Bookmarks not importing correctly

[Elliot B.]

I exported my bookmarks in Firefox ready to import them back once I've reinstall Windows like I have many times but for some reason, Firefox is only important around a third of my bookmarks.

Anyone got any ideas why?

[Elliot B.]

Can anyone help?

[IceDogg]

The exported file is just bookmarks.html, correct? That is the normal way it's exported anyway. So, have you tried just coping the file over to your Firefox profile instead of importing it? Here is a link to locating your profile.

Edit: I tested this to be sure..and it worked for me. If the file exported correctly this should solve the problem. If the file did not export correctly (fully) and you have already reformatted with no backups.. then there is nothing you can do, sorry.

Edit2: sorry.. Was you by any chance using one of the Alpha's that are being worked on for Firefox 3? Because they changed how bookmarks were stored.

[Elliot B.]

The exported file is just bookmarks.html, correct? That is the normal way it's exported anyway. So, have you tried just coping the file over to your Firefox profile instead of importing it? Here is a link to locating your profile.

Edit: I tested this to be sure..and it worked for me. If the file exported correctly this should solve the problem. If the file did not export correctly (fully) and you have already reformatted with no backups.. then there is nothing you can do, sorry.

Edit2: sorry.. Was you by any chance using one of the Alpha's that are being worked on for Firefox 3? Because they changed how bookmarks were stored.

I may have used an alpha at one point, but it would have been removed within a few minutes (was just to give it a quick go). Am I screwed now? :(

I can open the file fine. It opens the browser and lays out all the bookmarks. Thing is, when I import it, only half get imported, no matter which way I do it.

[IceDogg]

If they are all there when you just view it then you are ok, just paste it over the one in your profile and it will work. Read that link to find your profile depending on your OS and then backup your old bookmark.html file then copy the saved (exported) one over in your profile. This is the way I do it anyway. It's the manual way.

C:\Documents and Settings\[user Name]\Application Data\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\ For XP

C:\users\[user Name]\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\ For Vista

remove the bold parts if you copy and paste into explorer.

Edit: be warned you will lose the bookmarks you have made since you exported your bookmarks.

[Elliot B.]

They were all there when opened as a webpage in Firefox but wouldn't import properly.

It's not important anymore, no worries :) Cheers for your help!

[IceDogg]

No problem, maybe this will help someone else in the future or something

[Elliot B.]

No problem, maybe this will help someone else in the future or something

That is how I see 95% of all the topics on Neowin. At one point or another, they're all help someone, somehow, at some point in time :)