Netscape 7.1 prefs.js corruption and lost profile

Hello

My Problem:
While exiting Netscape 7.1, my computer froze and I had to reboot...scandisk ran without a hitch...upon starting however, Netscape was giving me a prefs.js configuration error stating that there was a missing arguement in some line (browser_url_history_2) and to contact my administrator (there is none)

I could click the ok button and start netscape, HOWEVER, it would connect to the Netscape Servers to register as if I never used Netscape 7.1 before.

The same error would occur upon exiting Netscape.

I deleted the corrupted line in prefs.js

Netscape starts fine, but I no longer have my mail, mail settings, addressbook, and most of my bookmarks. When I try to get to mail, it keeps on trying to get me to create a new account. I can see folders for my mail server under my salt folder....actually, there are two...one is the "server name" and the other is "server name-1 "

PLEASE, if anyone can help me recover my mail and addressbooks, please help.

-trephin

 

Welcome to the Forum, trephin!

Hi trephin,

When Netscape 7 crashed it corrupted your prefs.js file. One workaround would be to replace prefs.js with prefs.bak, but only if you haven't restarted Netscape. You can still try it, but doubt that it will work.

If you make frequent backups of your Profiles folder, replace the prefs.js file with your most recent backup.
If no backup (tsk tsk ) then we can go this route to recover your Profile data:

With Netscape open:
Navigate to your salted (*.slt) folder
Delete the prefs.js file
You will lose your preferences, but it will take only a short time to run through them and reset.
Next:
Delete the registry.dat file located in the .....\Application Data\Mozilla folder

Next: in Mail & Newsgroups Account Settings | Server Settings, check to ensure that the Local directory path points to the correct location for your Mail account folders. Check each account.
Close Netscape, then start Netscape
If the Profile Manager prompts for a new Profile, give the exact same name as the existing Profile.

Once you have a stable Profile, start making frequent backups, especially if you make changes, add Bookmarks, Addresses, receive Mail, etc. Then you will never have to go through this again... You might also like to check out this page: Startup Configuration Warning: Syntax Error

Ramona

 

Hi Ramona

Thanks for the help...I have a question though...When I go to Mail/News, I have no accounts showing and it wants me to create one...should i? I found someplace on your help website about moving profiles or something and was going to try to copy everything from my old (corrupted) profile to a fresh profile?

-trephin

 

Hi trephin,

If you want to start fresh, then creating a new Profile will definitely fix your problem. See this guideline on Create a New Profile.

Ramona

 

trephin,

Sorry I didn't answer your question. Yes, go ahead and create your Mail account. Then ensure that the Local directory path points to the correct location of your Mail Account folder, on the hard drive.

I would go ahead and delete the prefs.bak file also. Since your prefs.js file is corrupt, then you may as well start with pristine prefs.js and prefs.bak files.

Ramona

 

update

Hi Everyone

FYI, I seem to have recovered my mail, passwords, cookies rules, etc .... I lost my local folders and most of my bookmarks and I think one address book.

What I had to do was create a new profile and copied the files listed in Ramona's guidelines for creating a new profile.

Once quick question though, I seem to have a cert7 and a cert8 file. I don't know how NS works...ie, it sometimes produces file x and file x-1 after after wonky-ness. Or did someone update the certificates at some point and then a cert8 file was created?

thanks
-trephin

 

trephin,

Cert7.db is the old format, and cert8.db is the new format. See this page for more about Netscape/Mozilla Profile files: http://gemal.dk/mozilla/files.html

Sorry to hear you couldnt' find your Local Folders and Address Book, also that you lost Bookmarks.

Do back up frequently, once you have everything in order, since you now know that a Netscape 7 crash can corrupt a Profile in a disasterous way.

Let us know if we can be of further help.

Ramona