lost all folders and profiles NS7.1

In doing some housecleaning I deleted my temporary internet files to gain space on my hard drive. I also ran my usual Norton programs (1 step checkup). I shut down and re-booted. When I tried to get to my mail and newsgroups using either the systray, shortcut on the desktop or from the start>programs>netscape 7.1. it takes me to Profiles. When I try to open it takes me to registration. When I sign in or move forward it tells me it can't register me then after a few seconds takes me to a blank mail/newgroups page. What happened to all of my folders and files and how do I retrieve them? If I look in Explorer the programs seem to be there.

Help!

lgbest

 

lgbest,

With Netscape closed, open the Profile Manager
Start | Programs | Netscape 7.1

Delete the Profile name of the Profile you have "lost "
When the "Delete Profile" dialog window comes up, you are given two choices:
Delete Files and Don't Delete Files - Select DON'T DELETE FILES

Now click on the Create Profile Tab
Name the Profile the same as the Profile name you just deleted
Now start Netscape with that Profile, and your existing data should be accessible.

Let us know if you continue to have problems.

Ramona

 

Hi Ramona - There is something very wierd going on. I followed your instructions exactly and it did not work. Now when I try to open NS7.1 on either C or E drives it does not offer me the profiles screen but goes directly to another profile and mail screen I set months ago, which is not used much at all and is pointed to a different server. I can open NS4.8 on my E drive but of course the folders are not the same as I have not used that program for over a year. Also when I try to respond to this thread on Netscape 4.8 when I click reply I do not get the reply screen just a blank page under the Reply to Thread header. However, if I open windowsbbs using Internet Explorer I can reply (obviously). I have run Norton again, powered down restarted and nothing seems to help.

I am at a loss here and I was preparing to ask you about downloading NS 7.2 before all of this happened.

Regards,

lgbest

 

lgbest,

Sounds like something went sour when you did your housekeeping. If you have a backup of your Profiles folder, then in your current *.slt folder, rename the prefs.js file to Xprefs.js. Copy the backup of the prefs.js file, and paste it into the current *.slt folder.

If you have no backup, then create a new Profile, then copy the personal data files from the corrupt Profile to the new Profile. See: Create a New Profile for a guideline.

Let us know if this gets you up and running.

Ramona

 

Hi Ramona - I did a "find" search and I don't see a backup of the profile that existed prior to housecleaning on either hard drive. I did find a profile created using your instructions on 8/27 (I0ugoodv.slt). Should I copy that to my E drive and will that get me back to the older profile where all of the email is? Also, the only way I can reply to threads is to bring windowsbbs up on MS Internet Explorer. For some reason it does not work on NS 4.8 Communicator.

One thought is trying to recover files from the Norton backup program but I'm not sure that when I erased the .tmp files that they ended up in the Norton protected backup. I'll look there. Any thoughts?

I'm not where I can use my ISD and can only get 24k bps on my dialup at this location. I can use NS4.8 until I get back to my office but am catching all kinds of spam. I think I'll wait to make changes until I get back in a week or so. If you have any other thoughts let me know.

Thanks for your help.

Regards,

lgbest

 

I would not venture to guess if you set up properly in the desired drive. But
Ramona provides http://home.att.net/~cherokee67/ns7profloc.html tob give
the default location of the profile(s). As long as you have one profile in the default location, you can create a new one anywhere you wish. Just enter the information. I had a two drive system, with the program in C drive, but the Profile in the D drive. I am not familiar with copying, but if you have something worth copying, you can rename the .slt folder after replacing the contents. But, I have never done this.
What happened to your backup? It depends on where you stored it.
I used to have a recovery program, and it never recovered anything worthwhile. I hope that you have better luck.

 

Hi Ramona I- 'm back to my office where I have my DSL connection. I have not been able to get anything going on NS7.1. When I open it I end up on a profile set up over a year ago for another user. My profile is gone as are all of my mail files. Also I'm positive I followed your directions and selected don't delete files but that's evidently what happened for some reason.

It appears that I have lost everything. Is there a way to recover these files from my hard drives?

Thanks,

lgbest

 

Hi lgbest,

To the best of my knowledge, I don't know of any really good recovery program. I'm sure you have done thorough searches for your Profile, and sorry to hear that you lost the Profile. Especially considering how hard you work to transfer the information earlier.

Ramona

 

Hi Ramona - Here's what I've done - a search in MS explorer for windows\application data\mozilla. Up come hundreds of files (497) including all of the mailboxes and I think archived mail on E drive, etc. The .slt files are also there. The problem is I don't know exactly what I'm looking for. The files and folders go back to 1999 so must include everything in NS4.x versions. There are several that refer to users50\lgbest that were made during the time (2004) that I had only been using NS 7.1. Could they be hidden in there for some reasion? how do I open these to see what is in them?

By the way I can only reply if I copy this page over to MS Explorer.

lgbest

 

I still don't have a clear picture on which Operating system you have.
But, if it is Win2k or WinXP, please take a look at my previous reply, and at Ramona's Solutions, link.
You would not ask the question about possible hidden files, if you looked at that link. WinXP hides those file!

 

Graham,

Do you know the name of the Profile that you lost? That is the folder that you should be looking for in the: C:\Application Data\Mozilla\Profiles\profilename. Open the Profiles folder, and what subfolders do you see there? Look at the dates of the salted subfolders to see which ones have current dates.

No, Netscape 4.x keeps its "Users" folder in Program Files, and there will be nothing of that Version in the Mozilla folder.

The users50 subfolder is the name used by Netscape 6.0/6.01. That folder name (users50) was change to "Profiles" with, I believe, the Netscape 6.1 Release.

You can open any of the folders: Bookmarks, Address Book, Mail, in WordPad or Notepad.

We went through a rather lengthy thread when you wanted to move your Mail from one drive to another. This may refresh your memory, as to what you did and what to look for: http://www.windowsbbs.com/showthread.php?t=30597

Ramona

 

Hi Ramona - The profile I deleted in NS7.1 was "lgbest ". When I search I find many lgbest files but the only one that seems to relate to the current situation is one I made on 8/27 after deleting the corrupted lgbest profile. It is C:\WINDOWS\Application Data\Mozilla\Profiles\lgbest\l0uqoodv.slt Then there's one on my E drive - E:\WINDOWS\Application Data\Mozilla\Users50\lgbest made in 12/02 (probably MS6.0). However the archive folders that point to E drive are still there. When I try to open using notepad I get squares, no verbiage.

Next step?

lgbest

 

Graham,

What files are you trying to open? Mail files are simple text files and can be read in any text editor.

Your next step would be to copy the Profile data from the most current Profile to a newly created Profile. If you've deleted everything but the 12/2 Profile, then it looks as if that is your only alternative.

Ramona

 

Hi Ramona - I'll try anything to get those folders back particularly the ones i archived to E drive that sem to be there. Can you walk me through how to "copy the Profile data from the most current Profile to a newly created Profile "?

I did a complete search of my C drive using Norton Un-erase. There were over 9000 "lgbest" files on the unused part of the disk (that had been deleted) but they are all text (.txt) files so I guess if this doesn't work I have lost them for good. Then the question is do I go ahead and reinstall the 7.2 version? If I do that can I transfer over bookmarks, address books etc.?

Also do you have any thoughts about why I can't reply to a thread using NS4.8 and have to copy and paste into MSExplorer to get the reply box to open?

Regards,

lgbest

 

Graham,

Sure, I'll be glad to walk you thru a new Profile.

Close Netscape, Quick Launch, and all Programs running in the background

Start | Programs | Netscape 7.1 | Profile Manager
Click on: Create Profile
Delete: "Default User" and type in a unique name
Close Profile Manager

Open Windows Explorer
Navigate to the Profiles Folder on the E: drive
Open the *.slt folder and copy these files:

At this point I will refer you to this web page: Create New Profile
All the information for which files to copy, and not copy are listed.

I wouldn't bother with Netscape 7.2 right now. There are several Security vulnerabilities in the application, which are listed in a sticky at the top of the Forum. Just stay with 7.1 until you get your Profiles back in place. Then make a backup of the Profiles folder and place it in a backup folder on your HD.

Ramona

 

Hi Ramona - Here is where I am at the moment. I have found two users 50 files "“ one on my C drive the other on my E drive.
C:\WINDOWS\ApplicationData\Mozilla\Users50\lgbest\3o9zi7ef.slt-new\Mail\Local Folders 9/21/02 This seems to have all of my NS 4.x mail in it.

E:\WINDOWS\Application Data\Mozilla\Users50\lgbest\3o9zi7ef.slt-new...etc Was copied to E: drive on 12/11/02

C:\WINDOWS\Application Data\Mozilla\Profiles\lgbest\l0uqoodv.slt is the folder I made on 8/27 to try to recover the files lost when I emptied my temp internet files. It appears to have all my bookmarks from the NS 7.1 It has a prefs.js file created on 8/27. I also have a prefs.js file created on 3/17/04 on my E: drive. This is a 29k file tied to users50\lgbest\3o9zi7ef.slt-new folder and must be the most recent version prior to the problem of 8/26/04. When I try to open any of the prefs.js files I get an error message "Script execution error - invalid character." Does that mean anything?

Because I am having problems getting pictures to open on MSI Explorer and also cannot open certain windows on using NS 7.1 navigator after reading very favorable reviews I downloaded and installed Firefox last night. I then opened the program and in order to get email I had to set up a mail account and profile. So I created an lgbest profile. It turns out it set up on NS 7.1 and auto downloaded all messages on my server but nothing from my NS 4.8. It did not copy my current address books or my current bookmarks. However, Firefox opens all windows and pictures that MSIE and NS7.1 communicator would not handle. I have not copied any *.slt folders yet, wanting to give you the best rundown that I can. I need to try to copy my address books and bookmarks from folders on C: drive.

What’s next?

Regards,

Graham

 

Hi Graham,

First: Mozilla Firefox is a standalone browser with no Mail & Newsgroups component. If you use Firefox, then you will want to use its companion application, Mozilla Thunderbird. Thunderbird is a standalone Mail & Newsgroups application.

The script error you received, is because you haven't set any program to open *.js files. Do this:
Highlight the prefs.js file
Press the Shift key, and do not release the key
Now right click the highlighted prefs.js file, with the Shift key still depressed
Select from the context menu: "Open with "
Scroll down the Program list to Wordpad or Notepad and select either one. Insert a tick (checkmark) in the small square to the left of: "Always use this program to open this type of file. "
Now you will be able to read your prefs.js file

If you are ready to copy your Address Book, Bookmarks, etc., then follow the guideline I referenced above: http://home.att.net/~cherokee67/NS7newprofile.html

Ramona

 

Oops, maybe I shouldn’t have gone to Firefox. Although I didn’t know it when I opened the tools>read mail, I was taken to NS7.1 to register and set up a profile in order to get to the mail (I thought Mozilla’s email program was in the download). Is Thunderbird similar or the same as NS 7.1 Mail program i.e. which is the better program at this time? Does one conflict with the other? Now that I have created a new profile in NS 7.1 called lgbest should I install T-bird and copy the files over? Because I like the NS 7.1 email program. However it does seem to take longer to load going through FireFox. Is this a problem? I have really made a mess of this.

I have been using the old NS 4.8 program (which, as you say, is obsolete and not supported - so I would like to get out of that and take it off my E drive). NS 4.8 has saved mail that I downloaded from my server when the problem occurred plus new mail. What I need to do is to decide on a default browser then set up one email program and transfer my address books, bookmarks and all mail folders that are on either of my hard drives to that mail program. Also I would want to (if possible) have any HTML’s and attachments open in Firefox, not Netscape 7.1 because there are too many instances where I cannot get windows and pictures to open. MSInternet Explorer is probably not needed as a backup browser if I can get FireFox to take its place.

At this point the most important mail folders to me are the inboxes and sent boxes on local mail for the lgbest profiles, plus the archives you helped me set up that should be on E drive if they were not erased during the housecleaning. Otherwise I need to archive what’s on NS4.8 and start with a clean mail program.

I followed directions and moved files and folders to NS7.1 as you oulined in your Creating a New Profile.....document. I have no *.msf files in the folders. I would like to show you the hierarchy but don’t know how to send you the picture. It goes Mozilla>Firefox>profiles>lgbest>l0ugoodv.slt and lgbest. Under l0ugoodv.slt are cache and chrome. Under lgbest is 3o9zi7ef.slt, 3o9zi7ef.slt.new, qkzlvimh.slt. All of these have various subfolders with mail etc. I copied the abook.mab and also the .pab from MS4.8 on E drive into the lgbest profile. However, when I open C:\NS 7.1 I only have the 3 addresses I copied in from emails today, so they aren’t linked. I thought I could copy the books over using the commands in NS7.1 but this doesn’t want to work either.

I opened the prefs.js files but don’t really understand what that file is.

Regards,

Graham

 

Thunderbird is almost exactly like Netscape 7.1 Mail & Newsgroups, so I can't really say that one is better than the other. Thunderbird is very stable, if that's really what you're asking. If you intend to use Firefox as your default browser, then install and use Thunderbird. I have Netscape 7.2, Mozilla 1.7.3, Firefox 1.0PR, and Thunderbird 0.8 installed, using FF and TB for the default browser and email client. They are both very stable. Also Mozilla 1.7.3 is very stable, and doesn't contain the security vulnerabilities which are in Netscape 7.1 and 7.2.

If you make Firefox your default browser, then links in Thunderbird mail will open in Firefox. If you intend keeping either Netscape and/or Mozilla, you will have to disable either or both from being the default browser, and mail client.

I definitely don't follow you here. I see that this lgbest Profile has no Mail. This must be a profile you created and never use? C:\WINDOWS\Application Data\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\lgbest\l0ugoodv.slt

Oh my Graham, you do have a mess. How did you wind up with 4 salted folders under the same Profile name? There should be only one salted folder in a Profile. Which one of these salted folders is the default, i.e., which one are you using. You determine this in Netscape by going to: Edit | Preferences | Advanced | Cache. The Cache Folder field will point to the salted folder in use.

Which lgbest Profile, i.e., which salted folder? You would do better to EXport the 4.8 Address Book as an LDIF file, then IMport it into Thunderbird, Netscape, Mozilla, or whichever browser/mail client you elect to use.

The prefs.js file is a JavaScript file, which contains the settings for the browser, or mail client.

Ramona

 

Hi Ramona "“ Thanks for the response. It is helping me to sort out this awful mess.

First things first "“ the hierarchy is now Mozilla>Firefox. Under firefox is a profiles folder called bn1vdu4m.default. Then there is a Profiles folder under Mozilla. Under that is lgbest with 10goodv.slt with a cache and chrome folder but no mail folders. There is also an lgbest folder tied to the lgbest folder directly under Profiles. That contains the qkzlvmih.slt folder plus the mail folders so that must be the one in use (you can’t see the entire string in the edit>preferences>cache window). lt did not have the 4.8 pab.na2 address book, the 10goodv.slt folder contains that. I copied the 4.8 pab.na2 address book to the active folder while in the Msexplore panel, checked my E drive to make sure the 10goodv.slt was still there (just in case) and deleted all *.slt folders except for qkzlvmih.slt. Even though the address book is now in the correct folder it does not appear when I select "address book" from the menu. What is an LDIF file and should I how do I export it instead of copying from Explorer?

Once we sort that out the next step (I guess) is to install Thunderbird and move everything in the qkzlvmih.slt folder over to Tbird - right?

Graham