Replace Netscape 7.2

How do I safely replace Netscape 7.2 with Firefox without losing bookmarks, mail, or address book. The operating system is XP.

 

You don't lose your bookmarks unless you remove the Profile which is separate from the Program. If you install Firefox while NS is still fully operational, you will be offered the chance to import your data. If Firefox was in stalled before, and did not import the bookmarks, you can still do it. With Firefox3.x if you go to Bookmarks|Organize bookmarks|Import and Backup, you can do import your bookmarks even if NS7 is no longer installed.

 

Thanks, that is reassuring and I also have multiple external backup. I am not sure how to deal with the MAIL as I am not keen on a seperate browser just for messages.

 

Ken, Since your switching from NS 7.2 and are not yet sure what to do about mail, have you considered giving Seamonkey a try.

I switched from NS 2 or 3 years ago to Seamonkey and have never looked back.

Seamonkey for all practical purposes is nearly identical to NS 7.2 and it is currently being maintained by the Mozilla Group.

I have both Firefox and Thunderbird on my computer and have made an attempt to switch over to them but, I always reach for Seamonkey as it is my default browser and like an old pair of shoes, makes me comfortable.

My 2 cents, Ray

 

I goofed and posted same message twice. So, how do you delete a post

Ray

 

The only reason I want to ditch NS 7.2 is because Yahoo has been changing all their sites so that 7.2 crashes. Is Seamonkey immune to this threat?

 

Yahoo has never crashed on me, but what do you mean by

. Is it Yahoo mail, and which type of mail, or the website? As Old Chief said there are two options for you.
1. Install Thunderbird, which at the beginning of the process will ask you which programs you want to import the settings, from, like Firefox from the browser, Thunderbird is for mail.
2.Seamonkey will pick up the Netscape7.x profile, but this may be dangerous as it will pick uo all Netscape "bad habits ". I am using both Seamonkey and the Firefox/Thunderbird pair.

 

Yahoo mail is reasonably stable, but anything to do with news is not. I can read any page displayed, but if I click on any headline, NS 7.2 crashes. Adobe Flash Player won't install either.

 

I was not telling you how to stabilize NS7.2, which I don't have, but, rather how to use Firefox and Seamonkey.
Which version Adobe Flash are youy trying to install? It has been so easy to install the most recent versions. And, I know that Adobe Flash10, creates the needed .dll files in existing installations of Opera and Seamonkey.

 

Thank you both for your advice. I don't plan to tinker with NS 7 and will replace it soon.

 

There is no need for tinkering. Installing a newer version of Flash is not tinkering, and it may allow you to know if the problem is due to an obsolete version of Adobe Flash.
Ironically, I must use Win98SE, until my good computer is fixed, and I cannot upgrade to a newer version. In fact, I cannot even get to see the Flash page.

 

Ken, as you move forward with your decision, I thought I would do you a favor and show you what Seamonkey looks like in case you consider using it.

I posted screen shots using both the Default Themes and they are at:... www.raysmyth.net/seamonkey

I think you will find from an appearance and User stand point the only difference between Netscape 7.02 and Seamonkey is the logo.

I should advise you that I have installed a HOME Button on the Navigation Toolbar and I do not use the Personal Toolbar.

Good Luck with what ever your choice.

Ray

 

That looks like something I can easily live with. Will it access the existing MAIL files or will I have to import them?

 

I have the latest Flashplayer that installed fine in IE, but it won't install in NS because it thinks NS is running when it isn't.

 

Ken, you won't have to do anything at all just download and install Seamonkey.

When you load Seamonkey the first time it should have the exact same Profile Window pop up to select any of your current Netscape profiles.

I assume you have more then one profile, but, it doesn't matter, be it one or several, once you download and install Seamonkey it will pickup all the other profiles Netscape is currently using and when you first load Seamonkey, the profile window will just be there to choose any of your current Netscape Profiles and that of course gets you the email for that profile.

However, once started, it is not a good idea to bounce back and forth using the same profile with Netscape and Seamonkey.

I did that for a while after switching over to Seamonkey and had observed Ramona and Others warning people about using the same profile with both Seamonkey and Netscape but, I ignored their advice and kept doing it and then one day I lost all my email.

I'm confident you can install Seamonkey and take off using your Netscape Profile but, I recommend you make a backup copy of your profile folder/s prior to installing Seamonkey.

Frankly, I still have both Netscape 7.02 and Seamonkey 1.1.14 installed on my computer. But, I have created different profiles to use with each of them. However, both profiles come up in the same window regardless of which browser is being loaded.

For Example I have a profile named RAY-NS and that is the profile I use with Netscape. Of course since switching to Seamonkey I never use Netscape to download the email.

I have several profiles because my madness is to create a new profile for Seamonkey at the beginning of each new year. Therefore, I have RAY-2007, RAY-2008, RAY-2009 etc.

Being an old guy who likes keeping his old mail (Junk and Spam Excluded), I do this so the mail for the previous year is all under one profile and does not build to such a large bundle or file size and start giving me trouble due to size.

Your probable aware of Netscape's profile location but, if not the default location and path to the profile should look something like this: C:\Documents and Settings\RAY\Application Data\Mozilla\Profiles\RAY-NS\202rf86n.slt\Mail\mail.bellsouth.net

In this case the bookmark and address book files are located in the 202rf86n.slt folder and the mail is in the mail.bellsouth.net folder. However, making a Backing up copy of the "RAY-NS" folder captures it all and that is my practice for copying for a backup.

I might add that I do not use the default settings of Seamonkey for profiles or mail.

I have a 2nd Hard Drive which is "D" and the path to my Seamonkey profiles looks like this:.. D:\PROFILES\RAY-2008\2xlk8x0k.slt\Mail\RAY-2008 --- The mail is stowed in the last RAY-2008

Again Good Luck and if your not familiar with putting a Home Button on the Navigation Bar so you can get rid of the Personal Bar after you get switched over get with me and we will install you a new home button.

Ray

 

Thanks, I printed your instructions and did the download. After I finish the EMail cleanup and do backups, I will give it a try. I am dumping about 2000 messages.

 

If not understood, this is true only for Ray. A general path will be:
C:\Documents and Settings\user_name\Application Data\Mozilla\Profiles\whatever\alphanumeric.slt\Mail\whatever mail account.
In WinXP, and more recent OS, the above path is hidden, by default.

 

Ken, In the computer world, I've always said it mattered not the organizational system but, all Users should have a system and know and use their system.

Since your cleaning up your mail and it is not a good idea to have too many messages in one file or folder, I thought I would show you my system.

Under my INBOX folder, I create a folder for each month and as each month is over I move that months mail into it's folder. I name the folders 09-01 for January, 09-02 for February and so on and so forth.

By naming the folders with the year first and the month 2nd the folders are sorted in order by the month.

If I have special mail, I want to keep separated or grouped together I will make additional Folders for that mail.

A screen shot of how I do the mail folders is at:.... www.raysmyth.net/ken-1.jpg

To make a sub-folder to the INBOX, Right Click on the INBOX and select "New Folder "

Such a system makes it easy for me to find and review old messages because I can usually remember close to the month the message occurred.

I do the same for my SENT mail folder.

AND, like I previously mentioned, I start a brand new Seamonkey Profile each year on January 1st and that keeps the mail sorted and saved by the years.

When desired, the yearly profiles can be gotten out of the way by putting them on a CD or other stowage device.

I also use the junk mail controls provided by Seamonkey which after being trained will dump known junk mail into the junk folder for review and deletion.

This forum and Ramona has me trained to dump the trash and compact the mail folders on a regular basis. As I understand it when you delete a message it leaves a gap in the mail file/folder and too many gaps can cause problems.

Compacting the mail folders removes the gaps and reduces the size of the mail file/folder.

My 2 cents, ---- Ray

 

I found all the mail folders including those I saved from Netscape 4. I can't find where Password Manager stores data so I can back it up.

 

Ken, that is a random generated file with the file extension of .s --- My current password file is named 474127.s in what they call the SALT folder which is the crazy mumbo jumbo folder named as a sub-folder to your Profile Name. I.E. same folder where the Bookmark and Address books are located.

NOTE:... The file name sometimes contains more numbers then mine is currently using.

I did a Google search for "Mozilla Password Manager" and one of the web sites I pulled up explains this better then I can and it is at:......... http://www.holgermetzger.de/moz-passwords.html

If memory serves me correctly this forum had a discussion on the Password File just recently because I remember doing some experimenting with the password file. but, in my senile years I can't recall just which thread it was in.

I might also add that you could have more then one file with the extension of "s" when I was doing the experimenting I recall getting more then one s file created but, I can't recall the reason why that occurred. But, it was ok and not abnormal as I recall.

Don't forget. if you backup the profile folder and all the sub-folders below it, you should be obtaining copies (backups) of everything you need.

Hope this helps:........... Ray