Lost bookmarks please help

We have Netscape 7.2 with Windows XP. My son clicked on the desktop shortcut and a window came up saying "please select a profile" (this has never happened before). He clicked on default and it wouldn't work as it said it was in use. So, he created a new profile and Netscape opened.

However, when I opened Netscape this morning all my bookmarks are gone! I deleted Jim's profile and went back to default and all that's there is the IE bookmarks I imported two years ago. Now, two years of University research is gone! I am distraught.

I've tried going to profiles in Mozilla, there's only the old bookmarks. That's all there is when I search bookmarks.html

Please, please help me!

 

Shelly,
I assume that you created a new profile, with a different name, and I think that this is the only way. But, this seems to be contagious, because you can see an earlier post of mine . If you modify the Target of the shortcut properties , you should be able to use the old profile, but if something messed up the bookmarks.html file, and you don't have a backup, you may have some problem.

 

Welcome to the Forum, Shelly57!

Shelly,

Using Windows XP, in order to see all files, have you done this before searching for bookmarks.html:

To see hidden files:
1. On the Tools menu in Windows Explorer, click Folder Options
2. Click the View tab
3. Under Hidden files and folders, click Show hidden files and folders
4. Disable "Hide File Extensions for Known Files. "
5. Click OK

You no doubt have done this, as you found the old bookmarks.html file, but I just want to cover all the bases.

Do you see a bookmarks.bak file in your *.slt folder?
C:\Documents and Settings\user_name\Application Data\Mozilla\Profiles\profilename\*.slt
Does this file contain your lost Bookmarks? If so, rename the existing bookmarks.html file to Xbookmarks.html file. Then rename the bookmarks.bak file to bookmarks.html.

Do you back up your Profiles folder fairly frequently? If so, you can copy the backup bookmarks.html file to the current Profile. First rename the existing bookmarks.html file to Xbookmarks.html. Then copy the backup to the *.slt folder.

If you don't backup frequently, then see: Preventive Browser Maintenance. Then this will never happen again.

Ramona

 

Thank you...

Westside and Ramona,

Thank you for your help... but unfortunately, no .bak files and no other profiles.

Are there any other options? Or do I curse my stupidity and start googling all over again...

How could this have happened - I run Anti virus, but could someone have hacked in? I have a recurring problem with a popup :\\res. something that comes up at startup, then at regular intervals. I've tried to get rid of that but no avail. This comes up in IE which is why I swapped to Netscape, which I prefer. I'll jump forums and ask there. This site is very good!

Perhaps I'll just have to get the computer looked at...

Once again, thanks for all your help.

 

I don't know what is the popup. I would need more information, but AntiVirus is not enough. You need Anti-Spyware. Spybot Search and Destroy (S & D)] is excellent. You should get it, install it and do a scan. If you have a spyware it will catch, and disable it, at least. Of course, the Antivirus must be kept up to date.
But, there is little chance that anyone would hack a profile. Now, you say that there is no bookmarks.bak file in the .slt folder. Is there a bookmarks.html file?
Exactly like I wrote them.
Also, do a Search, including hidden files for bookmarks.html or just plain bookmarks. We have to know exactly what you are doing to find this missing profile. Finally, and, this is not routine, but not dangerous, nor difficult.
Open the .slt folder, and find the prefs.js file (the icon is a yellow J). Right click|Open with Wordpad or Notepad. Then scroll down, and see if it has this line: user_pref( "browser.startup.homepage_override.mstone ", "rv:1.7.2 ");

If yes, it is the correct one for Netscape 7.2, but if you see any other number after the rv, please tell us what it is.
When you are done, just close.

 

Update

Hi Westside,

I downloaded search and destroy, it found 50 odd bad things, but would not continue getting rid of them because WDENGINE.dll was not correct. Installed the program again, same thing...

As far as the bookmarks - in the prefs.js file the line reads exactly as you said.

I've done a search and the only bookmarks files or folders are the old IE favourites I exported to Netscape when I first started using it. All the more recent ones I've added have disappeared.

 

http://forums.majorgeeks.com/printthread.php?t=41286 This address the anti-spyware issue, may be. Otherwise I can't help you.