Need help with mozilla: Migrating files from one profile to anothe

[stndn]

Over the past few weeks, my Mozilla installation is acting up. When i close an open tab, i always get this javascript error:

Error: this.docShell has no properties
Source File: chrome://global/content/bindings/browser.xml Line: 0

And starting today, I can no longer get the web developer toolbar to show up by going View > Show/Hide > Web Developer Toolbar. I can still access it by right clicking on the browser and get the web developer tools. But i want the toolbar on top for easier access.. I've tried uninstall/reinstall the extension, but the problem persists.

This has become so frustrated that i'm thinking of uninstalling mozilla, delete the profile, then reinstall mozilla and create a new profile.

However, i want to keep my bookmark, email, address book, adblock preference, cookies, and a few other things.

So, my questions are:
What are the best ways to backup the important files and recreate a similar profile to existing one?
If i create a new profile, how do i import my email messages as well as address book from my old profile?

I tried exporting my address book, but i got this error message:

Export failed:
Not enough arguments [ nsIAddressBook.exportAddressBook ]

What gives? If i can't export my address book, what file should i backup that contains the address book that Mozilla saves in my profile?

Any other hints on complete migration of one profile to another?

Info:
Mozilla 1.7.5 on windows 2000
Theme: pinball 1.7
Extensions: Web developer, adblock, flashblock, html validator (based on tidy), nukeanything, ieview, paste and go


In summary:
- Want to make backup of existing email, bookmark, address book, and other relevant profile information.
- Want to nuke current mozilla profile (profileA)
- Reinstall mozilla, create new profile
- Import the email, bookmark, address book, other relevant profile information from old profileA
- Live happily ever after.

How do i go about doing it safely?

Thanks.

 

[stndn]

I've decided to do manual re-profiling of my mozilla profile, and here are a few things that i found:

Error: this.docShell has no properties
Source File: chrome://global/content/bindings/browser.xml Line: 0

I got that error after installing Web Developer extension version 0.92. I'm not sure what caused the problem, but i'm leaving it for now. Probably i'll just update it when the new version comes out and hope for the best

Export failed:
Not enough arguments [ nsIAddressBook.exportAddressBook ]

This problem is actually common since mozilla 1.7.3. It is also documented in bugzilla.


Most people probably won't care, but ... In case anyone face similar problems, here's what i did just now to fix the profile problem i had:

1. Do a backup of the imporant files, including the Mail and chrome folder in my profile folder. For list of files and information on them, see http://kb.mozillazine.org/Profile_backup or http://www.vorstrasse91.com/mo...s/mozillaprofiles.html

2. Remove the profile using mozilla's profile manager. Leave the files at their place (in case something went wrong and i need them)

3. Rename the directory where the removed profile was stored. For example, c:\documents and settings\xxxxxxx\Application Data\Mozilla\Profiles\stndn\ to ......\Profiles\_stndn_backup_

4. Use mozilla's profile manager to create a new profile.

5. Open up mozilla's mail application. Create the email accounts that were present from previous profile (eg: If you have mail1@server.com and mail2@server.com, create those two accounts)

6. Close mozilla including quick launch

7. From windows explorer, copy the contents of the old email directory (Example: under Profiles\_stndn_backup_\Mail\mail.account.1) to the new mail folder. Make sure to copy to the correct folder.

8. Start mozilla and check if email accounts are correct, including the folders and mail messages. If not, remove the mail accounts and repeat from step 5.

9. Close mozilla and copy the bookmarks.html, cookies.txt, abook.mab, history.dat, cookperm.txt, hostperm.1, and other files that i wanted to backup.

10. Start mozilla and see if everything works fine. Setup the look and feel of the browser to closely resemble how it was, instead of getting it from the old prefs.js file (since there may be some old stray settings i don't want)

11. Restart mozilla and install the extensions. Repeat as necessary

12. Restart mozilla and check everything works.

13. Store the backup of old profile and new profile somewhere safe, just in case.

14. Life happily -)


It's a manual labor that took quite some time out of my life, but i guess it's not that bad. ...
At the very least, i learned something new, so...