How to restore old data
I was having issues with Firefox so I "refreshed" it. Everything worked great except I had to re-install my "Do Not Track Me" extension from Blur. Unfortunately, all of my saved passwords were deleted except for it looks like they may have been saved to the old data file that got downloaded to my desktop. Is there a way to retrieve just the information pertaining to that extension and re-install that information? Thanks!
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Were you using Firefox's built-in Password Manager (Password Manager - Remember, delete and edit logins and passwords in Firefox) or an add-on to save those logins?
An Add-On from:https://dnt.abine.com
Firefox should recover bookmarks, history, cookies, passwords, form data by default. You can copy files like these from the "Old Firefox Data" folder on the desktop to your current Firefox profile folder to recover specific data.
- bookmarks and history: places.sqlite
- bookmark backups: JSON backups in the bookmarkbackups folder
- SQLite files like cookies.sqlite (cookies) and formhistory.sqlite (saved form data)
- logins.json and key3.db (decryption key) for Passwords saved in the Password Manager
- permissions.sqlite and possibly content-prefs.sqlite for Permissions and Site Preferences
- cert8.db for stored intermediate certificates (Certificate Manager)
- sessionstore.js for open tabs and pinned tabs and tab groups
- persdict.dat for words you added to the spelling checker dictionary
You can use this button to go to the current Firefox profile folder:
- Help > Troubleshooting Information > Profile Directory: Show Folder (Linux: Open Directory; Mac: Show in Finder)
- http://kb.mozillazine.org/Profile_folder_-_Firefox
Hmm, it appears that Abine/Blur charges for cloud synchronization, so the data is only available locally. There is this warning in their FAQ, but I don't know how technically accurate it is when they say "cache":
What happens if I clear my cache when I restart my browser?If you have your information stored locally (i.e. you do not have Backup & Sync authorized), DO NOT CLEAR YOUR CACHE, unless you are OK with having your accounts & passwords removed.
If you lose your accounts due to a cache reset, there is no way to recover those lost accounts.
I didn't see any details about the data storage or recovery.
Blur does have an export/import feature, so one possibility would be to "resurrect" your old pre-Refresh profile for purposes of exporting the data, and then import that into the new profile. This will take several minutes, obviously, but if you don't find a suitable answer otherwise, here's how you would do it:
Check inside the "Old Firefox Data" folder that Refresh adds to your desktop for a folder with a semi-randomized name. If there's only one, that probably has your old settings and add-ons. If there's more than one, you'll want to work with the one that was updated most recently.
Once you have identified the profile folder you want to restore, here is my suggested "old profile resurrection procedure":
Overview
These are the steps described in more detail below:
- Create a new Firefox profile
- Remove everything from that new profile folder
- Copy in everything from the old profile folder
Create a new Firefox profile (Windows)
Exit Firefox completely, and then start up in the Profile Manager by pasting the following into the Windows search box, or the Run dialog, and pressing Enter:
firefox.exe -P
Note: Any time you want to switch profiles, exit Firefox and return to this dialog.
Click the Create Profile button, assign a name like OldSettings, and skip the option to change the folder location. Then select that new profile in the dialog and start Firefox.
Open the New Profile folder in Windows Explorer
Firefox in the new profile should look like a factory fresh installation. Open the Troubleshooting Information page using either:
- "3-bar" menu button > "?" button > Troubleshooting Information
- Help menu > Troubleshooting Information
- type or paste about:support in the address bar and press Enter
In the first table, click the "Show Folder" button. Firefox will launch your brand new profile folder in Windows Explorer.
Leaving that folder open, switch back to Firefox, and Exit using either:
- "3-bar" menu button > "power" button
- (menu bar) File > Exit
When Firefox closes, the profile folder should be front and center, or you can activate it using the Task bar.
Copy Old Data in Place of New
In that new profile folder you just popped open -- NOT the one on your desktop -- select all the contents (you can use Ctrl+a) and delete (you can press the Delete key on the keyboard).
Leaving that window open, open or switch over to your Old Firefox Data folder. Drill down into your old profile folder. At this level you should see a folder named bookmarkbackups among other things.
Select everything (Ctrl+a) and Copy (either right-click > Copy or Ctrl+c).
Switch to the empty new profile folder in other window and Paste (either right-click > Paste or Ctrl+v). This may take a minute since some of the files are large.
Start Firefox
Firefox should start up in that "new" profile with the resurrected old profile data. Success?
Log into Blur and export your data to a convenient location, such as your Documents folder: https://dnt.abine.com/#help/faq/faq-exportAccount
Then log out of Blur, exit Firefox, start the Profile Manager, start up in your new profile. Then you can log into Blur and import the data.
Finally, delete the export file from Documents to avoid possible discovery by others with access to your system.
These add-ons can be a great help by backing up and restoring Firefox
FEBE (Firefox Environment Backup Extension) {web link} FEBE allows you to quickly and easily backup your Firefox extensions, history, passwords, and more. In fact, it goes beyond just backing up -- It will actually rebuild your saved files individually into installable .xpi files. It will also make backup of files that you choose.
OPIE {web link} Import/Export extension preferences