Moving Firefox/Thunderbird data to a new PC

swinnie · 19 Aug 2007 at 17:23

Hi Guys

You have probably heard this one many times before.

I have just got a new pc - Dell Vostro 200 with Windows XP Home Edition and SP2. I want to move all of my data, emails and bookmarks from an Evesham Voyager 5700 A24 Laptop with Windows XP Home Edition and SP2

Moving data is not a problem
I need to move all of my emails from Thunderbird, where are these stored on the C:\ drive, I seem to remember something about the Application Data directory but not 100% sure!
Where are all of the bookmarks stored on the C:\ drive, Application Data directory maybe?

I will be using Firefox and Thunderbird on the new computer so compatibility shouldn't be an issue.

Thanks in advance!

swinnie · 19 Aug 2007 at 22:45

Any ideas?

M0KUJ1N · 19 Aug 2007 at 23:01

%Appdata%\Thunderbird

MarcLister · 19 Aug 2007 at 23:10

You could use http://mozbackup.jasnapaka.com/ to help move your FF and TB stuff over to your new PC.

tolien · 19 Aug 2007 at 23:47

MarcLister said:
You could use http://mozbackup.jasnapaka.com/ to help move your FF and TB stuff over to your new PC.

Not ideal - Mozbackup only copies the files it knows about, rather than making a verbatim copy of your profile.

As said, Tb profile data is stored at %APPDATA%\Thunderbird, and Fx profile data is at %APPDATA%\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\ - install the two apps, then copy both folders to the new machine and everything should be as it was.

MarcLister · 19 Aug 2007 at 23:48

Ah why is that then tolien?

tolien · 19 Aug 2007 at 23:49

MarcLister said:
Ah why is that then tolien?

Why is what?

Garyj881 · 20 Aug 2007 at 00:02

The easiest way to back up firefox bookmarks is

Bookmarks > Organise bookmarks > File > Export and chhose where you want to save the file.

When you choose to reinstall the bookmarks do the same again but choose import.

MarcLister · 20 Aug 2007 at 00:40

tolien said:
Why is what?

Why does MozBackup only backup files it knows about instead of a verbatim copy?

Craig321 · 20 Aug 2007 at 01:29

M0KUJ1N said:
%Appdata%\Thunderbird

I also use this method (%appdata%\Firefox for Firefox). It works very well, restores Firefox 100% perfectly.

tolien · 20 Aug 2007 at 09:43

MarcLister said:
Why does MozBackup only backup files it knows about instead of a verbatim copy?

Because that's all it's programmed to do?
If you look at the changelog for each version, you'll notice that they're having to play catchup with both new files that Fx uses itself and files that extensions create.

MarcLister · 20 Aug 2007 at 12:26

Ah. Wouldn't it make sense to make it a verbatim copier though? Or at least have this feature as an option? :confused:

tolien · 20 Aug 2007 at 22:13

Using FEBE sounds more complicated than just compressing the profile or using Windows' backup utility.

MarcLister said:
Wouldn't it make sense to make it a verbatim copier though?

It would be easier anyway.

MarcLister · 20 Aug 2007 at 23:18

Yeah it would I think.

Thanks for making me aware of MozBackup's shortcomings. I hardly used it anyway, but I will not use it in the future.