7.0 doesn't seem to be reading my User file or profile

I've been away for a few days and when I launched Navigator today, my mail page didn't launch as usual. I re-established Mail as the page to launch in Preferences but then had to re-establish my email account (I use Netscape mail through Earthlink) through the Account Wizard.

I was then able to retrieve my email messages, but my folders, stored messages and address books are not available. I looked in the User files and they are still there, but Mail doesn't seem to be reading them.

What happened and how do I get my folders, stored messages and address books back in play. HELP!!!

 

Hi BirdieBob,

Try this:

Edit | Mail & Newsgroup Account Settings | Server Settings | Local Directory

Make sure that Netscape is looking in the correct path for your profile. Then use Profile Manager to create a new profile, using the exact name as the missing profile.

Post back with your results.

Ramona

EDIT:
If creating a new Profile doesn't work, then your prefs.js file is most likely corrupt. In the hope that you have a backup, and if so, replace the corrupt prefs.js file with the good backup prefs.js.

If no backup is available, you might try renaming the prefs.bak file to prefs.js and see if that might work. I doubt if your prefs.bak is any good either, but it's worth a try.

 

Ramona:

I looked at the Local Directory. It contains my correct user name and is identical to my (seperate) back-up file.

I don't understnad what you mean in creating a new profile when you say "using the exact name as the missing profile ".

If I need to replace the prefs.js file from the back-up, do I replace the prefs or liprefs file? Should I delete the current corrupted file first and copy the back-up in?

Sorry to be a drag here, but I guess I'm going to need a step-by-step approach to follow on this one.

 

Hi BirdieBob,

Sorry if I wasn't clear. By "missing profile" I meant the Profile that has disappeared on you, and caused you to have to recreate your Mail, etc.

When you create a new Profile use the same name as the existing Profile. If your profile name is BirdieBob, then name the new Profile, BirdieBob. I'm hoping that this will re establish your Profile, without having to create a new one. It may not, but worth a try.

There is no liprefs.js in Netscape 7.0/01, this is a preference file for roaming access, which is available only in Communicator. Netscape 7.0/01, or Netscape 6.x for that matter, does not have the Roaming Access feature.

To answer your question: rename the existing prefs.js file to Xprefs.js, and rename the prefs.bak to Xprefs.bak. Then copy your backup of prefs.js to the salted folder (xxxxxxxxx.slt).

Close Netscape before editing the files, and back up your good prefs.js file first.

 

Ramona:

Profile Manager won't let me create a profile with the same name as an existing one. I tried renaming the current profile and created a new one with the same (old) name, but was then taken through the new account set-up routine and ended up with no difference. I deleted the new profile and returned the original to it's original name.

I renamed the prefs file to xprefs, then copied the prefs file in from my seperate back-up file. I closed netscape then re-opened, but with the same results.

Please keep trying.

 

BirdieBob,

IF you have only one Profile:

Close Netscape
Open Windows Explorer
Browse to your Mozilla folder (C:\Windows\Application Data\Mozilla)
Delete the registry.dat file

Open Netscape
Profile Manager will ask for a new Profile
Give it the same name as the existing Profile

If this does not get your Profile back, with all your files, then you will have to create a new Profile. I have a Guideline for Creating a New Profile which may help you.

Let us know if you have more questions.

Ramona

P.S. I won't abandon you...

 

Ramona:

I had 2 profiles-one for me and one for my wife. Since my last message, I renamed my old profile, and created a new one with named the same as my username and my file in the User Files. It didn't produce any better results, so I closed NS, re-opened and through profile manager, changed the original profile name back to the original name (as I did before) and deleted the new profile. When I tried to access the original profile, I'm now told that it can't find the files and I should create a new profile!

So, now I'm using the new profile, through which I have two emails from you. The 75 I had logging in earlier are not there and I can't get to my stored messages, addesses, etc, either. I'm getting a little panicky! My Bookmarks are now also gone.

Would it make sense to rename my user file and copy the back-up into Users in its entirety?

 

BirdieBob,

Be calm. If you have created a new Profile, then there are steps to take before you will have your files in place.

Close Netscape

Open Windows Explorer and in the NEW Profile Folder:
C:\Windows\Application Data\Mozilla\Profiles\profilename\xxxxxxxx.slt

NOTE: If it asks to overwrite the files say YES.)

Copy from the OLD profile, and paste into the NEW profile:
bookmarks.html
cookies.txt
cookperm.txt (cookie and image permissions)
custom.dic (Dictionary)
user.js
abook.mab (Address Book) and all other *.mab files
cert7.db (Security Certificates)
history.mab (Collected Addresses)
downloads.rdf (Download Manager Data)
localstore.rdf (Defines default windows settings,and info about toolbars, size, positions, etc.)
panels.rdf (Panle displayed in the Sidebar)
search.rdf (Search Plugins in the Sidebar)

Open Netscape:

Open Netscape and check to see if Preferences are established, Bookmarks, etc..

You will still need to go through the Edit|Preferences and change some of the defaults to your preferences. The Sidebar, startup page, etc. Just go through all the Preferences and change to your liking.

Set up your Mail & Newsgroups Accounts, then close Netscape.

Open Windows Explorer: Copy all the files from the OLD profile News folder to the NEW News folder. This doesn't always work, and you may have to resubscribe to Newsgroups.

Copy all the files with no .msf extensions from the OLD profile Mail folder to the NEW Mail folder:
C:\Windows\Application Data\Mozilla\Profiles\profilename\xxxxxxxx.slt\Mail\accountname
(depending on your OS)

NOTE: In Netscape 7.0 Mail & Newsgroups Account|Server Settings, ensure that the "Local Directory" setting points to the NEW PROFILE folder.

In addition to adding the following two files (somenumber.s and somenumber.w) also edit lines in the user.js or prefs.js, to point to the existing file (or rename the existing file to the new name).

somenumber.s (Password data)
user_pref( "signon.SignonFileName ", "xxxxxxxx.s ");

somenumber.w (Fill Form data)
user_pref( "wallet.SchemaValueFileName ", "xxxxxxxx.w ");

usercontent.css (User customization/appearance settings (text colors,etc.)
userchrome.css (Controls the UI Chrome of Netscape)

Ramona

 

Hi Ramona:

I'm ready to give something a try per my PM's. Are you with me?

 

Hi BirdieBob,

Would you believe that I actually have a life outside of the Netscape Forum!! Had to run a few errands, but am back and ready for your questions and to assist you.

I'm a little confused myself. So to ensure we are on the same page:

1. Your wife's Profile does not need to be replaced, and it is working?

2. You created a Profile named "Bob" for Netscape 7.01, but cannot access the Internet with it? What happens, do you get an error? Does the Profile Manager come up when you use the "Bob" Profile?

Lemmeno...

Ramona

 

Ramona:

1. My wife's profile appears to be intact, working and does not need to be replaced.

2. I am using NS 7.0, not 7.01.

3. When I launch NS, the Profile Manager appears. There are three profiles listed: the original 2 and the new one I created and am using now.

4. If I try to start NS under the original (Bob) profile, this error message appears: "Netscape cannot use the profile "Bob" because the directory containing the profile cannot be found. Please choose another profile or create a new one. "

 

Sorry, I'll make that 7.0.

The Profile names are:
Bridgett
Bob
Regner

Is this correct?

 

Ramona:

Right other than Regner is regner (all lower case).

 

BirdieBob,

This is what I need you to do:

Close Netscape
Open Windows Explorer
Back up your entire 7.0 Profiles Folder
Back up your entire 4.7x Users Folder

Now, let's forget about Netscape Communicator 4.7x and its Users Profile. We are only going to concentrate on Netscape 7.0 Profiles. When I refer to Profile/s you can be assured that I am referring to 7.0.

Since your wife's Profile is intact, do this:
Remove the Bridgett Profile from the:
C:\Windows\Application Data\Mozilla\Profiles
Put the folder in another folder somewhere on your HD

Next, remove the Bob and regner Profile left in the:
C:\Windows\Application Data\Mozilla\Profiles

Do nothing else.... but once you have accomplished the above, post back with the name of the salted folder that contains your current/good data (xxxxxxxx.slt).

Keep on truckin', Bob,

Ramona

 

Ramona:

If I understand correctly, I'll do the following;

1. Back-up the entire 7.0 Profiles Folder.

2. Back-up the entire Users folder under Program Files > Netscape > Users. I don't see any 4.7X files there-just two User files.

3. Remove the Bridgett Profile file from the C drive and place it temporarily on the D drive.

4. Remove the Bob and regner profiles. I assume you mean delete these. If so, will I lose the ability to connect to the web since I can only do so now through regner?

5. Do nothing else and post back the name of the salted file for the currrent data. The only salted file I can see is for regner (since profile manager can't find the directory for Bob). The name of the file as it sits under profiles for regner is "qvhu85om.slt ".

Let me know if I've got it straight and I'll let it roll.

 

Bob,


1. Back-up the entire 7.0 Profiles Folder.

YES

2. Back-up the entire Users folder under Program Files > Netscape > Users. I don't see any 4.7X files there-just two User files.

Do you have Netscape Communicator Installed?

3. Remove the Bridgett Profile file from the C drive and place it temporarily on the D drive.

Leave it on the C Drive if that's where it is now. Create a folder for it and call it anything: Hold, Backup, Bridgett

4. Remove the Bob and regner profiles. I assume you mean delete these. If so, will I lose the ability to connect to the web since I can only do so now through regner?

DO NOT DELETE THE PROFILES! As I stated: Put the folder in another folder somewhere on your HD. Create a folder for it, like you are going to do for Bridgett. You would lose everything if you deleted these two Profiles. You stated that regner contained your good data.

5. Do nothing else and post back the name of the salted file for the currrent data.

The only salted file I can see is for regner (since profile manager can't find the directory for Bob). The name of the file as it sits under profiles for regner is "qvhu85om.slt ".

The "qvhu85om.slt ". contains your good data?

You should see the "Bob" Profile when you open Windows Explorer, and browse to the Profiles Folder??? Is it there?

Let me know if I've got it straight and I'll let it roll.

NOT YET...

 

Ramona:

1. NS Communicator is installed.

2. I'll move the Bridgett profile to a new folder on the C Drive named "Bridgett Hold ".

3. I'll move the other profile, regner, to a new folder on the C Drive named "Bob Hold ". There are only 2 profiles: begner and regner. My NS User file entitled regner contains the bookmarks, address books, folders and messages we're after.

4. The salted file "qvhu85om.slt" is under the regner profile in Mozilla. It contains the default structure I'm using now to access the web but not the profile information apparently necessary to get at my former Bob profile and information. I hope that's clear.

5. Using Windows Explorer, there are only two profiles under the profiles folder: begner (my wifes, to be removed) and regner which I assume is now being used.

 

When I asked you to confirm the Profile names, you affirmed there were three:
Bridgett
Bob
regner

Now you're telling me there are only two
begner
regner

My head is spinning!

Do you see the Bob profile in your 7.0 Profiles folder?
Do a find for *.slt and what comes up?

Are you saying you want to convert your Netscape Communicator Users profile to Netscape 7.0?

 

Ramona:

Hang on now--I'm sorry if I'm confusing you.

1. I said that when I launch NS, the Profile Manager screen appears. 3 profiles are listed on that screen: Bridgett (my wife's profile using begner in the Profiles folder), Bob (my original profile that used regner in the Profiles folder but now produces the error message I relayed), and regner (the new profile I created and am using now).

2. There are only two profiles in the profiles folder: begner and regner. Neither Bridgett or Bob appear and I don't believe they ever did. I believe the profiles were originally created with the names begner and regner, then later renamed (using profile manager) to Bridgett and Bob.

3. I did a Find for "*.slt" and came up with only the two salted files now in the Profiles folder for begner and regner.

4. I don't believe I'm asking to use the Communicator User's Profile but perhaps that what I'm referring to. Under C > Program Files > Netscape there are 3 folders: Communicator, Navigator and Users. The Users Folder contains folders for begner and regner.

The regner folder contains 4 folders: archive, cache, mail and news. The mail folder contains two folders: Drafts.sbd and Reference.sbd. The Reference.sbd folder contains the sub folders and saved messages that I don't want to lose.

Does that help?

 

Hi Bob,