SOLVED: What is the easiest way to move FF&TB

sutsujsti,

Did you check the "Local directory" path to ensure it is pointing to the E:\ drive?
Tools | Account Settings | Server Settings: E:\mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\akls2nq9.default

When you installed Firefox, did you do a "Custom" install? If so, did you designate the above path for the new Profile, during the install? See this Screen Shot

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Ramona ...

I hate contradicting you (), but I believe you mixed apples and oranges ... that's where the Local directory for the Thunderbird Mail folder is set, and it's "Thunderbird Setup" that's shown in your screenshot; it has nothing to do with Firefox.

As far as I can tell, the only place the path to FF profiles is described is in the profiles.ini file (C:\Documents and Settings\<username>\Application Data\Mozilla\Firefox\profiles.ini) and the only place the path to firefox.exe is described is in the Registry and in the Target line of any FF shortcuts.

 

Yea!!!! I got both of them on my E drive and they both work!!!! (PHEW!!) the trouble was I had 1 / the wrong way
Now can I get rid of everything on my c:/ drive as far as Thunderbird and Firefox? What I plan on doing after I get everything moved to my other drive E:/ I will format my C:/ and do a new install of windows xp only on a smaller partition by it's self.
Also JSS3rd I tried your way and I couldn't get the profile manager to open GRR. so I stuck with Ramona's way, I still like the sounds of your way JSS3rd

 

If you have the same folder in both C and E drives, delete the one you don't need, or to play it safe, right click|Cut, and then right click Paste in a location you can find (desktop is is good). I am not sure about the profile.ini, and, I know that the "default" profile could not be removed in the early Netscapes6/7.
That's why I have differently named profiles, each with different alphanumeric description ( i.e. akls2nq9 as an example).

 

sutsujsti ...

It doesn't surprise me to learn that you had at least "1 /" the wrong way, as several of your other posts refer to "C:/" and "E:/ ". FYI, Windows requires the use of backslashes in pathnames ... in other words, "c:/" is not a valid way of referring to your C: drive, while "c:\" is.

You can get rid of everything on your C: drive that relates to FF and TB EXCEPT the Firefox folder at C:\Documents and Settings\<username>\Application Data\Mozilla\Firefox\ and the Thunderbird folder at C:\Documents and Settings\<username>\Application Data\Thunderbird\.

After formatting your C: drive and reinstalling XP, and before running either FF or TB, you must run the Profile Manager for each program to recreate the two folders and the profiles.ini files they contain. Otherwise, the programs will create default profiles on the C: drive, rather than using your desired profiles on your E: drive.

If you couldn't get the Profile Manager to open, I'm guessing that it was because you included a forward slash (/) rather than a backslash (\) somewhere in the pathname. The attached Zip file contains a free program which, when installed, will add a "Copy Path to Clipboard" selection on the context menu when you right-click on a file or folder. It makes adding pathnames to posts, documents, and target lines in shortcuts really easy.

 

Good for you, and I knew you could do it! It usually is something simple when you get so frazzled. Taking some time off and then going back to the problem is always good! Now that everythiing is working, do a backup...

BTW, what I suggested is the "Firefox" way, as I took that info from their KB. I would just love to take credit, but no can do... The profiles.ini file is the pointer, and if it isn't correct, then Firefox won't work.

 

What I mixed was applications, and I am mortified. Late nite posting never pays.

 

FF=apples, TB=oranges ... same difference.

I noticed that it was after 2 AM your time when you posted that, and I figured bleary eyes had something to do with it. So, no feeling of mortification is justified ... if that's the only mistake you ever make, you're in good shape!

 

Well I tried every way possible to start profile manager ! and no can do! I even used your little zip program, and it still wont open! I don't know what I am doing wrong ?

 

Perhaps I could have been a bit more clear on what to do, but please don't be insulted if I seem to go into too much detail.

1. Download "PathCopy.zip" from the link in my previous message.

2. Unzip PathCopyEx.msi and install it.

3. Navigate to firefox.exe (or thunderbird.exe) and right-click on it.

4. From the context menu, select Copy Path to Clipboard.

5. Click on Start > Run and paste the path into the "Open:" window. Tap the spacebar once and type -p (make sure you add the "-" before the "p ").

Mozillazine says to use a capital P, but I haven't found that to be necessary.​

6. Tap Enter or click OK.​

The Profile Manager should open. If it still doesn't open, go back to step 5. The path should still be visible in the "Open:" window. After the space following .exe add -profilemanager and tap Enter or click OK. If the Profile Manager still doesn't open, something is definitely wrong.

 

sutsujsti,

Try this:

Right click your Firefox Desktop shortcut
To the end of the Target path, add one space
Now type: -p
It will look similar to this:

"E:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe" -p

Does this work?

 

sutsujsti ...

I think it's worth pointing out that the quotation marks in Ramona's example are required because of the space between the words "Program" and "Files ". This is true in any Windows command.

In other words, a space in a command line requires quotation marks around the entire command. If no spaces, no quotation marks are required. That may be why you were unable to open the Profile Manager.

 

Quotation marks are always in the Target path of the Desktop shortcut(s), regardless of whether or not there is a space.

 

"E:\Mozilla t\thunderbird.exe "-p this is what I typed in and windows said! windows can not find E:\Mozilla t\thunderbird.exe -p and it said basically the same for firefox

 

sutsujsti,

If that's really what you typed, then I see a typo, plus no space after the quotation mark and the -p.

"E:\Mozilla t\thunderbird.exe "-p

Is this the true location of your firefox.exe file?

 

One at a time ...

Ramona ...

I'm sorry, but that's not necessarily a true statement. The only shortcuts on my Desktop that have quotation marks in the target line are those that have spaces in the command line. Those without spaces have NO quotation marks (but they'd still work if I put them there).


sutsujsti ...

It appears to me that you have no space between the end quote and the -p.

 

Jim,

Let's take your exceptions to my information to PM, and it is off topic, and no doubt confusing the real issue for sutsujsti.

 

Yep it came off clipboard and after putting in the space after " -p that worked for Thunderbird! but when I did the same for firefox it opened a new window, DUH, Hold on I have FF open be right back! YEA!!!! got both to work it was 2 problems first I didn't have the " " marks in and the space after the " " marks DUH I need to stay away from this computer for a week (need to clear my gray matter ) what little there is Thank you both!! for being so patient with me thanks again

 

FWIW,

Jim was correct in saying that if there is a space within the command line, it will be enclosed in quotes.