Navigator won't start (corrupt Profile?)

Hello,

until this afternoon I used Netscape 6.02. But when I tried to launch that program after a re-boot, it "froze" during the splash screen. I thought "well, 7.02 is out anyway" and tried to install it over the former version.
But after the installation the program froze again, but not at the splash screen, but just after the navigator screen built up and the internet connection was dialed.

Then I tried to make a clean new installation (deleted everything except "Profiles" and "Users" folders, even most of the registry entries), but the problem is still there.

I found out that the eMail client worked if launched seperately. Some research of the files showed me, that only few had been changed during the time the program stoppen working.

I hunted down the problem to the Profiles\...\Mozilla folder at C:\windows\...

Then I tried some things with the registry.dat. When I renamed it, Netscape started without probles, but of course with all user-information lost.

Then I tried another thing: I started the working eMail prog and then re-named the registry.dat. The new one was 2kb big, but still the navigor would not work! So the problem must be inside those 2kb used by the eMail prog, or am I wrong?

I do not want to start a new profile, because I have so many accounts and other info I do not want to lose. Furthermore I have the feeling that the problem may be within those eMail prog information, so I would just "transplant" the problem into a new profile.

Do you have any ideas? If not: How to find out, which file is specifically corrupt?

Thanks for any help!!

Andre

 

Postscriptum

Postscriptum: The only files in the Profiles\...\Mozilla that have been altered around the time the prog stopped working are:

abook.mab
oanacea.dat
prefs.js
xul.mfl
secmod.db
history.dat

Furthermore cookies.txt and bookmarks.html, but I guess they should not be relevant ;-)

Do you think it's one of those files? Which can I delete without probs? Or could the problem still be outside that folder or just with registry.dat?

Andre

 

Ohhhhhhhhhhhhh, I found it!!!

It is in fact the bookmark.html file!!! I can't believe it, that's the file I ruled out at first ... seemed I was wrong.

But what can be wrong with that file? It is 95 MB(!) big ... wow ... I just look at it ... and it repeats many entries ... billions of times! How could that happen? So maybe the program didn't hang when I started it ... it just takes 5 minutes to get the bookmarks loaded!!!


I will try to delete these super-entries manually ... and then I'll be right back here and tell you.

Has anybody ever had a self-growing bookmark.html?

Andre

 

Welcome to the Forum, anbeck!

Hi Andre,

Your problem is the Profile. All the files you mention fall under the Profile, so I think your only option here is to create a new Profile.

What you have been trying is only compounding the existing problem. Look at the guidelines I have for Creating a New Profile, to get you started.

Back up your existing Profiles folder before you create the new Profile.

Post back with any further questions.

Ramona

 

Thanks, but I've found the problem: read the post above.

Somehow my bookmark.html copied itself into itself (?) several hundred times, making up a file of 95 000 kb! The program didn't crash when I started it ... it tried to initialize that file, which takes REALLY long ... if you want to try: paste your bookmark-file at the end of itself until the file is 95MB big ... then try to launch Netscape ...

Andre

 

Hi andre,

Well, that is amazing! I don't believe I've seen this anomaly before, but no wonder you were having problems. As a rule, the Bookmarks file is fairly non-lethal...

Thanks for letting us know the end result!

Ramona

 

Yes, that's really weird. I tried to manually repair that file, but it's hopeless ... no text-editor can handle such a file ... I loaded it into Word, but it takes ages to edit it.

By the way: How can one get rid off the AIM and radio signs under the "BACK" sign and left of the BOOKMARKS?

I got it with 6.02 ... but can't find away to delete them here ...??

Andre

 

Hi andre,

I'm sure you've realized that the problem was in installing over Netscape 6. It was such a terrible release, and full of bugs. A clean install is always to be desired.

The Radio button can be disabled in:
Edit|Preferences|Navigator

The AIM button can be edited in:
Bookmarks|Manage Bookmarks
Then delete the AIM button from your Personal Toolbar.

Do you have any backups of your bookmarks.html file? If so you can do a copy and paste, to replace your corrupt Bookmarks.

Ramona

 

Seems still buggy. Although I disabled the IMS sign in Edit/Preferences/Navigator, it was still there. Only after I checked it and unchecked it again, it disappeared. But I can't find anything about the Radio-Button ... all others are gone.

And of course I don't have any backup of that file, because even a corrupted file could be easily edited ... but I never thought of a 95 MB file!

Hmmmmmmmmmm..........

 

Hi anbeck,

The Radio Button is the last Button listed in the Preferences|Navigator window.

I have found some information re: the unaccountable growth of the Bookmark file. It seems to point to sharing a profile between Netscape and Mozilla builds. Some of the results include loss of Search settings, preferences, and unchecked growth of the Bookmarks file. So, I'm wondering if you were using the same Profile with Netscape 7 as you used with Netscape 6? If so, that would point to your problem.

The only workaround I found was for a Mac problem, but would apply to Windows. That was to export the Bookmarks as an LDIF file, edit, then import the edited file. However, since you found it impossible to edit your 95 MB file, then it would be of no use.

Ramona

 

No, the bookmarks file suddenly went that large when I was still using only Netscape 6.02. Hmmmm....

And that is weird, too: I have the german 7.02, and I compared it to the screen you linked above: Mine is exactly the same BUT where you have "[] RADIO" I have "[] INSTANT MESSENGER ", which I used to get rid off that button. But I don't have one to get rid off the Radio-button...

 

Hi andre,

Well no wonder you couldn't find the Radio preference to disable...

Add this script to your user.js or prefs.js file. First, close Netscape, then back up the file before editing:

user_pref( "browser.toolbars.showbutton.netscaperadio ", false);

Let us know if this helps.

Ramona