Txfr Netscape 6 profiles to Netscape 7.2

I've been running Netscape 6 with multiple accounts on a win 98 PC. I've now built myself a new win XP machine and want to transfer all of the settings and data across to my newly downloaded Netscape 7.2 I have tried copying the 'Mozilla' folder from the 'All Users' folder on the win 98 machine to the 'Documents & Settings/All Users/Application Data/' folder. When I start Netscape 7.2 I get a list of the profiles in the Profile Manager but I get a message to say that 'the Directory containing the profile cannot be found'

Have I missed a vital step or is this not possible.

Any help or advice would be appreciated.

 

Welcome to the Forum, bobzie!

bobzie,

What you didn't take into account is that the prefs.js file contains Windows 98 file paths. You want it to contain Windows XP file paths in order for Netscape to find the Profile. An edit of the prefs.js file will be necessary to update the path.

You're just fine moving the Mozilla folder from 98 to XP, I assume you either deleted, or renamed the existing XP Mozilla folder?

Here are the kickers:

Did you create a Profile on the XP machine using the same name as the Profile you moved from the 98 PC? If not you need to do so, e.g., if the 98 PC Profile is bobzie, then you should use bobzie on the XP machine...

Close Netscape and Quick Launch:

To edit the prefs.js file:

Open WordPad, and then File | Open, and navigate to the prefs.js file
I suggest using WordPad, as it has a "Find" and "Replace" feature

Next: Change the 98 PC path:

FROM:
C:\WINDOWS\Application Data\Mozilla\users50
OR
C:\WINDOWS\Application Data\Mozilla\Profiles
OR
C:\WINDOWS\application data\netscape6\users50
(Depending on your Version of Netscape 6)

TO:
C:\Documents and Settings\WinXP_profile_name\Application Data\Mozilla\Profiles\myNSProfile\abcd1234.slt

In WordPad click on Edit | "Find "
When the first instance of the OLD path is found, then click on
Edit | "Replace ", and copy the new path in the "Replace with" field
Now click on "Replace All ", and each instance of the OS path of the 98 will be replaced with the OS path of the XP PC
When all paths have been changed, then click on
File | Save

Follow the same steps for each Profile

Open Netscape and your Profile should be recognized.

Let us know if you have further problems. FYI, I have this information laid out for users here: Moving Profiles from PC to PC.

Ramona

 

Thank you Ramona. Its bedtime here in the UK so I'll give all that a spin tomorrow and let you know how I get on.

 

Hi Ramona

I did, briefly, post here that I couldn't get it to work - but then I tried again and it did! So many thanks for your time and trouble. Its good to know that there are helping hands out there in time of trouble

Thanks again,

Bobzie

 

Bobzie,
it is a simple, and not so simple process, and I am glad to see that you persevered, and succeeded..

 

bobsie,

Thanks for the feedback, and it's great to hear that you are up and running!

Ramona

 

A last note from me.....

I did have to add a step to the procedure to get it to work correctly. Having set-up the profile - which generates the Mozilla folder - pasting the old data into that new folder and editing the prefs file, Profile Manager still wouldn't recognise the directory. The solution was to delete that profile and then set it again exactly as before and, hey presto, it worked. At first I thought I had mis-typed the profile name but it was the same with all six profiles I was transfering.

Thanks again,

Bob