Corrupted NS 7.0 Profile

Hi Ramona:

One of my NS 7.0 profiles became corrupted again as (I'm sure you will remember!) also happened last month. I followed the intructions you laid out for me last month to restore the profile as follows:

1. Backed-up the corrupted profile and Communicaotr 4.7x user file.

2. Deleted the corrupted profile from Mozilla.

3. Used the installer to generate a new profile from the Communicator 4.7x file.

The new profile created did not contain all of the previously stored email messages and the bookmark file was also not current. So, I made copies of the mail text files from the corrupted profile back-up, renamed them ( "xxx 2 ") and copied them into the new profile. I also removed the bookmark file from the new profile and replaced it with a copy from the corrupted profile. These steps got me just about back to where I was before the corruption.

Question 1: I thought that using the installer to create a new profile from the current Communicator 4.7x file would recreate all of the current messages and bookmarks without these extra steps. That did not happen here, so am I missing something in the process I followed?

Question 2: Regarding back-up files. Does it make any difference if these files are simply copies of the current files (NS profile or Communicator 4.7x) or should they be created using the back-up utility in windows?

Hope all is well and I look forward to your reply. Thanks.

 

Hi Bob,

Well, I see that you are right on target creating a new Profile.

Question 1:
Bob, you missed nothing, as this is exactly what Netscape 7 should do. From the Netscape Upgrade PDF file:


Upgrading from Netscape 4.x to Netscape 7.0

Upgrading from Netscape 4.x to Netscape 7.0 is straightforward. Once you install your Netscape 7.0 software, your bookmarks, mail accounts and other personal profile information for your primary profile become available for use with the new software. You can also easily convert data for additional profiles and use them with Netscape 7.0.

Converting and creating profiles

If you’re upgrading from Netscape 4.5 or later, the profile that you last used to start your older version of Netscape is automatically copied to Netscape 7.0. Bookmarks and mail information, such as address books, mail folders, and settings, are copied with the profile. If you have more than one profile, the additional profile information must be manually converted for use with Netscape 7.0. Use the appropriate procedure for your platform as described below.
---

Question 2:
You don't have to use the Windows backup utility for these files. A simply copy/paste of the Profiles folder is all you need.

If you have a burner, you can include these files in your backups. If you have a Zip drive, you can do the same.

Good going!

Ramona

 

Hi Ramona:

Glad to know I did the right thing, but I'm still a little confused. If I understand correctly, the installer should convert bookmarks, address books and mail file structure from the 4.7x file. But what came through was not fully current.

I had to cut and paste the bookmark file from the corrupted profile to update bookmarks, and copy in text files from the corrupted profile to restore the messages there. Are you saying that is the normal, required procedure?

If so, then I guess the 4.7x user file contains certain base information to create the profile, but can not serve to restore it to the full content prior to corruption. Is that correct?

Just trying to keep my old logical brain on the right track here. Hope you didn't wear out the snow shovel over the past few days!

 

Hi Bob,

The installer should convert bookmarks, address books and mail file structure from the 4.7x file. But what came through was not fully current.

What we have here is a Netscape 7 conversion failure! It's not perfect, and hopefully this feature will be refined as new Releases are available. It should convert your entire Profile, as outlined in the Upgrade File.

Some folks don't get their Address Book, others have problems with Mail, etc., etc., etc. You are not alone...

I had to cut and paste the bookmark file from the corrupted profile to update bookmarks, and copy in text files from the corrupted profile to restore the messages there. Are you saying that is the normal, required procedure?

Absolutely not, it should have converted your entire Profile.

If so, then I guess the 4.7x user file contains certain base information to create the profile, but can not serve to restore it to the full content prior to corruption. Is that correct?

No, this was a malfunction of the conversion process.


Ramona

 

Ramona:

Thanks-I understand. Since profiles appear subject to frequent corruption, I'd like to get clear on a few questions that might simplify restoring corrupted profile info.

1. First, Is the latest set of data stored in the profile, the 4.7x user file, or both? I suspect it's the profile because when I've created multiple new profiles, they all come into being with the same outdated set of data and stored messages. Or, perhaps the 4.7x user file is not being correctly updated.

Assuming the latest set of data is contained in the profile, it seems that you would get closer to complete restoration by replacing certain files in the new profile with files from the old profile. If so, then here are my questions:

2. Can the mail files without suffixes in the NEW profile simply be replaced with copies of the mail files without suffixes from the OLD corrupted profile?

2. Can the addressbook in the new profile be replaced by the addressbook from the corrupted profile?

3. I have already replaced the bookmark file in the new propile with the file from the corrupted profile, so I know that facet works.

4. Can the cookie file in the new profile be replaced by the cookie file in the corrupted profile?

5. Can the preferences from the corrupted profile be establish in the new profile without going through the Edit Preferences routine? If so, how?

6. I make heavy use of message filters to control spam. Where are those filters stored and can that file be copied from the corrupted profile into the new profile?

I'm sure other questions will pop-up. but answers to these will clarify a lot for me. Thanks.

 

Hi Bob,

If you are creatiing a new Profile for Netscape 7.x, then you should be copying information from the OLD 7.x Profile to the NEW 7.x Profile.. NOT from Communicator 4.7x. Users Profile.

Reading your first post in this thread, I see where you might be confused:

2. Deleted the corrupted profile from Mozilla.

This isn't necessary now, Bob. You now have established a 7.01 Profile. You no longer need to copy/convert Profile data from 4.7x. You should be copying Profile data from 7.01, which should be the current information.

You don't have to remove the corrupt Profile, in order to create a new Profile. Just leave it in place until you are certain the new Profile is working.

3. Used the installer to generate a new profile from the Communicator 4.7x file.

No longer necessary as stated above. Use the Profile Manager now:
Start|Programs|Netscape 7.0|Profile Manager.

What we did when you first had your ordeal with Profiles, will no longer apply, as you have established a working Profile(s). You need only work within Netscape 7.01, and not 4.7x.

Since users seem to have problems creating new Profiles, I put up a guideline to help Create a New Profile.

Questions 2. thru 4. are addressed in the above guideline, and the answer is Yes.

Question 5. is a definite NO. You will note that your salted folder undergoes a name change with each new Profile. It is a PITA to go through the prefs.js and user.js files and change that salted folder name, and if you miss one, all goes awry. Been there, done that, and it is not a good approach. You want to establish a NEW prefs.js file, since something is obviously broken in the existing prefs.js... Savvy?

Question 6.
Your filters are the rules.dat file. This too is covered in the new profile guideline.

Ask away if you have more questions.

Ramona

 

Ramona:

Your Create A New Profile guideline was exactly what I was looking for. I think I also now finally understand that the 4.7x user file is only used initially by installer to create the first 7.0 profile, and subsequent profiles are created using only Profile Manager. Wonders will never cease!

Thanks again for the help and I'm sure I'll be bothering you again before too long.