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How can I move my browswer history from my old PC to my new PC?

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  • Last reply by cor-el

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I have an old XP machine and have just built a brand new windows 7 machine. I need to move my history information over to the new PC. I have found the instructions for moving my bookmarks, but not for moving my browsing history. I rely on my history for finding quite a few of the sites I visit regularly rather than cluttering up my system with more bookmarks and icons.

How do I save my history and get it onto my new machine. I have and external HD and cds I can use for this.

I have an old XP machine and have just built a brand new windows 7 machine. I need to move my history information over to the new PC. I have found the instructions for moving my bookmarks, but not for moving my browsing history. I rely on my history for finding quite a few of the sites I visit regularly rather than cluttering up my system with more bookmarks and icons. How do I save my history and get it onto my new machine. I have and external HD and cds I can use for this.

Chosen solution

You might also be able to set up Firefox Sync, and sync the two computers to the same account. Then all the history (as well as bookmarks and addons) will sync to the new system. You can learn more here.

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Do you have the same version of Firefox on both systems? You could try a profile transplant.

On your old system, open your active profile folder using:

Help > Troublshooting Information > "Show Folder" button

Back up all of the contents of that folder to a convenient location (e.g., USB Flash drive).

On your new system, create a fresh profile using the following (with all Firefox windows closed):

Start > Run/search > firefox.exe /ProfileManager

Create a new profile and accept the defaults, then start Firefox.

Open your newly created profile folder using:

Help > Troublshooting Information > "Show Folder" button

Without closing that window, switch back to Firefox and exit. Pause while the new profile folder is updated, then delete all of its contents and copy in the contents from your other machine.

When you restart Firefox, it should pick up all of the transferred information and settings.

Any luck?

If the transfer is a disaster, use the profile manager to switch back to your previous profile.

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Chosen Solution

You might also be able to set up Firefox Sync, and sync the two computers to the same account. Then all the history (as well as bookmarks and addons) will sync to the new system. You can learn more here.

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I should have been more specific. the two PCs are 7 years apart in age. the old one is XP Home and Firefox 14.1. I had to many problems going above that version and had to reload it.

The new PC is Windows 7 Home and is running the latest version of Firefox.

Is there a history folder in 14.1? Synch seemed to be useless.

I know how to move my documents, my pictures, my bookmarks, my email. I have no clue how to move over the history.

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Copying the places.sqlite file from the old XP version to the current Firefox Profile Folder should transfer the bookmarks and the history.

See also: