Profile backup: Difference between revisions

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[[Category:Profiles]]
The [[profile folder]] is a folder on your computer that stores all information regarding your settings, mail, bookmarks, etc. for Mozilla applications. You may to back up this folder so you can keep this information in case something happens to your computer. This article describes how to perform a backup and how to restore from backup.
 
If you want to move your profile to a different place on your computer (possibly because you will upgrade your operating system), see [[Moving your profile folder]].


==Backing up the entire profile==
==Full backup==
This method will back up all of your profile data (such as passwords, bookmarks, mail, preference settings and installed extensions and themes) for each profile in the default [[Profile folder | profile location]], as well as the registry.dat or profiles.ini file that records the profile location.  All profile data  will be backed up together, at once.
This method will back up your entire profile (or profiles, if you created many).
# ''(optional)'' Clear the cache in Firefox ("Tools -> Options -> Privacy -> Cache -> Clear") and Mozilla Suite ("Edit -> Preferences -> Advanced -> Cache -> Clear Cache") and [[Compacting folders | compact the mail]] in Thunderbird and Mozilla Suite to reduce the size of the backup. 
# Exit your Mozilla Suite Firefox or Thunderbird program.  (''Mozilla Suite on Windows'': exit Mozilla Quick Launch if enabled). [[kill application | Make sure no Mozilla Suite/Firefox/Thunderbird processes are still running]].
#Open the file explorer on your system and find the folder '''''that contains''''' the [[Profile folder | "Profiles" folder]] and the files  "pluginreg.dat" "registry.dat" and/or "profiles.ini"  (some of these files may not exist). 
#* For ''Thunderbird'': Copy the "Thunderbird" folder.
#* For ''Mozilla Suite'':  Copy the "Mozilla" folder.
#* For ''Firefox'':  Copy the "Firefox" folder. 
#Copy (but not move) the  "Thunderbird"  "Mozilla" or "Firefox" folder to the backup location.    For example, place the backup folder inside your home directory (''Windows'' users: "My Documents" is your home directory) or copy it to another drive.
'''Note:'''  The "Mozilla" folder contains the "Profiles" folder and the associated files for Mozilla Suite.  It may also include a "Firefox" folder containing the "Profiles" folder and the associated files for Firefox. If the  "Mozilla" folder includes the "Firefox" folder then you only need to copy the "Mozilla" folder.


Any profile folders created in a [[Profile_Manager#Custom_profile_location | "custom" profile location]] must be backed up separately.
===Backing up===
# You may want to begin by clearing unnecessary files to reduce the size of your backup.
#* Firefox: "Tools -> Clear Private Data... -> uncheck all except Cache -> Clear Private Data Now".
#* Mozilla Suite and SeaMonkey: Edit -> Preferences -> Advanced -> Cache -> Clear Cache, as well as [[Compacting folders | compacting your mail]].
#* Thunderbird: [[Compacting folders | compact your mail]].
# Exit the application completely by choosing File -> Exit. Mozilla Suite and SeaMonkey users on Windows should also exit Mozilla Quick Launch if enabled.
# Navigate to your [[profile folder]]. Move up in the folder tree to the folder that matches the name of the application you use ("Firefox", "Thunderbird", or "Mozilla" for Mozilla Suite and SeaMonkey).
# Copy the chosen folder to the backup location.


==Restoring or migrating your backed-up profile==
===Restoring or migrating===
Use this procedure to restore your backed-up profile or move it to another computer.
Use this procedure to restore your backed-up profile or move it to another computer.
# Completely close all Mozilla programs, including the Mozilla Suite, Firefox, and Thunderbird. Don't forget to exit the Mozilla Suite's Quick Launch if it's open (as indicated in the Windows system tray). [[kill application | Make sure no Mozilla Suite/Firefox/Thunderbird processes are still running]].
# Completely close all Mozilla programs, including the Mozilla Suite, SeaMonkey, Firefox, and Thunderbird. Again, Mozilla Suite and SeaMonkey users should exit Mozilla Quick Launch if enabled.
# Copy the folder you backed up to the '''exact''' same location that it was in when you made the backup or to an identical location on the other computer. If you are moving from one OS to another (e.g., Windows 98 to Windows XP), or if your Windows boot drive letter has changed (e.g., from "C:\" to "D:\") or your Windows login/user name is different, see [[Moving your profile folder]].
# Copy the folder you backed up to the '''exact''' same location that it was in when you made the backup or to an identical location on the other computer.
 
==Partial backup or restore==
In some situations you might want to back up or restore only certain files from your profile folder. See [[Migrating settings to a new profile | this article]] for a list of suggested files.


==See also==
==Partial backup==
* [[Moving address books between profiles | Migrating and backing up address books]]
In some situations you might want to back up or restore only certain files from your profile folder. See [[Migrating settings to a new profile]] for a list of suggested files.
* [[Moving your profile folder]]


==3rd party profile backup software==
==Third party profile backup software==
Many programs exist that can automate the backup process for. Below is a partial list. These are third party utilities that have not been evaluated by Mozilla.
* [http://customsoftwareconsult.com/extensions/febe/febe.html FEBE]: Backup extension for Firefox. (Windows and Linux)
* [http://customsoftwareconsult.com/extensions/febe/febe.html FEBE]: Backup extension for Firefox. (Windows and Linux)
* [http://www.pikey.me.uk/mozilla/#bb Bookmark Backup]: Profile backup utility for Firefox. (Windows and Linux)
* [http://www.pikey.me.uk/mozilla/#bb Bookmark Backup]: Profile backup utility for Firefox. (Windows and Linux)
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* [http://homepage.mac.com/minge/emailbackup/index.html Email backup]: Profile backup utility for Thunderbird under OSX
* [http://homepage.mac.com/minge/emailbackup/index.html Email backup]: Profile backup utility for Thunderbird under OSX
* [http://www.extensionsmirror.nl/index.php?showtopic=2953 BackupFox]: Backup your profiles of Firefox and Thunderbird. (Win32 only)
* [http://www.extensionsmirror.nl/index.php?showtopic=2953 BackupFox]: Backup your profiles of Firefox and Thunderbird. (Win32 only)
==See also==
* [[Moving address books between profiles | Migrating and backing up address books]]
* [[Moving your profile folder]]
[[Category:Profiles]]

Revision as of 17:26, 18 May 2007

The profile folder is a folder on your computer that stores all information regarding your settings, mail, bookmarks, etc. for Mozilla applications. You may to back up this folder so you can keep this information in case something happens to your computer. This article describes how to perform a backup and how to restore from backup.

If you want to move your profile to a different place on your computer (possibly because you will upgrade your operating system), see Moving your profile folder.

Full backup

This method will back up your entire profile (or profiles, if you created many).

Backing up

  1. You may want to begin by clearing unnecessary files to reduce the size of your backup.
    • Firefox: "Tools -> Clear Private Data... -> uncheck all except Cache -> Clear Private Data Now".
    • Mozilla Suite and SeaMonkey: Edit -> Preferences -> Advanced -> Cache -> Clear Cache, as well as compacting your mail.
    • Thunderbird: compact your mail.
  2. Exit the application completely by choosing File -> Exit. Mozilla Suite and SeaMonkey users on Windows should also exit Mozilla Quick Launch if enabled.
  3. Navigate to your profile folder. Move up in the folder tree to the folder that matches the name of the application you use ("Firefox", "Thunderbird", or "Mozilla" for Mozilla Suite and SeaMonkey).
  4. Copy the chosen folder to the backup location.

Restoring or migrating

Use this procedure to restore your backed-up profile or move it to another computer.

  1. Completely close all Mozilla programs, including the Mozilla Suite, SeaMonkey, Firefox, and Thunderbird. Again, Mozilla Suite and SeaMonkey users should exit Mozilla Quick Launch if enabled.
  2. Copy the folder you backed up to the exact same location that it was in when you made the backup or to an identical location on the other computer.

Partial backup

In some situations you might want to back up or restore only certain files from your profile folder. See Migrating settings to a new profile for a list of suggested files.

Third party profile backup software

Many programs exist that can automate the backup process for. Below is a partial list. These are third party utilities that have not been evaluated by Mozilla.

  • FEBE: Backup extension for Firefox. (Windows and Linux)
  • Bookmark Backup: Profile backup utility for Firefox. (Windows and Linux)
  • MozBackup: Profile backup utility for the Mozilla Suite, Firefox, and Thunderbird. (Windows only)
  • Email backup: Profile backup utility for Thunderbird under OSX
  • BackupFox: Backup your profiles of Firefox and Thunderbird. (Win32 only)

See also

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