Restore Firefox via Time Machine

Question

Level 1

6 points

Restore Firefox via Time Machine

Hi,

I accidentally deleted Firefox last week. Dumb mistake.

Anyways, I went into Time Machine in order to restore Firefox. I went back two weeks. I found Firefox and clicked to restore. What I really wanted were my bookmarks.

When I closed Time Machine and opened Firefox, it was as if I were installing it for the first time. I did install, however there was nothing, no bookmarks.

Is that normal when restoring? I assumed it would restore the Firefox as it was two weeks ago.

I wonder what I'm doing wrong.

Luckily, I exported bookmarks and recovered them, however I'm still wondering about Time Machine and how it did not give me what I thought I would get. A restored version!

Thanks for any input you may have.

Mac Mini, Mac OS X (10.6.7), Mac Mini

Posted on Nov 10, 2011 1:11 PM

Reply

Answer 1

Linc Davis

Level 10

209,739 points

Nov 10, 2011 7:24 PM in response to StephenB99

I'm sure I did not restore to the same location. Is that what I should be doing?

Yes.

In other words, delete the current files and restore?

When you restore a file or folder that already exists, TM prompts you to cancel, replace, or keep both. Choose replace.

Reply

Answer 2

Bob Timmons

Level 10

185,114 points

Nov 10, 2011 1:26 PM in response to StephenB99

Chances are, you may have restored the Firefox application from the Applications folder.

But, information about bookmarks, preferences, etc for Firefox is stored in a completely different place on your Mac......Finder > Library > Application Support > Firefox. You would have to restore that folder as well.

Reply

Answer 3

StephenB99 Author

Level 1

6 points

Nov 10, 2011 2:12 PM in response to Bob Timmons

Bob,

Thanks! I had a feeling there was something else other than just Firefox. Also, I DID restore the application. That seems to be why it opened as a new program. So there's more to restoring via Time Machine then just the program? Is there a simple way or do you have to know which files are associated and choose those individually??

Thanks for the help.

Reply

Answer 4

Pondini

Level 8

38,863 points

Nov 10, 2011 5:20 PM in response to StephenB99

See #28 in Time Machine - Frequently Asked Questions for some common ones.

Other apps, especially 3rd-party apps, you'll have to investigate, either with the vendor or, if you post in the forums, another user may know.

Common locations are <home folder>/Library/Application Support and <home folder>/Documents.

Reply

Answer 5

Linc Davis

Level 10

209,739 points

Nov 10, 2011 6:31 PM in response to StephenB99

Quit Firefox if it's running. In the Finder, open the Library folder in your home folder (not the Library folder at the top level of your boot volume.) Enter Time Machine and restore the following items:

Library/Application Support/Firefox

Library/Application Support/Mozilla

Library/Preferences/org.mozilla.firefox.plist

Relaunch Firefox.

Reply

Answer 6

StephenB99 Author

Level 1

6 points

Nov 10, 2011 7:00 PM in response to Linc Davis

Thanks. I tried what you suggested. No change. I'm sure I did not restore to the same location. Is that what I should be doing? In other words, delete the current files and restore?? I'm really confused. This is my first time depending on Time Machine. I thought it was just a matter of point and click to restore. Did not anticipate restoring "multiple files" to get something restored.

Oh well. I guess it's time to re-read Time Machine FAQ's..

Thanks to all!

Reply

Answer 7

zeppocat

Level 1

1 points

May 11, 2012 4:18 PM in response to Linc Davis

I am having the same problem, but in my case, the problem is that the Library folder under my User account, is not accessible in Time Machine. Should I be looking somewhere else for it?

Thank you!

Reply

Answer 8

Jan 20, 2013 8:15 AM in response to Linc Davis

Was having same problem, this sorted me out - thanks!

Reply