After changing to a newer Firefox, my bookmarks have disappeared, and "restore from backup" just gives "unable to process the backup file".
I've tried the maintenance tool for places.sqlite, and even deleting the file so firefox rebuilds it. But no joy. New version is 36.0.1. Can't remember old one, but it was quite old. Five json files available, but none work
I've found my own answer.
I copied the bookmark .json file to a USB stick. Carried it to another PC which still had an old Firefox, and successfully read it there. The exported as HTML and carried it back & imported it.
If anybody else with this problem isn't lucky enough to have another PC with an old Firefox, I'm willing to bet you could just install Chrome instead & it would read it happily.
Similar Messages
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At first, the bookmark list included all my bookmarks, but they had an empty box for their icon, and clicking on the properties window showed no name or URL. Clicking on the bookmark itself was just ignored. I went to restore bookmarks from a backup - backups are listed for each day, but choosing any one gives an error. This has also wiped out the list of bookmarks.
There may now not be much that can be done. Immediately find your current profile the easiest way of doing that is using
* Help -> Troubleshooting -> Profile [open containing folder]
Copy the whole profile folder with all sub files and folders and put it somewhere safe, outside Firefox program or Profile paths (Windows desktop is a suitable location)
Once you have done that it is also worth exporting any bookmarks you have as a backup, do it as firefox backup, and HTML, it is just possible they may contain usefull info in an easily accessble form.
If the bookmarks were somehow corrupted, and then you have overwritten current bookmarks with corrupt backups there may not be much that can be done,but if you copy the profile as I mentioned above at least we still have the files and can see if anything is rescueable. There is also a possibility the files are okand the fault is with firefox,but that may be less likely.
* see also [[Lost Bookmarks]]
* http://kb.mozillazine.org/Bookmarks_history_and_toolbar_buttons_not_working_-_Firefox
* and the oddly named [[The bookmarks and history system will not be functional]] -
I have looked at prior questions, many of which look similar, but none of which are exactly the same. I tried to restore my bookmarks to those available on a prior date, and got an error message saying "unable to process the backup file."
Figured it out! I deleted the places.sqlite folder by dragging it into the trash, then rebooted. I lost all my existing bookmarks, but that was no big deal.
To find the places.sqlite folder, go to Help, Troubleshooting Information, click on "show in finder" (under application basics), and the folder is in there. I was very nervous about deleting anything, but Firefox just regenerates the folder when you reboot. -
All bookmarks went missing after running WinCleaner OneClick version 11.4.2, but that has never happened before. Cannot create new bookmarks and if I try to restore the bookmarks from a backup , the pop-up window says "Unable to Process the Backup File". I tried uninstalling and reinstalling Firefox and I tried restarting the computer - neither helped. I'm running Windows XP Professional 2002 service pack 3. Any suggestions?
Found a corrupt places file, deleted all the rest and renamed the corrupt file to be the only places file but I still had no bookmarks or bookmark functionality. I resigned myself to a complete uninstall of Firefox, including all personalization, etc. then reinstalled Firefox and I am now rebuilding my bookmarks list. Thank you much for the quick reply and trying to help! If I use WinCleaner OneClick again I'll be sure to back up my bookmarks.
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My current version is 6.0.2. A box appeared a few days ago informing me of an update to 7 (x?). I declined for the time being.
Then a Start Page just showed up missing the bookmark tool bar. I tried to import a bar from another browser. Nothing showed up. Then, I went to "Help". First, I clicked on "About Firefox" where I was informed of an update. This time, I tried it. When I clicked on "Apply Update", I received a message; 'Update could not be installed" despite there being no other Firefox browsers running.
I went back to "Help" and clicked on "Firefox Help". A page came up with the URL in place, but the page would not load ("Cannot find server at support.mozilla.com"). After several clicks on "Try Again" with the same result, I copied the URL and pasted it into a different browser, from which I am now working.
Before sending this question, I tried the two procedures ("Manual Backup" and "Restoring From Backup") found on Bookmarks/Show All Bookmarks/Import And Backup/Restore, using both "stored backups" from Mozilla's Profile folder and "Choose a file", as well as Bookmarks/Show ... /Backup. In each case, the response was, "Unable to process the backup file".
I had previously tried another method I found on Google which involved copying and saving a Mozilla backup file (this is the file I used in the procedure above - "Choose a File") found in the C:/Documents And Settings/.../Profile Folder, then renaming the original file "backup.HTML" and saving it in a folder one level up from its original location. The Bookmark bar was to show up after shutting down and reopening Mozilla - it never happened. I replaced the original backup file.
It occurred to me to locate the Bookmark File for this browser (Chrome) and using it in the "Choose a File" method, referred to above. But there is no extension included in the file name, and I was afraid to try it.
I'm out of ideas. Is there something else to try?Check that the Bookmarks Toolbar is visible and that the "Bookmarks Toolbar items" is still placed on the Bookmarks Toolbar.
If the menu bar is hidden then press F10 or hold down the Alt key, that should make the "Menu Bar" appear.
Make sure that toolbars like the "Navigation Toolbar" and the "Bookmarks Toolbar" are visible: "View > Toolbars"
* Open the Customize window via "View > Toolbars > Customize" or via "Firefox > Options > Toolbar Layout" (Linux, Windows)
* Check that the "Bookmarks Toolbar items" is on the Bookmarks Toolbar
* If the "Bookmarks Toolbar items" is not on the Bookmarks Toolbar then drag it back from the toolbar palette in the customize window to the Bookmarks Toolbar
* If you do not see the "Bookmarks Toolbar items" or other items that are missing in the toolbar palette or on a toolbar then click the "Restore Default Set" button
See also:
*http://kb.mozillazine.org/Uninstalling_add-ons
*http://kb.mozillazine.org/Uninstalling_toolbars -
Hello,
my problem is with importing saved .json backup file in fresh installed firefox 3.6.8? Message "unable to process the backup file", when i choosed option "Restore" from menu "organize your bookmarks" !?
Normally that i followed all instructions from your support site, and that i tried many things, but nothing helped :( !?
my .json file isn't corrupted cause it was saved on another partition before formatting my OS.
Please don't tell me that my bookmarks are lost :( cause i had many important things in that bookmarks, on 100.s pages :( ....
Thanks in advance!
Sincerely,
hoho33"
Can you restore that JSON backup in a new profile?
Did you make sure that it is really a JSON backup and that there is no missing or hidden other file extension?
A JSON backup starts with: {"title":"","id":1,"dateAdded"
A HTML backup starts with: <!DOCTYPE NETSCAPE-Bookmark-file-1>
You can try if you can restore that JSON backup in a new profile.
Create a new profile as a test to check if your current profile is causing the problems
See Basic Troubleshooting: Make a new profile
If that new profile works then you can transfer some files from the old profile to that new profile (be careful not to copy corrupted files)
See http://kb.mozillazine.org/Transferring_data_to_a_new_profile_-_Firefox
Please for administration of this support site, make possibility to quote someone's answer, on this way is dificult to answer somebody who wrote some suggestion!
No, i can't restore JSON backup in new profile, even on fresh installed OS XP SP3, with fresh installation of latest version of firefox!
MAN I TOLD YOU 10X IT'S 200 % JSON BACKUP FILE!!! I'M NOT IN IT FROM YESTERDAY, I WORK IN IT 12 YEARS!!!
I tried restoring json backup in new profile, but nothing, i couldn't restore, cause that stupid error from screen shot which i posted again appears !
Man i'm not totally noob i repeat 2nd time here, and normally that i know to create new profile, and that i tried that, but that didn't help!
I can't believe that FIREFOX has not good support team, and doesn't care for yours users, this will not give me more reason to use in future firefox
like borwser, if i don't have good support, and when i have problem like this, to loose all my very important bookmarks and passwords on them, and
firefox support won't to help me to solve my problem!
If somebody from firefox support team read this, i can give you Remote desktop access to my computer to try solve this problem, like other serious company
like HP, Dell , etc. give remote desktop support to their users!
Corel are you from firefox support team? Please don't write same suggestions, cause i know to read, and i understand well if you write once some suggestion!
Greetzz -
Bookmarks have disappeared, and unable to add new bookmarks
My bookmarks have all disappeared, and Firefox won't allow me to add new bookmarks either. I recently updated from 3.6.9 to 3.6.10, but the problem only showed up a day later. If I try to restore, it just says, "Firefox unable to process the backup file."
I've tried all the suggestions on the help site, and none of those have worked (I don't have the add-on that causes bookmarks to disappear, I haven't updated from Firefox 3.5 or less, and I don't think Firefox has created a new profile).
Also: when I start up Firefox, it says, underneath the toolbar, "The bookmarks and history system will not be functional because one of Firefox's files is in use by another application. Some security software can cause this problem." However, I don't have any security software installed. I'm running a Mac.Have you tried deleting the places.sqlite file and letting Firefox re-create it? For details see http://kb.mozillazine.org/Locked_or_damaged_places.sqlite
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My bookmarks have disappeared and I can't add new ones. can anyone help?
my bookmarks have disappeared and I can't add new ones. can anyone help?
Try a reset:
Hold the Sleep and Home button down for about 10 second until you see the Apple logo. -
I just upgraded to Firefox 8.0 and bookmarks have disappeared. Restore does not bring them back. Where did they go?
I just upgraded to Firefox 8.0 and bookmarks have disappeared. Restore does not bring them back. Where did they go?
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Since I "upgraded" to FF 4, I have constant crashes (I tried updating my graphics drivers--it did not help) and now all of my bookmarks have disappeared. When I try to restore them, I get this error message "Unable to process the backup file". I have lost years of bookmarks...please help.
I am using Windows XP, SP 3 if that matters.I am also unable to restore any of the backups of the bookmarks, both automatic backups and two backups that I created manually. Since I was able to restore backups before, and since no changes have occurred to these backup files, the problem must be with Firefox.
Right before my bookmarks disappeared, FF crashed and I accidentally started FF 3.5. When I saw what I did, I ended the Firefox process and started FF 4. That's when all my bookmarks were gone and I discovered I couldn't retrieve any backups. I did note that an add-on was updated when I restarted FF. Maybe that's the problem. Does FF have a Safe mode? -
When I try to restore my bookmarks I get the message "Unable to process the backup file."
I lost my bookmarks and when I try to restore them I can see the backup files in the restore window but when I try to restore my bookmarks I get the message "Unable to process the backup file." Can you assist? Thanks
Some added toolbar and anti-virus add-ons are known to cause
Firefox issues. '''Disable All of them.'''
After the above. Restart Firefox. Then try again.
If you still can't restore one of the files, try another one.
These can't get your data back, but will help in the future.
These add-ons can be a great help by backing up and restoring Firefox
'''[https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/febe/ FEBE (Firefox Environment Backup Extension)]''' {web link}
FEBE allows you to quickly and easily backup your
Firefox extensions, history, passwords, and more.
In fact, it goes beyond just backing up -- It will actually rebuild
your saved files individually into installable .xpi files.
It will also make backup of files that you choose.
'''[https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/opie/ OPIE]''' {web link}
Import/Export extension preferences -
I was in the midst of a Firefox session w/two windows open. Nothing special about the sites. No fancy javascripts or anything. When I closed the second window and opened the "History, Show all History" pull-down, the Library screen had no data in it.
I looked for the Bookmarks.html file in my profile and it is missing. I tried renaming an old .bak file from a couple years ago and I can open it as a file and see the text of it displayed but Firefox will not recognize it as and open it as the Backups file.
Following the directions already posted - using "History, Show all History" then the "Import and Backup, Restore" process - allows Firefox to see all the backups, but trying to restore from any of them yields the "Unable to process the backup file" error message.
I have re-started my machine from a cold start - twice now.The file that stores bookmarks is probably damaged, for details on how to fix that see http://kb.mozillazine.org/Unable_to_process_the_backup_file_-_Firefox
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Have tried to restore a bookmarks file (I have a dozen or so) but I get the message "unable to process the back up file". Clicking the "star" to add a new bookmark appears to work until I click "show all bookmarks" which reveals a still empty library. Any help is appreciated. Thanks
Thank you very much for your help.
What worked for me was to close down Firefox, delete the "places.sqlite" file and restart Firefox. My bookmarks instantly came back. This file is inside the "application data" folder which is a hidden folder. You must unhide the "application data" folder first in order to delete the "places sqlite" file using windows explorer.
There may be an easier way but this worked for me.
Thanks again -
My bookmarks have disappeared and I can't add new bookmarks.
All my bookmarks have disappeared, including the defaults on the toolbar of most visited, etc. I can't add new bookmarks either. I have tried all the Help Topics on lost bookmarks. I tried restoring bookmark backups, but the backup from the date I lost bookmarks says "unable to process backup file." All the later dates will load, but they have no bookmarks saved in them. All of the other Help Topic attempts went fine but did not solve the problem.
What I would say is that if you have any bookmarks at all at present that you make a manual backup of them, and then continue to make manual backups as any recovery efforts proceed.
* see [[Backing up and restoring bookmarks]]
There is a possibility that you had corrupt files, and may then have inadvertently overwritten any files that may have contained bookmarks. It is a good idea to make manual backups, for cases where the auto backups do not. work as expected.
If you have already followed the instructions carefully about [[lost bookmarks]] and without resolving the situation, there may not be much you can do about your personal bookmarks. If they are important and you are willing to try there may be a possibility using file recovery software, &/or sqlite editors that something could be salvaged, but not something I can advise on, I am not currently a Mac user.
The default bookmarks should be fairly easy to restore. You can probably also start the bookmarks working again. Trying the simplest options first:
# work from [safe mode]
#* at this stage when you see the first dialogue window with options do not make changes, press the continue button
# use the customise / customize option from the toolbars and '''reset defaults'''
#* Mac may differ from my Windows XP, I can right click bookmarks, or use the tools menu see [[How do I customize the toolbars?]]
# if that has failed to resolve the problem go back to safe mode as in step 1 but this time use reset toolbars and controls.
By now you should have the default bookmarks back and maybe the bookmarks work and will save new bookmarks, try it whilst still in safe mode, before going back to try in ordinary mode. If it works in safe mode but not in ordinary mode you probably have some add-on managing to cause problems
If you still have problems and bookmarks will not save see [[bookmarks not saved]] that probably indicates corrupt places.sqlite &/or localstore.rdf the linked article explains how to find and delete them. -
I can still see the JSON files on my PC, but I can't figure out why FF4 is not showing my bookmarks.
I think I just resolved my issue. I exited Firefox, then deleted the places.sqlite file then restarted Firefox 4. My bookmarks immediately appeared.
Here's where I got the instructions.
https://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/Bookmarks%20not%20saved?s=bookmarks+won%27t+save&as=s
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