Firefox bookmarks gone after system lock-up

Hi.

I have just recovered from my PC totally locking up - first time since i built it!
and firefox has just started with the default homepage and my bookmarks are gone!
I have tried two earlier restore dates, but as normal they cannot be restored to.
Does anyone know if their might be a recoverable version of my bookmarks anywhere?? (XP SP2)

Thanks
Spotta

 

spotta,

Your Profiles folder is located here:
C:\Documents and Settings\yourprofilename\Application Data\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\profilename

How many Profiles are listed? If there is more than one Profile, then your Bookmarks are most likely in the profile you were previously using.

If you have multiple profiles, then start Firefox using the original profile.
You can do so by right clicking on the Firefox Desktop shortcut
Select: Properties
Click on the Shortcut Tab
To the end of the Location field, add one space, then -p
This will open Profile Manager

Try each of the profiles and hopefully you'll find the one with the original bookmarks.html file. There should also be a bookmarks.bak file.

If you find the original Profile with all the appropriate files, then in addition to the -p you have added to the Desktop Shortcut:
Add one space after -p then type the Profile name
It will be similar to:
"C:\Program Files\firefox\firefox.exe" -p profilename

The Profile Name will be what follows the random charaters, e.g.,
mp423xxl.profilename

Hopefully this will get you up and running with your bookmarks.html file. I would also strongly advise making frequent backups of your Profiles folder. In the event Windows should hiccup, or freeze again, you won't have to worry about losing any of your Firefox Profile data.

Post back with any further questions

Ramona

 

Hi.

Thanks for the fast reply.
In that location I have one folder named default.bcl
inside that folder are bookmarks.html and bookmarks.bak - both 1KB and dated today ; (

Does this mean that they are gone?

Spotta.

 

Spotta,

Total bummer! I'm afraid they're gone, if you have no backup, and only one Profile. I'm really sorry, as I know how important those Bookmarks are. You might consider doing this:

Close Firefox
Create a C:\Bookmarks folder
Move the Bookmarks to this folder from the profilename folder

Open about:config by clearing the location bar, and entering/typing:
about:config
Right click anywhere, and select: New | String
Enter the Preference Name: browser.bookmarks.file
Enter the String Value: C:\Bookmarks\bookmarks.html
Now your Bookmarks will be read from the C:\Bookmarks folder.

If you should experience another unexpected freeze or shutdown, your Bookmarks will be in place, however, you will need to add the Preference again. Once it is added in about:config, it is also listed in the prefs.js file.

One note: If you have any version of Netscape or Mozilla installed, and you are sharing Bookmarks, the Firefox Bookmarks will overwrite these Bookmarks, if you share this Bookmark file with them. However, if Firefox is your default browser, then that is not a problem.

Now, backup your Profiles Folder. You might also give this page a read:
Preventive Browser Maintenance

Ramona

 

Hi.

I managed to get a back up copy from my Ghost image that is about 5 weeks old so I have got most of them back ; )
What annoys me most is losing my history!!
I currently use syncback http://www.2brightsparks.com/syncback/syncback-hub.html
to back up important stuff on a more regular basis than doing a Ghost image so my Firefox profile will be added to my back up schedule.

Thanks again

Spotta

 

I currently use syncback to back up important stuff on a more regular basis than doing a Ghost image so my Firefox profile will be added to my back up schedule.

Been using SyncBack for a number of months. Works flawlessly. Scheduled daily backups for my computer and networked computer. Also have redundant backups placed on networked computer. When managed through XP scheduled task, only resource use is the 45 seconds a day it takes for the backups to run.

 

Good news that you were at least able to retrieve an older copy of your bookmarks.html file! Sorry about your history, and yes that would be very annoying! At least it won't happen again with your new plan for Syncback backups. I use Iomega backup with my exterior HDD, and it does an autobackup on any file changes made that day. Syncback is probably similar.

Ramona