Keeping browser settings and everything after reinstall

Help on all MX Re-spins
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AlexKidd
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Joined: Wed Apr 02, 2025 5:15 pm

Keeping browser settings and everything after reinstall

#1 Post by AlexKidd »

I'm sorry, but I've just messed up my AVL MX edition too much with installing other DEs, and "smart" advice from chat bots. I need a fresh reinstall with plain MX Xfce I do want to use (no offense to Enlightenment, it's just about something someone wants to invest their time to get used to, and be willing to ditch things like Compiz for), but want to keep my Librewolf and Opera just the way they are, with saved passwords, tabs, addons, so on, even themes. Is this possible, and how, if so. Thanks ☺️!

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FullScale4Me
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Re: Keeping browser settings and everything after reinstall

#2 Post by FullScale4Me »

Many browsers have bookmark & password import/export. Some have a sync feature that does more (extensions, history, browser settings, etc). I know Firefox has all of this; yours may be similar.
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jeffreyC
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Re: Keeping browser settings and everything after reinstall

#3 Post by jeffreyC »

Browsers keep their configs in the /home directory, as an example, Firefox keeps theirs in .mozilla.

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asqwerth
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Re: Keeping browser settings and everything after reinstall

#4 Post by asqwerth »

I agree with jeffreyC.

Copy the $HOME/.mozilla folder somewhere safe. Just in case, you can also use FF's own functionality to export firefox bookmarks to your backup storage device. Back up your other data.

Reinstall MX, reboot into the new system, AND BEFORE YOU EVEN OPEN FIREFOX, paste your backed up .mozilla folder into $HOME.

That should reinstate FF to the last position it was in on your AVLMXE install, including what tabs were opened.
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AlexKidd
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Re: Keeping browser settings and everything after reinstall

#5 Post by AlexKidd »

Thanks, you guys! But I'm gonna try this first through a fresh install on a different hard drive, just in case. Btw, you guys really gotta warn people to refrain from taking Linux advice fromaall these chat bots! People are seriously messing up their systems with these useless, sometimes, rants even, which just further discourages to the already difficult to fix Linux! And AVL MX edition people, yes, Enlightenment is a very nice, functional, and gorgeous DE, but lacks certain functions, and you gotta get used to it. You guys, please give these distros more DEs. Cinnamon totally rocks, you really, really gotta incorporate this DE into the official repository with no fuss in installation. There's a regular unofficial MX with a Cinnamon DE, but being unofficial, people don't know how trustworthy it is, and from where to safely download. But anyway, thanks, and I'll see how your advice comes out, and of course let you know. It would be so nice to have a Linux version of the PortableApps bandwagon, but we know that's an issue. App images are not the same thing, settings and data of the apps still don't get stored within the portable app, like in the Windows versions.

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asqwerth
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Re: Keeping browser settings and everything after reinstall

#6 Post by asqwerth »

AVLMXE is a RESPIN, not official MX Linux. Please post your suggestions and complaints on that in the MX-Modified subforum.
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Eadwine Rose
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Re: Keeping browser settings and everything after reinstall

#7 Post by Eadwine Rose »

Topic moved to respins forum.
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siamhie
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Re: Keeping browser settings and everything after reinstall

#8 Post by siamhie »

AlexKidd wrote: Tue Jun 17, 2025 3:45 am You guys, please give these distros more DEs.
There's three officially supported desktops and 50+ more desktops available from the repos.
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I must master it as I must master my life. Without me, my Fluxbox is useless. Without my Fluxbox, I am useless.

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Stevo
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Re: Keeping browser settings and everything after reinstall

#9 Post by Stevo »

Btw, you guys really gotta warn people to refrain from taking Linux advice from aall these chat bots!

Image
MXPI = MX Package Installer
QSI = Quick System Info from menu
The MX Test repository is mostly backports; not the same as Debian testing

Nokkaelaein
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Re: Keeping browser settings and everything after reinstall

#10 Post by Nokkaelaein »

Stevo wrote: Tue Jun 17, 2025 10:51 am Image
ARGH :biggrin:

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