Repairing a Firefox installation
Based on some recommendations, I tried out the 1.5 Beta of Firefox. While the improved Mac support was nice, there were too many bugs getting in the way of making the Beta useful. So, I'm switching back to 1.0.7.
And, since I always have to search all over the 'net for what files you need to keep and which extensions it was that I really liked (since, of course, I never make a list before wiping the previous profile), I'm making this list of what I need to save and what I need to reinstall. Here are the steps (as I do them):
1. Shut down Firefox if it's running
2. Save a copy of these files from your Firefox profile directory:
cert8.db
cookies.txt
formhistory.dat
history.dat
hostperm.1
key3.db
secmod.db
signons.txt
3. Delete the old profile directory (not always necessary, but I do anyway)
4. Install the new Firefox (or old, as in my case) you've downloaded
5. Copy the files you saved above (in #2) to the newly created profile directory
6. List of extensions I use (and need to reinstall):
- About This Site
- AdBlock
- ChatZilla (on my Windows PC)
- GreaseMonkey
- IE View (on my Windows PC)
- Link Toolbar
- Tab Mix Plus
- Translate
- View Cookies
- Web Developer
7. Restart Firefox for the extensions to install
And that's pretty much it, although I'm sure I'll think of something else later. These are the basics that I need to get things back up and running like it was. Whew!
Comments
- Daniel said on 06 December 2005:
Or you could just use this tool. I did today and it worked fine. I also see 1.5 is out of Beta? It was the default DL off the homepage. I didn't even notice until I used mozbackup to move my extensions over and over half didn't work with the new version. They're still installed, just disabled, I guess until they are updated?
Made me think that I'd hate to be an FF extension creator.