such. You can try a search from using Search Assistant by pressing F3 at the desktop and searching the boot drive for "bookmarks.*" (without quotes). I can tell you of one bad Netscape habit. If something has changed it or taken away it's status as your default browser, when you later go to use, reinstall, or upgrade it, it brings up a profile box with some default settings. If you accept these, your old bookmarks may be overwritten by the Netscape defaults and they are gone. When you get this profile box and it does not show your name, you need to close it instead of accepting it. Hope that helps.

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Found and Then One Missing
May 14, 2005 1:36AM PDT

Hi,

Thanks for the reply. I read and read last night and found some command to put in on RUN and found them under Application Data/.., like you said. I copied the Nescape ones to a disc, but it was odd that Firefox wasn't in the list.

I closed it and re-did the search and this time Firefox was in it but Nescape was not on the list! And Firefox had my Netscape bookmarks listed in it. However, Firefox is showing my correct bookmarks an so is Netscape. I have never seen anything so weird.

Any advice? Thanks so far.

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When you install a browser
May 14, 2005 4:29AM PDT

you are often prompted (but maybe not always) to allow it to import bookmarks from other browsers it finds. I suspect this is what may have happened. Netscape, Mozilla, and Firefox have a similar heritage but browsers also compete to be your # 1 choice. Not all they do is explainable. Trying a new browser comes with risks. Always back up what's important and watch the installation screens carefully. There are tricks and traps.

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Yeah, But... I have NO bookmark file for Firefox
May 14, 2005 4:51AM PDT

I got Firfox many months ago and I did import Nescape bookmarks into it. However, Wednesday ALL my browses (after a piece of junk sotware caused it) opened like they were brand new and had no bookmarks in them at all. I had no place to look to back them up, so I had nothing to replace and I just began doing new ones.

I now have bookmarks in Netscape and I have them in Firefox, but they are NOT the same. I have absolutely NO recored of Firefox bookmarks except in the browser itself. How can that be? And when I enter the command to find on Run and it finds the hidden folders, it doesn't even show Netscape anymore.

I'm very perplexed.

Why is Netscape not showing under Application Date? And only Mozilla is, but with the bookmarks that Netscape is using? And where in the word is the bookmark folder for Firefox?

This is just too insane for me. And I'm computer literate.

Lori

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A couple of things
May 14, 2005 12:30PM PDT

My wife uses Netscape but I use Firefox. Under "Application Data" either NS and FF will show under Mozilla and not a folder by their own browser name. To my knowledge, the bookmark files that both use are compatible. You copy one into the appropriate folder of the other and they will work. You might also find a file called "bookmarks.bak". My Firefox has this and it's a backup created when I change the bookmarks.html file. I can delete or move the .html file and rename the .bak file which will restore it as the bookmark file the browser will use. You can look for one that's called bookmarks.bak on your machine and check the file creation date (the last time it was modified) to see if this might be your missing file or contain the majority of the bookmarks you had made. Good luck again.

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Finally, I Got It (and More!)
May 14, 2005 3:10PM PDT

Thanks for the info, I finally figured that out earlier today. I have two folders under Mozilla - One that says Firefox and the other says Profiles. The Profiles is for Netscape and then when I got to the Firefox ones, I then have a Profile folder and found my Firefox bookmarks.

Sadly for me, I have no bookmarks.bak (other then for the ones I have. It's like my old ones were blasted off my computer.

I also learned an incredible thing. Saving bookmarks is simple! All I have to do is for Firevox is choose Bookmarks, and then Manage Bookarks and choose Export and then save them. Simple. For Netscape, you Choose the same fist two things, but then you go to TOOL and choose Export. I'll never not have backed-up bookmarks again!

Lori

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It sounds like your persistance has paid off
May 14, 2005 11:09PM PDT

though your bookmarks need to be recreated. Such is how we learn about computers and applications. For myself, I learn more by banging my head against something until I figure it out than by someone instructing me. You stuck with it and took your bumps and bruises. Good for you.Happy

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Thanks
May 15, 2005 7:02AM PDT

You did help me too. I never knew about some of the other things, and now I'm thrilled to learn I can just export bookmarks from *both* browsers each night to my small jump drive.

I'm very persistand as well, and I was up until 3am two of the night/mornings trying to figure this out. It was nice to sleep last night.

Thanks for your help.

Lori