Backup and restore user profiles and data, for example, emails and contacts for Thunderbird and bookmarks and history for Firefox. MozBackup is simple to use.

Specifications

  • Developer: Pavel Cvrcek (Czech), English
  • File size: 771KB
  • Prerequisites: One or more supported apps must be installed
  • Hardware Requirements: None
  • Operating systems: Windows 98, Windows ME, Windows NT, Windows 2000, Windows XP, Server 2003, Windows Vista, Windows 7
  • Price: Free
  • More Info: MozBackup Home Page
  • Download: MozBackup Download
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Note: The examples and information in this article pertain to Windows Vista and Windows 7.

Editor’s Note: As of publication, all links to the Web domain http://mozbackup.jasnapaka.com were non-responsive.

Who’s it for?

MozBackup is for those looking for a simple way to backup and restore user profiles for Mozilla applications like Firefox and Thunderbird plus a number of other applications.

What problem does it solve?

As of early 2010 Thunderbird and Firefox provide no means for saving user profiles and data. There is no way to backup emails in Thunderbird. By using MozBackup the loss of emails, bookmarks and other important data can be avoided before a Windows upgrade or reinstall. The same user data can be backed up for redundancy. Email can be archived on a routine basis.

Standout features

  • Simple GUI: The screens are simple and easy to use. You are guided through the backup or restore process in wizard format.
  • Support for the following applications:
  • Profile Components: The following information can be exported or imported. Enabled components are dependent upon the selected application:
    • General settings
    • Emails
    • Address books
    • Bookmarks
    • History
    • Sidebars
    • User styles
    • Extensions
    • Saved passwords
    • Cookies
    • Saved form details
    • Downloaded file list
    • Certificates
    • Cache
    • Accounts settings only
    • Unknown files (optional)
  • Supports multiple profiles: Back up from and restore to one of many profiles.
  • Standard PCV format: The PCV files are in the ZIP format and can be opened by standard compression utilities. You may need to change the .pcv file extension to .zip.
  • Command Line support: The MozBackup Web site claims that you can run MozBackup from the command line but I was unable to get this option to work: see What’s wrong? below. Example: “P:\Program Files (x86)\MozBackup\MozBackup.exe” “P:\Program Files (x86)\MozBackup\backup.cfg”. You will need to create a config file (backup.cfg in my example).
  • User customizable settings: You can modify the \Program Files (x86)\MozBackup\backup.ini file to customize MozBackup:
    • Backup file name format (default is <application> <version> – <year>-<month>-<day>.pcv)
    • Backup directory (default is \Users\USERNAME\My Documents)
    • Number of monitors (default is 1)
    • Enable/disable prompting for password (default is true)
    • Compression level (0-9, default is 9 – maximum compression)
  • Support for multiple languages: 47 different languages are supported but vary by version.
  • Freeware: MozBackup is free for both business and personal use.

What’s wrong?

  • Reliability: I experienced a backup that appeared to be empty and possibly corrupted. However, the error could have been mine so take that into consideration. I had also created a second backup to a flash drive that worked. I recommend creating two backups and saving one to removable media.
  • Saved profile replaces existing profile: If you restore a default profile all current default profile information, including emails and bookmarks, if applicable, will be replaced. Be aware of this if you have any emails or bookmarks that you don’t want to lose. You can avoid this issue by creating a new profile and restoring the saved profile to the new profile name. Be very careful to select the right profile name! This is also useful for testing the integrity of the backed up profile and the restoration process.
  • “New profile” option does not work: I was unable to create a new profile using the New profile button on the Restore | Profile selection screen. Click the creating a new profile link above for a workaround.
  • Command line option fails: When using the command line option in Vista and Windows 7, I received a Cannot open file error.
  • Help file: There is no help available from the application. MozBackup is easy to use and you probably won’t need help, but if you do, you can visit the MozBackup support page for help.

Competitive products

Note: The following applications may not have the same functionality as MozBackup.

Free

Commercial: fee based

User profiles and emails can also be backed up manually.

Bottom line

Until Thunderbird and Firefox include options to export user data and profiles MozBackup is a simple and user friendly way to get this functionality.

User rating:

Have you encountered or used MozBackup? If so, what do you think? Rate your experience and compare the results to what other TechRepublic members think. Give your own personal review in the TechRepublic Community Forums or let us know if you think we left anything out in our review.

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Welcome to MozBackup Screen

Download, install and run the MozBackup 1.4.10 file and you will see the Welcome screen.

The Operation Type Screen – Backup a Profile

Select the operation to perform, Backup a profile or Restore a profile. The installed applications that MozBackup supports will be listed. Select the application that you want to backup or restore. In this example I will back up a profile for Thunderbird.

Close Running Application

If the application is open you must close it before backing up or restoring a profile.

The Profile Selection Screen

Select the profile to backup, normally default.

The Profile Save As Screen

Click the Browse… button to choose the backup directory. The default file name will be the application name, version and current date. Modify the default file name if wanted. Click the Save button. Click the Next> button when done.

Prompt for Password Protection

You can password protect the saved file. This requires, of course, the additional safe keeping of the password you choose.

Set Password

If you choose to password protect the backup file the Set password screen will appear. Enter the password twice and select OK when done.

The Components Selection Screen

Note: This screen may be different depending on the application chosen in the ‘Operation type’ screen. The details will be enabled or disabled depending on the application that you are backing up.
All enabled items will be selected by default except for Accounts settings only. Uncheck any components that you do not want to backup.

Save Unknown Files

If there are additional files that you want to add to the backup click the Unknown files button and this window will open. Click OK to add the files in the list or Cancel to abort. The Unknown files window should close. Clicking the Next> button on the Components selection screen will start the backup process.

The Processing Operation Screen

A list showing the components that are being backed up will be shown. The status will be shown in the status bar at the bottom of the screen.

The Report Screen

A status of the previous operation will be listed. Click the New backup or restore check box to perform another operation or click the Finish button if you are done.

Restoring a Profile

Note: Before restoring a profile you should have the application (Firefox, Thunderbird, etc.) already installed and should have run it at least once.
Now let’s restore a profile. Select the Restore a profile radio button and select the application. Please note that like the backup operation, the application you select cannot be running. I will be restoring a Thunderbird profile in this example. Click the Next> button when done.

The Profile Selection Screen

Select the profile to backup, normally default. I was unable to create a new profile using the New profile button. Refer to the Mozilla Profile Manager Web page for instructions how you can create a new profile.
Important!  If you have multiple profiles, be sure that you select the appropriate profile before moving to the next screen.

The Open Profile Screen

Click the Browse… button to choose the backup directory. Navigate to the drive and folder where your profiles have been saved and select the profile that you want to open. Click the Open button. Click the Next> button when done.
Warning!  The profile information in the PCV file you select will overwrite any existing profile information. This includes bookmarks and emails if applicable. You may want to backup the current profile before doing a profile restore.

The Enter Zip Password Screen

If the PCV file is password protected you will be asked to provide the password before you can continue.

The Components Selection Screen

Note: This screen may be different depending on the application chosen in the ‘Operation type’ screen. The details will be enabled or disabled depending on the application profile that you are restoring.
All enabled items will be selected by default. Uncheck any components that you do not want to restore.

The Unknown Files Screen

If there are additional files that you want to select click the Unknown files button. Click the Next> button when done.

The Restoration Overwrite Warning

As mentioned earlier, restoring a profile will overwrite existing profile information including emails and bookmarks, if selected and applicable. Be sure you understand the consequences before clicking the Yes button!

The Processing Operation Screen II

A list showing the components that are being restored will be shown. The status will be shown in the status bar at the bottom of the screen.

The Report Screen II

A status of the previous operation will be listed. Click the Finish button when the installation is complete or check the New backup or restore check box.

Select another Backup or Restore Operation

Click the New backup or restore check box to perform another operation and click the Next button.