How to sync Firefox profiles between OS 10.6.8 & 10.9.4 computers using 3rd party software?
I'm using Firefox 30.0 on all of my Mac computers. I've used a 3rd party backup & file synchronization program for many years to successfully sync the Firefox (FF) Profiles folder between 6 different computers, all running Mac OS 10.6.8. I've recently upgraded one of them to Mac OS 10.9.4 and found that the Profiles folder was now in a different location. But no problem, I only had to tell the backup program where to find the Profiles folder under OS 10.9.4 and things seemed to work well for a couple of weeks, synching between FF Profiles on computers that are running different versions of the Mac OS.
Then yesterday something happened with FF on the OS 10.9.4 and I had to go through troubleshooting to retire the old Profile and create a new one for me to continue to work with FF. When I finished working I synched, as usual, to an external HD. That external HD also can run Mac OS 10.6.8 and I actually run my iMac from that external HD.
The problem came when I booted the iMac from that external HD and tried to start FF. I was told that FF couldn't find my Profiles. As a result I couldn't start FF on the iMac under OS 10.6.8. The Profiles folder on the iMac does contain a folder named hf38mmri.default-string_of_numbers (I've made-up this name), which apparently was the new Profiles folder created as a result of restoring the OS 10.9.4 FF to its default settings. FF on the iMac couldn't open without the old Profile, named qr64trz.default (I've made-up this name too), so I copied the qr64trz.default folder over from another OS 10.6.8 computer and put it into the Profiles folder on the iMac. I could then start FF on the iMac and post this question via FF on the iMac.
So my plan right now is to leave both the qr64trz.default and the hf38mmri.default-string_of_numbers folders within the FF Profiles folder and to use the 3rd party synch program to still synch or backup (whichever action is appropriate) between the 2 operating systems. It seems that FF under OS 10.6.8 needs that qr64trz.default folder while the OS 10.9.4 FF needs the hf38mmri.default-string_of_numbers folder for its Profile. Does that make sense as a plan or should I be doing something else?
All Replies (4)
Why don't you use Firefox Sync between those two computers? How do I set up Sync on my computer?
I do not use any devices other than computers, thus wasn't aware of this service. I'll try it since my solution wouldn't keep the bookmarks current between the 6 computers. Thank you. I'll give a final reply once I get a chance to try it on the OS 10.9.4 computer also.
Modified by viola77cells
I hope that helps! I'd also strongly suggest updating all your machines to 10.9.4, as I'm sure you've already seen it's quite a bit nicer than 10.6 ;)
I use quite a bit of legacy software and actually prefer OS 10.6.8. However I've found that some web sites no longer play nice with it, thus my need to upgrade to OS 10.9.4. If Apple would only return colors to the sidebar wherever it is displayed, then I'd be happier with the newer OS.
Could you tell me actually what it is that Firefox Sync does? Does it merge bookmark lists between two devices, if before the enabling of Sync changes were made to both bookmark lists? Or does it overwrite one bookmark list with the most current one?