Solved Favorites problem after win7 reinstall

[errolflynn]

Properties are the same in documents. When i send to Desktop - it is a shortcut with just few kb of course.

 

[errolflynn]

OK, i learned that when i import my favorites they have a .ink extension and there is a way to change the extension to an .ico extension. Anyone know exactly how to do that. May be the answer.

 

[dsperber]

Just for future reference... your "Favorites" folder is just that, a folder.

If you're going to reinstall Win7, or upgrade hardware, or whatever, and you want to preserve your current Favorites (and everything in that folder) so that you can get it all back when you're finished with your reinstall/upgrade, just copy it as a complete folder! COPY it to a second hard drive, USB drive, or COPY it to a CD/DVD, using real COPY (via Windows Explorer, Free Commander, etc.) and then PASTE into your destination.

When you're ready to bring it back in, go to your current Favorites folder, DELETE EVERYTHING THAT'S THERE RIGHT NOW, and then COPY BACK from x:\Favorites on your backup source to the Favorites folder on C:\Users\<username>\Favorites.

It's just a folder, like any other folder... except that it is used in a special way by IE.

Avoid SEND TO... when it's just a folder/file that you want to COPY from a source to a destination. Use COPY/PASTE. Or, use Free Commander (or similar) with two panes, source and destination.

 

[errolflynn]

Yes, I learned my lesson there. 99% of what i "sent to" the dvd works fine. Anyhow, is anyone familiar with what extension favorites should have? I was told that perhaps i could edit icons and or extensions to get favorites to work.

 

[dsperber]

is anyone familiar with what extension favorites should have? I was told that perhaps i could edit icons and or extensions to get favorites to work.

They are URL extensions, in the Favorites folder or sub-folders:

 

[errolflynn]

Ok, I appreciate all the help. I guess it boils down to this. When I send my favorites file from the dvd I saved it on (using "send to") to documents I can see my invidivual favorites being transported. Ok, so when I go to documents it's just shortcut folders that are empty. BUT - BUT why am i able to see the names of my individual bookmarks then?? Clearly there is some memory of them in the Favorites folder I have on dvd. I get the feeling there should be a way to retrieve them somehow if i can see them being "sent to" and the favorites folder says 1732 files inside!! May be tricky - may even involve some code, but there's got to be a way to get these bookmarks (.urls) out of this folder - because it has a memory of them.

 

[errolflynn]

Amazingly, figured this out. The favorites were "hidden". When I did unhide they were there. Ok, believe it or not, I have another problem. I know i can't just import these to favorites on IE 8 (tried won't work). Problem is I copied them to favorites. Now they show up in the favorites folder on my computer, but they will not show up on Internet explorer!!. They are in the favorites folder in C: but will not show up in IE8! Dang it anyhow! Any suggestions.

 

[errolflynn]

Ok, finally got it. In case anyone else needs for reference. I went into Windows.old. I unhid favorites. Where there were only empty shortcuts came back my favorites. I copied and moved to Favorites folder. I had to unhide them again for them to show up in Int. Explorer. Pain in the arse. I learned most of what is saved in Windows.old is hidden for some reason. Same from DVD. They were hidden; have no idea why. Make sure and unhide twice I guess.

 

[TheReaper]

Also, on the chance that the files on DVD (and/or HD) were somehow marked as Hidden:

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/394-hidden-files-folders-show-hide.html

James

Great you got it sorted out.

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