How to migrate Firefox from XP to Vista
So Dave (for better or worse) decided to try out the shiny new Vista discs we received the other day on his computer at work. As a Microsoft ActionPack subscriber we get all the cool new gear periodically in the post. Dave re-installs his computer quite frequently, so we’re well trained in the art of migration, however Vista threw us a curveball or two. One of the was transferring Firefox.
Usually you just copy the Profiles directory from ~/Application Data/Mozilla/Firefox, but that didn’t seem to cut it with Vista. We managed to work around it though, so here’s what we did:
Disclaimer: This isn’t what’s recommended by Mozilla, it’s just what worked for us. YMMV.
- Install Firefox on Vista, launch it once, then close it. Make sure Firefox on XP is closed also
- XP: Back up C:\Documents and Settings\<username>\Application Data\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles. It should contain only one folder, which has a garbage name.
- Vista Navigate to C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Local\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles and then enter the only folder in there, which should have a name similar to the one inside Profiles that you backed up earlier.
- Go into the weird folder inside your backup, hit ctrl+A (select all), then ctrl+C (copy)
- Go inside the weird folder on Vista and paste (ctrl+V) all the stuff over the top. As you can see we are just migrating the contents of the weird folders from the backup to the new installation.
- On Vista, go up 4 levels until you get to C:\Users\<username>\AppData. Now go in to the “Roaming” folder, then Mozilla, Firefox, Profiles to get to C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles.
- Perform the same operation to copy the contents of the weird folder in your backup into the weird folder on Vista
Now all you have to do is start Firefox and pray.
I’m not sure if this method isn’t overkill – I suspect you can skip copying stuff in to the Local\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles directory and just deal with the Roaming.
If anyone has any more information or experience on this I would be happy to update this post!
AdamM 2341 days ago
Perhaps a silly question- but why would you need to copy your profile?
There’s a program called “MozBackup” that will backup your entire profile- history, bookmarks, passwords, even extensions, and transfer them over
http://mozbackup.jasnapaka.com/
Am I missing something?
DaveN 2340 days ago
Because that’s how it’s always been done, before MozBackup was invented. It’s also helpful to realise that all MozBackup does is copy your profile. That way when you want to transfer your FF onto Linux or OSX you actually have a clue what you’re doing
SomeGuy 2335 days ago
Here’s a big tip, Dave
Just download Portable Firefox from
http://portableapps.com/apps/internet/firefox_portable
and then install it on a USB disk…then you have your complete Firefox browser with you on wherever you go.
Firefox lover 2334 days ago
=) cool stuff man!!! Thanks worked for me.
AlanK 2225 days ago
AlanKThanks, it worked like a charm.
I was close, but was just copying it to the local folder and not the remote folder.
Now to do the same with Thunderbird.
Tim Archer 2225 days ago
http://timarcher.comI have a small writeup on migrating my saved Firefox passwords and bookmarks across computers.
Its at:
http://timarcher.com/?q=node/61
Nikunj Kshatriya 2140 days ago
Yup, you can surely skip transferring files to the Local\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles directory and just copy your profile files in the Roaming folder. Worked for me !
Mark 1609 days ago
http://MarkBrandThanks. Other advice I’ve gotten had me change only one of the folders. That didnt work. Your suggestion did. Sisnce my xp HD was das damaged, I no longer had an XP system to do normal backup & restore. Your method saved me hours of work.
Mark
TIm 1297 days ago
Transferring from XP -> 7, had no luck using this method.
Used MozBackup and it worked brilliantly.