Backup Mozilla FireFox settings with NikSaver

How-to backup all Mozilla Firefox. backup Mozilla Firefox settings, bookmarks, plugins, passwords.

NikSaver is a program that will help you backup all your settings (like backup Firefox) in case you reinstall the operating system or move them to another computer.

MozBackup is a free utility written by Pavel Cvrcek that will automatically backup Firefox and Thunderbird as well as Netscape and the full Mozilla suite. It works like a charm - the whole process is driven by a Wizard so easy to use that even raw beginners will be able to set up automatic backups. It also offers encryption of the backup files and a complete push-button restore option.

Backup Firefox is as simple as copying their respective profile folders to another location. If you do that, you’ll have a full backup Firefox with all your setting and personal data saved.

The hard part is finding the profile folders. First up, they are not located where you would expect to find them. Secondly, they are located in different places for different versions of Windows. Thirdly, they may be assigned random file names that make them difficult to recognize.

On Windows 2000/XP machines the locations for your Firefox profiles are respectively:

C:\Documents and Settings\<user name>\Application Data\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\<Profile name>\

On Windows 9x/Me PCs they can usually be found at:

C:\Windows\Application Data\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\<Profile name>\

If you can't locate your profiles then check out this document for more information.

On my XP laptop the profiles are:

C:\Documents and Settings\Ian\Application Data\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\default.ebq

To backup Firefox copy the profiles to an external USB drive. It's as simple as that. I do it manually but you could also use Windows Scheduler or a backup manager to do the job automatically. Make sure, though, that Firefox is not running before you backup.

Хотите сохранить настройки Firefox? Легко!

Обычно я мало пользуюсь Firefox. Не нравится он мне. Своей простотой, кучей дополнений и плагинов (разберись еще, что и для чего!). Нужно еще суметь настроить этот конструктор (или пазл?) так, чтобы он поехал и не развалился!

Фанаты утверждают, то Firefox незаменим тем, что правильно отображает web страницы. Лично я так не считаю. Если Opera, Google Chrome, Internet Explorer 8 показывают одно, а Mozilla Firefox – другое, — ну какой  тут можно сделать вывод?

Но, каким бы ни было мое отношение к Firefox, это явление существует, им приходится пользоваться, приходится (также как и всем) устанавливать дополнения (и перегружать!) и плагины (и опять перегружать!).

И вот настает момент, когда нужно перенести эту обвешанную дополнениями (уже не лису!) елку  на другой компьютер… Начинаешь с ужасом представлять, что тебе предстоит – нужно не только вспомнить все, но и сделать так как было, чтобы можно было работать.

До недавнего времени у меня был файлик с последовательностью действий и перечнем файлов, в которых Firefox сохраняет свои настройки, расширения и прочее, прочее… Но оказалось все намного проще и удобнее…

Backup профиля (настроек) браузера Mozilla Firefox, Opera и Google Chrome

Backup (Бэкап) – сохранение резервной копии данных. Часто после переустановки системы приходится настраивать браузер заново, устанавливать любимые дополнения и вспоминать пароли. Всего этого можно избежать путем простого бэкапа данных профиля. Существует много программ делающих это и у всех есть плюсы и минусы, мы же будет использовать известный всем WinRar и командную строку. Звучит угрожающее и не понятно? Расслабьтесь, способ прост и будет понятен всем, да и перед друзьями потом можно похвастаться. Мы будем рассматривать бэкап профиля для Mozilla Firefox, Opera и Google Chrome. Все профиля являются кроссплатформенными, то есть бэкап профиля будет работать в любой системы Windows, MacOS и Unix.

Перед созданием бэкапа нам необходимо:

• Создать папку на диске в котором будет сохранятся бэкап профиля. Папку нужно создать на не системном диске, что бы не потерять бэкап при форматирование. В дальнейшем будем называть место где она создана «путь к папке сохранения»
• Определится с браузером и запомнить путь к его профилю. Ниже приведены пути для разных браузеров. В дальнейшем будем называть его “путь к профилю”

Профиль Mozilla Firefox   %appdata%\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles

Профиль Opera   %appdata%\Opera\Opera

Приступим к созданию backup профиля ?

1. Открываем блокнот (Пуск-Все программы – Стандартные)
2. Вписываем в него

“C:\Program Files\WinRAR\rar.exe” a путь к папке сохранения \BackUP_%date%.rar “ путь к профилю “/

Теперь этот код нужно сохранить в папке бэкапа. Выбираем Сохранить как, называем любым именем и меняем расширение (часть имени после точки) на .bat. Жмем сохранить.

Но руками запускать лень и нужно процесс автоматизировать. Как. Да легко, добавим файл в автозагрузку :

1. Кликаем правой кнопкой по файлу Mozilla.bat (созданному нами) и выбираем Отправить – Рабочий Стол (создать ярлык).
2. Теперь на рабочем столе кликаем правой кнопкой по ярлыку и выбираем вырезать.
3. Открываем Меню Пуск – Автозагрузка. По слову автозагузка кликаем правой кнопкой и выбираем открыть. 
4. Теперь вставляем ярлык в открывшуюся папку автозагрузки.

Теперь при каждом включении компьютера будет создаваться архив бэкапа с датой создания в имени. После переустановки системы вам понадобится только заменить файлы профиля. Не забывайте иногда чистить эту папку, удаляя старые архивы.

Расскажи друзьям о полезной статье с помощью кнопок:

Присоединяйся, что бы быть в курсе событий

File extension JSON - Mozilla Firefox bookmark backup file

The json file extension is also associated with the Mozilla Firefox web browser and Seamonkey internet suite. File stores saved bookmarks in JSON file format that can be created during the backup process of currently saved bookmarks.

File type specification:

Backup file type

json file icon:

Mozilla Firefox web browser uses json file format for user backup of website bookmarks. Used by Mozilla Firefox from version 3.0 for bookmark backup in JSON format. Firefox version 1.0 - 2.0 stored bookmark backup in HTML file.

JSON is a part of the ECMAScript standard since ECMA has defined in 1999 the eval function that parses the format. It has been popularized with the success of Ajax. The JSON word appears often when one is speaking about Ajax. We know this is another data format, that can replace XML, and this format is supported by a lot of programmers.

You do not need to open the json file. you can use Firefox to import the backup file. You can import them using the Library.

Open the Library - Bookmarks → Organize Bookmarks

To import the bookmarks from the json backup, in the Library choose:

Import and Backup → Restore → Choose File

Note that importing a json file will replace any existing bookmarks with those in the json file .

Firefox automatically creates 5 backup files, and these backups are stored in the bookmarkbackups folder inside the profile folder. On Windows Vista the usual location for the profile folder is:

C:\Users\"Windows login/user name"\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\xxxxxxxx.default\

xxxxxxxx is a string of random characters, the second half of that part of the folder name is normally .default but may be something else. The Application Data folder is usually a hidden folder. To show hidden folders, open Windows Explorer and choose:

Organize → Folder and Search Options → Folder Options → View and select Show hidden files and folders

MIME type used for json files: application/json

Profile backup - MozillaZine Knowledge Base

The profile folder is a folder on your computer that stores your Mozilla application user data such as preference settings, passwords, extensions, themes, Firefox or SeaMonkey bookmarks, and Thunderbird or SeaMonkey mail. It's a good idea to periodically back up your profile to safeguard your data, in case something happens to your computer. Make sure to keep the backup not on the same disk (or even computer) as your profile folder, to avoid it being lost along with the profile in case of disk failure (or theft). This article describes how to back up your profile and restore it.

If you want to move your profile to a different place on your computer (or a different computer), see Moving your profile folder. It has different (and more complicated) instructions because it has to tell the application where the profile is stored. See Transferring data to a new profile if you're trying to recover data from a profile to reuse in another profile.

Recommended: If you're a Windows user and want a simple way to back up and restore profiles, it's recommended that you use the MozBackup program. MozBackup is a profile backup utility for Mozilla Suite, Firefox, and Thunderbird. This eliminates the need to find where your profile is stored, and it has options to back up just part of the profile. Its also a very convenient way to migrate a profile to another computer (or restore a profile on a reformatted boot disk).

If you're using Portable Thunderbird or Portable Firefox Mozbackup won't back up your profile because it expects to find it via the profiles.ini file, and one of the goals of portable applications is to avoid having to register and install the application on each PC. Portable Apps Suite (Base Edition) includes a PortableApps Backup utility. Toucan is a stand alone utility with more options, that lets you synchronize, back up and secure your data. It also supports command line arguments.

See this article for other alternatives, including automated online backup.

If you are comfortable with copying files and folders you can manually back up your profile. This process can be as simple as copying a single directory to a backup location. Most of the work is in finding where the profile folder is stored.

1. It's a good idea to first get rid of any unnecessary files to reduce the size of your backup.
   • Firefox: " Tools -> Options -> Advanced -> Network -> (under Offline Storage or Cached Web Content) -> Clear Now"
   • Mozilla Suite/SeaMonkey: Edit -> Preferences -> Advanced -> Cache -> Clear Cache, as well as compact your mail .
   • Thunderbird: Compact your mail .
2. Completely exit or quit the application. Mozilla Suite and SeaMonkey 1.x users on Windows should also exit Mozilla Quick Launch if its enabled.
3. Find the "Mozilla" (for Mozilla Suite/SeaMonkey 1.x), "SeaMonkey" (for SeaMonkey 2), "Firefox", or "Thunderbird" folder in the profile folder path that contains the registry.dat file or profiles.ini file and the "Profiles" folder (Windows and Mac) or <profile name> folder (Linux). See Profile folder - Firefox. Profile folder - Thunderbird and Profile folder - SeaMonkey for the location.
4. Copy the "Mozilla" "SeaMonkey" "Firefox" or "Thunderbird" folder to the backup location. This will back up all profiles in the default location and the "registry.dat" or "profiles.ini" file that keeps track profiles.
5. If you have created any profiles in a custom location, copy them to the backup location and make a note of the original location.

Mail is stored by default within the profile. If you re-configured Thunderbird, Mozilla Suite or SeaMonkey to store an accounts messages outside of the profile, you need to also copy the "local directory" for that account. Look in Account settings to find the location of each account's local directory.

To restore a profile backup:

1. Close the application whose profile you're going to restore. If you're using Mozilla Suite or SeaMonkey 1.x you should also exit Mozilla Quick Launch if its enabled.
2. Copy each folder you backed up to the exact same location that it was in when you made the backup.

How to Back up Mozilla Firefox and Thunderbird

Backing up Firefox and Thunderbird is easier than you think. Here Gizmo explains how

Firefox and Thunderbird Firefox users need to back up regularly to guard against the possibility that their profile gets corrupted or wiped after installing a new extension or a new version of Firefox. If you use Thunderbird then it's even more important that you back up to ensure you don't accidentally lose your email correspondence and account settings.

There are two ways to back up: use a backup utility or do it yourself manually.

Backup Utilities

MozBackup is a free utility written by Pavel Cvrcek that will automatically back up Firefox and Thunderbird as well as Netscape and the full Mozilla suite. In fact, the most recent versions will also back up Mozilla Sunbird, Flock and Spicebird.

It works like a charm - the whole process is driven by a Wizard so easy to use that even raw beginners will be able to set up automatic backups. It also offers encryption of the backup files and a complete push-button restore option.

MozBackup only backs up the essential information rather than all the information in your Mozilla profile, but that's fine for most users.  You can get MozBackup here: http://mozbackup.jasnapaka.com/

If you only need to back up Firefox, an excellent, perhaps superior, alternative is the free FEBE Firefox extension.  Initially designed for backing up extensions, it now offers the options of backing up various sections of your profile such as bookmarks, cookies, auto-complete, etc. Most importantly, it allows you to back up your entire profile just by checking a single box. Full or selective restore is available. Thanks to site visitor Anupam Shriwatri for the suggestion. FEBE is available from here: http://softwarebychuck.com/febe/febe.html

Manual Backup

Backing up Firefox and Thunderbird manually is as simple as copying their respective profile folders to another location. If you do that, you’ll have a full backup with all your setting and personal data saved.

An advantage of manual backup is that you don't need to have Firefox or Thunderbird functioning in order to restore your backup; it's just a case of copying the backup profiles. That's a good thing because the most common reason you want to restore is that your Firefox or Thunderbird installation is not working!

The hardest part is finding the profile folders. First up, they are not located where you would expect to find them. Secondly, they are located in different places for different versions of Windows. Thirdly, they may be assigned random file names that make them difficult to recognize.

On Windows 2000/XP machines the locations for your Firefox and Thunderbird profiles are respectively:

• C:\Documents and Settings\<Windows login/user name>\Application Data\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\<Profile name>\
• C:\Documents and Settings\<Windows login/user name>\Application Data\Thunderbird\Profiles\<Profile name>\

On Windows 9x/Me PCs they can usually be found at:

• C:\Windows\Application Data\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\<Profile name>\
• C:\Windows\Application Data\Thunderbird\Profiles\<Profile name>\

If you can't locate your profiles then check out this document for more information: http://kb.mozillazine.org/Profile_Folder#What_is_in_my_profile ?

Back up and restore information in Firefox profiles

To back up your profile, first close Firefox if it is open and then copy the profile folder to another location.

At the top of the Firefox window, click on the Firefox button and then select Exit At the top of the Firefox window, click on the File menu and then select Exit On the menu bar, click on the Firefox menu and select Quit Firefox At the top of the Firefox window, click on the File menu and select Quit.

Click the menu button and then click Exit Quit .

At the top of the Firefox window, click on the Firefox button and then select Exit At the top of the Firefox window, click on the File menu and then select Exit On the menu bar, click on the Firefox menu and select Quit Firefox At the top of the Firefox window, click on the File menu and select Quit.

Click the menu button and then click Exit Quit .