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Errors restore/import bookmarks

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Did a backup of bookmarks then did a export of bookmarks to html..this was a pre-caution..Did not know that it would remove the bookmarks !!! So then first tried a restore of bookmarks get a error unable to process file so then tried a import from html file same as the one just exported and get no data or import..So what next to get my bookmarks back ????

Did a backup of bookmarks then did a export of bookmarks to html..this was a pre-caution..Did not know that it would remove the bookmarks !!! So then first tried a restore of bookmarks get a error unable to process file so then tried a import from html file same as the one just exported and get no data or import..So what next to get my bookmarks back ????

All Replies (7)

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If you exported your bookmarks, all that does is to create a file of the bookmarks. They should not have been changed or deleted anything.

Did you do this from the Bookmarks Manager?

Is there a folder on your desktop called; Old Firefox?

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80vette said

Did a backup of bookmarks then did a export of bookmarks to html..this was a pre-caution..Did not know that it would remove the bookmarks !!! So then first tried a restore of bookmarks get a error unable to process file so then tried a import from html file same as the one just exported and get no data or import..So what next to get my bookmarks back ????

FYI, using version 38.0.5,No there is no old folder on the desktop. I did this from the tab bookmarks show all bookmarks and then it pulls up a library page with the import and backup tab. Can you tell me where does Firefox store the bookmark entries, in ie there is a folder called favorites under users and documents. Have not been able to locate a folder in firefox where the bookmarks are stored ???

Now the odd thing is that after I posted this and shut down..then this am re-booted and the pc ran chkdsk:c , the bookmarks restored. Now yesterday I tried a re-boot as well as closing the browser and did not get any bookmarks so go figure !! So if you know or anyone can tell me where the bookmarks are stored, what folder and location ??

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80vette said

Can you tell me where does Firefox store the bookmark entries
Bookmarks and history are stored in the user profile folder in the places.sqlite file. Backups are stored in the bookmarkbackups folder.
Now the odd thing is that after I posted this and shut down..then this am re-booted and the pc ran chkdsk:c , the bookmarks restored.

That means the computer detected a problem and tried to correct it.

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Thanks,I agree, but excuse my stupidity..Went into the program files, then mozilla firefox folder and there is no users profile folder, which is what i looked for in the first place and in the pc the folder for users no profile folder..So obvious not looking in the right place...or give me the extension that is added to the bookmark and I can do search on that. Thanks again.

Edeziri site na 80vette

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Did you give the HTML backup a .html file extension?

You should be able to open an HTML backup in a Firefox tab to inspect the file.

Note that Windows hides some file extensions by default. Among them are .html and .ini and .js and .txt, so you may only see a file name without file extension. You can see the real file type (file extension) in the properties of the file via the right-click context menu in Windows Explorer.


Make sure that the bookmarks backup file has the correct (lowercase) file extension:

  • .html for a HTML backup (needs to be imported and merges bookmarks)
  • .json for a JSON backup (needs to be restored and replaces bookmarks)

You can check the file type via the right-click context menu of that file and open the Properties. If you are not sure about the file type then you can open the file in Firefox via "Firefox > New Tab > Open File" or "File > Open File". A JSON backup will show as one long text line without line breaks and a HTML backup shows as a web page with clickable links.

A JSON backup starts with: {"title":"","id":1,"dateAdded": An HTML backup starts with: <!DOCTYPE NETSCAPE-Bookmark-file-1>

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80vette said

Went into the program files, then mozilla firefox folder . . . . . . .

Firefox comes in two or more folders on all computers. They are;

Maintenance: (Programs Folder) <Windows Only> Firefox itself: (Programs Folder) And one folder in the profile of each user on the computer.

If you remove the Firefox folder, the user folders would not be effected.

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Thanks to all of you that provided info. I have the html and .json files vis backup and export. The reason I ask for the folder (thinking in the ie world) is that with ie you can just paste into the favorites/bookmark folder any or all missing sites missing without all the import or backup scenerio, which did not work for me until tne pc did a chkdsk. Just tying to make it smplier and direct !!

Thanks again !!