IE Favorites Will Not Import

  • Thread starter Thread starter Julie P.
  • Start date Start date
J

Julie P.

Hi, I am trying to import my IE6 favorites from an old computer, running
IE6, to a new one running the same version.

This is what I did:

1) Exported the following registry key from my old computer, which controls
order of favorites:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\MenuOrd
er\Favorites

Saved it as a .reg file on my desktop

2) Used the export function on IE6 to export my favorites to an .htm file on
my desktop

3) Emailed myself the above two files as an attachment

4) On my new computer, deleted the above registry key.

5) On my new computer, deleted all my favorites in C:\Documents and
Settings\Julie\Favorites\Links

6) Saved the above email registry and imported favorites attachments on my
desktop.

7) Double clicked on the registry key to import it. Import was successful.

8) Opened IE6 and went to the import wizard (import favorites).

9) Chose the correct file on the desktop and hit "save" and "next".

10) Chose the correct "Links" folder to import the favorites into.

11) It says I will have successfully installed my favorites when I click
"Finish". But then all of a sudden it says it is "not a valid bookmark file"
and no
favorites have been installed!

Does anyone know what I am doing wrong?

Thanks!

The reason I chose to import the registry key first was because last time I
did it after I imported the favorites, and when I did that, my favorites
were still out of order. So I thought I would try it in a different order.
 
Hi Julie,

See this, from Alan Edwards

--
"Not a valid bookmark file" error
Created by saving an emailed favorites export using File-Save

Open the page in Notepad and remove this first line:

<!-- saved from url=(0022)http://internet.e-mail -->
--

And: http://inetexplorer.mvps.org/answers3.htm#favorites

--
Ramesh - Microsoft MVP
Windows XP Shell/User
http://www.mvps.org/sramesh2k

AumHa VSOP: http://www.aumha.org

Hi, I am trying to import my IE6 favorites from an old computer, running
IE6, to a new one running the same version.

This is what I did:

1) Exported the following registry key from my old computer, which controls
order of favorites:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\MenuOrd
er\Favorites

Saved it as a .reg file on my desktop

2) Used the export function on IE6 to export my favorites to an .htm file on
my desktop

3) Emailed myself the above two files as an attachment

4) On my new computer, deleted the above registry key.

5) On my new computer, deleted all my favorites in C:\Documents and
Settings\Julie\Favorites\Links

6) Saved the above email registry and imported favorites attachments on my
desktop.

7) Double clicked on the registry key to import it. Import was successful.

8) Opened IE6 and went to the import wizard (import favorites).

9) Chose the correct file on the desktop and hit "save" and "next".

10) Chose the correct "Links" folder to import the favorites into.

11) It says I will have successfully installed my favorites when I click
"Finish". But then all of a sudden it says it is "not a valid bookmark file"
and no
favorites have been installed!

Does anyone know what I am doing wrong?

Thanks!

The reason I chose to import the registry key first was because last time I
did it after I imported the favorites, and when I did that, my favorites
were still out of order. So I thought I would try it in a different order.
 
Ramesh said:
Hi Julie,

See this, from Alan Edwards

--
"Not a valid bookmark file" error
Created by saving an emailed favorites export using File-Save

Open the page in Notepad and remove this first line:

<!-- saved from url=(0022)http://internet.e-mail -->

Hi Ramesh, I followed these instructions, and it worked perfectly! Thanks
once again! The problem is that the favorites are still out of order (i.e.,
alphabetized). I tried merging the order registry key and restarting, both
before and after importing the favorites, but this didn't help. I also
deleted the old registry key each time before merging. I have no idea why
this is doing this, as it certainly didn't do it for Alan while he imported
from 98SE to ME. Although I am using XP Home.

Also, just in case anyone didn't know, you have to import the bookmarks to
the "Links" folder in the "Favorites" folder (looks like a five-point star),
not the "Favorites" folder itself. I certainly didn't know this, but now I
know, through trial and error. If you try to import them into the
"Favorites" folder, you get the same bookmark error message.
 
In microsoft.public.windows.inetexplorer.ie6.browser, "Julie P."
Hi Ramesh, I followed these instructions, and it worked perfectly! Thanks
once again! The problem is that the favorites are still out of order (i.e.,
alphabetized). I tried merging the order registry key and restarting, both
before and after importing the favorites, but this didn't help. I also
deleted the old registry key each time before merging. I have no idea why
this is doing this, as it certainly didn't do it for Alan while he imported
from 98SE to ME. Although I am using XP Home.

Also, just in case anyone didn't know, you have to import the bookmarks to
the "Links" folder in the "Favorites" folder (looks like a five-point star),
not the "Favorites" folder itself. I certainly didn't know this, but now I
know, through trial and error. If you try to import them into the
"Favorites" folder, you get the same bookmark error message.

I didn't know that.
I have never imported to the Links folder and I don't see that can
possibly get them in the right place unless there is something about
XP I am unaware of (probably, as my Links folder doesn't show a
special icon)

....Alan
 
You've to import to the Favorites folder (not links folder)

--
Ramesh - Microsoft MVP
Windows XP Shell/User
http://www.mvps.org/sramesh2k

AumHa VSOP: http://www.aumha.org

Ramesh said:
Hi Julie,

See this, from Alan Edwards

--
"Not a valid bookmark file" error
Created by saving an emailed favorites export using File-Save

Open the page in Notepad and remove this first line:

<!-- saved from url=(0022)http://internet.e-mail -->

Hi Ramesh, I followed these instructions, and it worked perfectly! Thanks
once again! The problem is that the favorites are still out of order (i.e.,
alphabetized). I tried merging the order registry key and restarting, both
before and after importing the favorites, but this didn't help. I also
deleted the old registry key each time before merging. I have no idea why
this is doing this, as it certainly didn't do it for Alan while he imported
from 98SE to ME. Although I am using XP Home.

Also, just in case anyone didn't know, you have to import the bookmarks to
the "Links" folder in the "Favorites" folder (looks like a five-point star),
not the "Favorites" folder itself. I certainly didn't know this, but now I
know, through trial and error. If you try to import them into the
"Favorites" folder, you get the same bookmark error message.
 
Ramesh said:
You've to import to the Favorites folder (not links folder)

Ok, I just went back and re-imported the exported favorites from my desktop
file, and this time I *was* able to import them into the Favorites folder!
Really weird! And, much to my delight, they are in the correct order! So the
reason they weren't in the correct order last time, despite my merging the
correct registry key, was probably because I had the favorites in the Links
folder. Well , at least I now know how to do it the correct way. Thanks Alan
and Ramesh!

J.
 
You're welcome

--
Ramesh - Microsoft MVP
Windows XP Shell/User
http://www.mvps.org/sramesh2k

AumHa VSOP: http://www.aumha.org

Ramesh said:
You've to import to the Favorites folder (not links folder)

Ok, I just went back and re-imported the exported favorites from my desktop
file, and this time I *was* able to import them into the Favorites folder!
Really weird! And, much to my delight, they are in the correct order! So the
reason they weren't in the correct order last time, despite my merging the
correct registry key, was probably because I had the favorites in the Links
folder. Well , at least I now know how to do it the correct way. Thanks Alan
and Ramesh!

J.
 
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