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"Unable to process the backup file." Can't import backup bookmarks folder

  • 5 cavab
  • 1 has this problem
  • 25 views
  • Last reply by cor-el

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Hi....

I've tried everything suggested on this post: https://support.mozilla.org/bm/questions/1261652 to restore my backups and saved logins/passwords and continue to get 'Unable to process the backup file.' I even tried the tool from https://www.jeffersonscher.com/ffu/bookbackreader.html and continue to get a failure message: failed JSON parsing: SyntaxError: JSON.parse: unexpected end of data at line 1 column 1 of the JSON data. I also tried the SQL query below and can't seem to restore my bookmarks/logins and passwords:

Help: no such table: moz_firefox_bookmarks

List table`s in datebase: demo

I'm not sure what else to try...Welcome any other suggestions/recommendations to get my backups restored since I have very crucial info on them for school.

Thanks!

Hi.... I've tried everything suggested on this post: https://support.mozilla.org/bm/questions/1261652 to restore my backups and saved logins/passwords and continue to get 'Unable to process the backup file.' I even tried the tool from https://www.jeffersonscher.com/ffu/bookbackreader.html and continue to get a failure message: failed JSON parsing: SyntaxError: JSON.parse: unexpected end of data at line 1 column 1 of the JSON data. I also tried the SQL query below and can't seem to restore my bookmarks/logins and passwords: Help: no such table: moz_firefox_bookmarks List table`s in datebase: demo I'm not sure what else to try...Welcome any other suggestions/recommendations to get my backups restored since I have very crucial info on them for school. Thanks!

All Replies (5)

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I called jscher to help you with his web application.


As to logins/passwords: Firefox 80+ has a logins-backup.json file in the profile folder that can be used in case of issues with logins.json or to undo an accidental delete of a login, so you can check if you can find this file in the profile folder or in a backup and replace the current logins.json. Make sure to keep a backup copy of all involved files (logins.json and key4.db and logins-backup.json)

You can use the button on the "Help -> More Troubleshooting Information" (about:support) page to go to the current Firefox profile folder or use the about:profiles page.

Help -> More Troubleshooting Information -> Profile Folder/Directory: Windows: Open Folder; Linux: Open Directory; Mac: Show in Finder https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/profiles-where-firefox-stores-user-data

If you use a Primary Password then you can prevent losing passwords by canceling the PP prompt. You need to logout beforehand by canceling a PP prompt, e.g. by clicking the eye icon in Lockwise (about:logins).

Also see; https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/recover-user-data-missing-after-firefox-update

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Where did you get this backup as it looks that this JSON backup is corrupted ?

Do you have other backups you can use instead ?

The name of an automatically created JSON bookmarks backup in the bookmarkbackups folder includes a total item count (folders and separators included) and an hash value to prevent saving the same backup more than once. You also see this count in the Restore menu drop-down list.

  • bookmarks-YYYY-MM-DD_<item count>_<hash>.jsonlz4.
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FredMcD said

I called jscher to help you with his web application. As to logins/passwords: Firefox 80+ has a logins-backup.json file in the profile folder that can be used in case of issues with logins.json or to undo an accidental delete of a login, so you can check if you can find this file in the profile folder or in a backup and replace the current logins.json. Make sure to keep a backup copy of all involved files (logins.json and key4.db and logins-backup.json) You can use the button on the "Help -> More Troubleshooting Information" (about:support) page to go to the current Firefox profile folder or use the about:profiles page. Help -> More Troubleshooting Information -> Profile Folder/Directory: Windows: Open Folder; Linux: Open Directory; Mac: Show in Finder https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/profiles-where-firefox-stores-user-data If you use a Primary Password then you can prevent losing passwords by canceling the PP prompt. You need to logout beforehand by canceling a PP prompt, e.g. by clicking the eye icon in Lockwise (about:logins). Also see; https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/recover-user-data-missing-after-firefox-update

Hello Fred McD,

When I follow the steps to view the bookmarks folder through your step: You can use the button on the "Help -> More Troubleshooting Information" (about:support) page to go to the current Firefox profile folder or use the about:profiles page....I find a JSONLZ4 file with a date stamp of 01/31/22 7.39pm and another from today that I've tried to import to restore my bookmarks and continue to get the same message 'Unable to process the backup file.' I used FileZilla that i believe was also referenced on post https://support.mozilla.org/bm/questions/1261652 which at least helped me find the Profile folder --> bookmarksbackup JSON file, and in the list see one from bookmarks-2022-01-08_170_ that includes a series of letters and numbers. Even when I try to import this one continue to get the 'Unable to process the backup file.' message.

Not exactly sure where else to look or try to import or find my bookmarks :/

Thanks again for trying to help!

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@cor-el: see the note I sent FredMcD

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If you use Sync then best is to disconnect Sync temporarily during troubleshooting.

This could be a problem with the places.sqlite and favicons.sqlite files in the Firefox profile folder.

  • use the "Places Database" -> "Verify Integrity" button on the "Help -> More Troubleshooting Information" (about:support) page

If errors are reported with "Verify Integrity", close and restart Firefox or reboot and retry.

If "Verify Integrity" cannot repair places.sqlite, rename/remove all places.sqlite and favicons.sqlite files in the Firefox profile folder with Firefox closed. Firefox will rebuild places.sqlite and restore the bookmarks from the most recent JSON backup in the bookmarkbackups folder.

  • keep a backup copy of places.sqlite in case a new places.sqlite database has to be created
  • you lose the history when a new places.sqlite is created

You may have to restore an older bookmarks backup in the bookmarkbackups folder via the Bookmarks Manager (Library).

See also:

You can use the button on the "Help -> More Troubleshooting Information" (about:support) page to go to the current Firefox profile folder or use the about:profiles page (Root directory).