Profile backup: Difference between revisions
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The [[profile folder]] is a folder on your computer that stores all information regarding your settings | The [[profile folder]] is a folder on your computer that stores all information regarding your settings, bookmarks, ''etc.'' for Mozilla applications. It is also the default location for stored mail in Thunderbird and SeaMonkey. You may want to back up the profile 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]]. | 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== | ==Full backup== | ||
This method will back up your entire profile (or profiles, if you created many). | This method will back up your entire profile (or profiles, if you created many). It only works if your profile or profiles are in their default locations. If you have profiles in other locations, then there are additional steps. | ||
In Thunderbird and SeaMonkey, this method only backs up your mail if your mail accounts use their default locations. If you store mail in other locations, then there are additional steps. | |||
===Backing up=== | ===Backing up=== | ||
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# 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). | # 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. | # Copy the chosen folder to the backup location. | ||
If you have profiles in other locations, look in the text file profiles.ini (in the folder that you have just copied) to find the locations of your other profile folders. Copy those folders to the backup location. | |||
If you have mail in other locations, look in [[Account settings]] to see the location of each account's local directory. If you have more than one profile, check every account in every profile. If any local directory is not in a profile, copy it to the backup location. | |||
===Restoring or migrating=== | ===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, SeaMonkey, Firefox, and Thunderbird. Again, Mozilla Suite and SeaMonkey users should exit Mozilla Quick Launch if enabled. | # 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 | # Copy each 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== | ==Partial backup== | ||
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* [[Moving address books between profiles | Migrating and backing up address books]] | * [[Moving address books between profiles | Migrating and backing up address books]] | ||
* [[Moving your profile folder]] | * [[Moving your profile folder]] | ||
* [[Moving your mail storage location - Thunderbird]] | |||
[[Category:Profiles]] | [[Category:Profiles]] | ||
Revision as of 08:42, 3 June 2007
The profile folder is a folder on your computer that stores all information regarding your settings, bookmarks, etc. for Mozilla applications. It is also the default location for stored mail in Thunderbird and SeaMonkey. You may want to back up the profile 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). It only works if your profile or profiles are in their default locations. If you have profiles in other locations, then there are additional steps.
In Thunderbird and SeaMonkey, this method only backs up your mail if your mail accounts use their default locations. If you store mail in other locations, then there are additional steps.
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 your mail.
- Thunderbird: 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.
If you have profiles in other locations, look in the text file profiles.ini (in the folder that you have just copied) to find the locations of your other profile folders. Copy those folders to the backup location.
If you have mail in other locations, look in Account settings to see the location of each account's local directory. If you have more than one profile, check every account in every profile. If any local directory is not in a profile, copy it to the backup location.
Restoring or migrating
Use this procedure to restore your backed-up profile or move it to another computer.
- 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 each 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)
- Email backup: Profile backup utility for Thunderbird (OSX)
- BackupFox: Backup your profiles of Firefox and Thunderbird. (Windows)
