FF & TB Backup...

[sleddriver]

While moving files over from an old WXP box to a new W7 box, I discovered and successfully used a program called Mozbackup. It actually worked as promised and transferred everything, creating new msg folders, etc. and installing all the messages in them.

If you use both FF & T-bird and haven't backed up your profile folders, emails, account settings, etc., I highly recommend you do so. Mozbackup makes the process straightforward and easy.

 

[Garak]

Bah, you're supposed to just copy and paste the profile directories for both and do it that way. That's Windows users for you.

 

[uc50ic4more]

Originally Posted By: Garak
Bah, you're supposed to just copy and paste the profile directories for both and do it that way. That's Windows users for you.

Code:
cp -r ~/{.mozilla,.thunderbird} /BACKUP/LOCATION


:^)

 

[spackard]

I think I've used that tool in the past, for when I had a bunch of saved passwords I wanted to copy to another computer, and for when I wanted to keep a backup of that info for when Firefox became corrupted and I had to do a new install.

I've moved on to LastPass for the saved passwords, and new $work prefers IE and wipes history.

 

[uc50ic4more]

Originally Posted By: spackard
I had a bunch of saved passwords I wanted to copy to another computer, and for when I wanted to keep a backup of that info for when Firefox became corrupted and I had to do a new install.


Firefox now has a "Sync" feature whereby it stores info about passwords, bookmarks, history, cookies, etc. and distributes them to all of the other browsers instances you have (ie. laptop, desktop, phone can all sync this info); and can also act as a backup in some circumstances.

 

[Garak]

Originally Posted By: uc50ic4more
:^)

That's not as inscrutable as some that have been passed along here before, such as your command to yank all the old kernels.

For the Mozilla and Thunderbird profile directories, I just copy and paste using the mouse. Yes, that's sacrilege!

 

[uc50ic4more]

Originally Posted By: Garak
That's not as inscrutable as some that have been passed along here before, such as your command to yank all the old kernels.

I think now a lot of distros automagically just keep the current and two older ones. I think that Debian-based distros (like Ubuntu and Mint and Elementary, etc.) can also clean out everything older than "current minus two" using:

apt-get autoclean

... So my prior-posted command, at least in modern Debian-based distros, might now be obsolete for a desktop user. Those using Arch, Gentoo or Slackware probably already know this stuff.

Originally Posted By: Garak
For the Mozilla and Thunderbird profile directories, I just copy and paste using the mouse. Yes, that's sacrilege


That is absolutely the easier and most effective way; but given how many different file managers there are out there and how one would go about exposing hidden directories, sometimes it's actually easier to provide a command than try to enumerate all of the myriad ways to get one simple thing done using a GUI!

 

[sleddriver]

I did try out "copy & Paste". First, I had to find it though. Second, both FF & TB are much more complex than they used to be. Third, I haven't had to transfer any data to a new machine in about 15yrs??, so I'm rusty at it.

Reading Mozilla's description of doing this "manuallY" was surprisingly complex. "There's some things you may not want to copy over to prevent problems" WHAAAAT? Like what? Me? I just want to get this over with and move on. As if there's not ENOUGH to do this time of year as it is!!

I'm about to find out just how well MS Easy Transfer works....

 

[Garak]

Ahh, it's easy to find hidden files with Nautilus and whatever it is that Mint/Mate uses. I haven't had enough kernel updates in Mint 17.2 to pay any attention. Now, I'm dealing with this little Charlie Foxtrot. If you want to be a mainstream OS, you had better get your ducks in a row with secure boot.

 

[Garak]

Originally Posted By: sleddriver
Reading Mozilla's description of doing this "manuallY" was surprisingly complex.

Sometimes, their knowledge base is best ignored.