browser favorites are gone

Discussion:

(too old to reply)

Candida781

2006-03-20 02:15:27 UTC

I had many favorites bookmarked, but now when I open favorites in IE, it says
"empty." I think I must have deleted some files on the computer by mistake
and accidentally removed the favorites. Is there any way to get them back?

Alan Edwards

2006-03-20 03:14:27 UTC

Permalink

If you have deleted them, then go to the recycle bin and restore them.
If you have accidentally moved them, then find the Favorites folder
and put them back. The location varies according to operating system:
Favorites location in Windows XP if installed on C:
C:\Documents and Settings\logon_name\Favorites
In Win9x, Me it is normally C:\Windows\Favorites
Search for a folder called Favorites and report back if you need more
help.

...Alan
--
Alan Edwards, MS MVP Windows - Internet Explorer
http://dts-l.org/index.html

On Sun, 19 Mar 2006 18:15:27 -0800, Candida781

Post by Candida781
I had many favorites bookmarked, but now when I open favorites in IE, it says
"empty." I think I must have deleted some files on the computer by mistake
and accidentally removed the favorites. Is there any way to get them back?

Candida781

2006-03-20 03:38:27 UTC

Permalink

It is fixed! Thank you!

Post by Alan Edwards
If you have deleted them, then go to the recycle bin and restore them.
If you have accidentally moved them, then find the Favorites folder
C:\Documents and Settings\logon_name\Favorites
In Win9x, Me it is normally C:\Windows\Favorites
Search for a folder called Favorites and report back if you need more
help.
....Alan
--
Alan Edwards, MS MVP Windows - Internet Explorer
http://dts-l.org/index.html

Robert

2008-05-09 05:26:00 UTC

Permalink

Alan -

I just read this Discussion Group series between you and "Candida 781"
regarding her browser Favorites being gone (see
microsoft.public.windows.inetexplorer.ie6.browser, 3/19/2006 8:17 PM PST). I
have a similar situation in that I accidentally lost all my Favorites from my
user account, and need to recover them if possible.

I had trouble with a Lexmark Z12 USB printer installation on my XP Pro
system, and needed to uninstall it before attempting a reinstall. The printer
software didn't appear in Control Panel's Add/Remove Programs, so I had to
use Lexmark's Uninstall package. In so doing, the Lexmark Uninstaller also
deleted every single Favorites link in my user account! The Favorites
subfolders are still there, but they're all empty! [Note: other users'
Favorites links were not touched.]

Unfortunately, these deleted links were not in the Recycle Bin. Nor are they
in the "c:\Documents and Settings\<username>\Favorites" folder as you
suggest. I lost hundreds of important business links that I thought could be
recovered when I ran Windows Restore. (I make frequent Restore points for
just such occassions.) But, to my dismay, browser Favorites are NOT restored
by using this tool!

Lexmark refuses to address the problem, telling me I can "safely" reinstall
their printer software without further incident. (But, I have no intention of
reinstalling any software that is potentially so destructive, at least until
I'm assured it won't happen again, or that I can completely undo any
catastrophic changes that might occur.)

I have three questions which I hope you might answer:
1. Does Windows create a log file of the URLs that are deleted? If so,
where would I find it?
2. Is there a way to restore the missing URLs from this Uninstall Lexmark
operation?
3. Is there a way to set Restore so it saves/reinstalls browser Favorites?

I realize your original message string is 14 months old. Nevertheless, I
hope you can still help me.

Thanks in advance for any assistance you might provide,
- Robert

Post by Alan Edwards
On Sun, 19 Mar 2006 18:15:27 -0800, Candida781
I had many favorites bookmarked, but now when I open favorites in IE, it says
"empty." I think I must have deleted some files on the computer by mistake
and accidentally removed the favorites. Is there any way to get them back?

Alan Edwards

2008-05-09 10:25:35 UTC

Permalink

Hi Robert

With respect, the thread is nearly 26 months old, not 14.

If you delete a link from Favorites, then they are normally in the
Recycle Bin, but that does not appear to be the case here.
I suspect your Favorites may be elsewhere rather than in the normal
location.

As to your 3 questions...

1. Does Windows create a log file of the URLs that are deleted? If so, where would I find it?

No.

2. Is there a way to restore the missing URLs from this Uninstall Lexmark operation?

AFAIK, not if the uninstall has really deleted them. A guess, as I
don't know what the Lexmark uninstall did.

3. Is there a way to set Restore so it saves/reinstalls browser Favorites?

You only need to save them every now and then with IE-File-Export

Have you looked for another Favorites folder?

Is the current location of the Favorites folder the normal place of
"c:\Documents and Settings\<username>\Favorites" ?

Can you check the value in the Registry? (Start-Run-Regedit)
An extract from another old response:
-------
For Windows 2000/XP:
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User
Shell Folders]
Set the Favorites path to : %USERPROFILE%\Favorites

The above should be a REG_EXPAND_SZ value, not REG_SZ

Ref: http://windowsxp.mvps.org/IEFAQ.htm#favorites
http://windowsxp.mvps.org/usershellfolders.htm
------------

...Alan
--
Alan Edwards, MS MVP Windows -Internet Explorer
http://dts-l.com/index.htm

On Thu, 8 May 2008 22:26:00 -0700, in
microsoft.public.windows.inetexplorer.ie6.browser, Robert

Alan -
I just read this Discussion Group series between you and "Candida 781"
regarding her browser Favorites being gone (see
microsoft.public.windows.inetexplorer.ie6.browser, 3/19/2006 8:17 PM PST). I
have a similar situation in that I accidentally lost all my Favorites from my
user account, and need to recover them if possible.
I had trouble with a Lexmark Z12 USB printer installation on my XP Pro
system, and needed to uninstall it before attempting a reinstall. The printer
software didn't appear in Control Panel's Add/Remove Programs, so I had to
use Lexmark's Uninstall package. In so doing, the Lexmark Uninstaller also
deleted every single Favorites link in my user account! The Favorites
subfolders are still there, but they're all empty! [Note: other users'
Favorites links were not touched.]
Unfortunately, these deleted links were not in the Recycle Bin. Nor are they
in the "c:\Documents and Settings\<username>\Favorites" folder as you
suggest. I lost hundreds of important business links that I thought could be
recovered when I ran Windows Restore. (I make frequent Restore points for
just such occassions.) But, to my dismay, browser Favorites are NOT restored
by using this tool!
Lexmark refuses to address the problem, telling me I can "safely" reinstall
their printer software without further incident. (But, I have no intention of
reinstalling any software that is potentially so destructive, at least until
I'm assured it won't happen again, or that I can completely undo any
catastrophic changes that might occur.)
1. Does Windows create a log file of the URLs that are deleted? If so,
where would I find it?
2. Is there a way to restore the missing URLs from this Uninstall Lexmark
operation?
3. Is there a way to set Restore so it saves/reinstalls browser Favorites?
I realize your original message string is 14 months old. Nevertheless, I
hope you can still help me.
Thanks in advance for any assistance you might provide,
- Robert

Robert

2008-05-09 17:00:01 UTC

Permalink

Alan -

You're absolutely correct. It was 26 months ago, not 14! (It was late at
night when I wrote that; sorry, too tired to add.) Thanks for taking the time
to help me after all these years since you first responded to this problem!

The Favorites I've saved since the Uninstall disaster are in fact stored in
the same location you mention. And, I did a search for other possible
Favorites folders and found one in a smiliar path for each of the user
profiles on this computer. Yet, none of those folders were touched; only the
one I was logged into at the time I attempted the Lexmark Uninstall.

Too bad Microsoft hasn't figured out a way to include the IE-File-Export
function as part of their other system Save/Restore processes so users will
have an easier time of trying to back-up/save their systems (fewer steps).

I checked the HKEY_CURRENT_USER value in the Registry as indicated in the
older response extract you included. The value of %USERPROFILE%\FAVORITES was
indeed "REG_EXPAND_SZ". However, the "New" subfolder under "User Shell
Folders" has a default value of "REG_SZ". Should that be REG_EXPAND_SZ as
well? BTW, what's the meaning of and difference between Reg_SZ and
Reg_Expand_SZ?

Also, it occurs to me that there might be some trace of the previous URLs
I've visited in a "Recent" folder or History of some sort. But, I'm not sure
where all the various places are that previous internet activity and history
is stored. Could you please list the various places/folders where I might
look for such copies of my previous URL History? Maybe I can reconstruct a
good portion of my lost links.

Thanks again for your valuable assistance!
-Robert

Post by Alan Edwards
Hi Robert
With respect, the thread is nearly 26 months old, not 14.
If you delete a link from Favorites, then they are normally in the
Recycle Bin, but that does not appear to be the case here.
I suspect your Favorites may be elsewhere rather than in the normal
location.
As to your 3 questions...

1. Does Windows create a log file of the URLs that are deleted? If so, where would I find it?

No.

2. Is there a way to restore the missing URLs from this Uninstall Lexmark operation?

AFAIK, not if the uninstall has really deleted them. A guess, as I
don't know what the Lexmark uninstall did.

3. Is there a way to set Restore so it saves/reinstalls browser Favorites?

You only need to save them every now and then with IE-File-Export
Have you looked for another Favorites folder?
Is the current location of the Favorites folder the normal place of
"c:\Documents and Settings\<username>\Favorites" ?
Can you check the value in the Registry? (Start-Run-Regedit)
-------
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User
Shell Folders]
Set the Favorites path to : %USERPROFILE%\Favorites
The above should be a REG_EXPAND_SZ value, not REG_SZ
Ref: http://windowsxp.mvps.org/IEFAQ.htm#favorites
http://windowsxp.mvps.org/usershellfolders.htm
------------
....Alan
--
Alan Edwards, MS MVP Windows -Internet Explorer
http://dts-l.com/index.htm
On Thu, 8 May 2008 22:26:00 -0700, in
microsoft.public.windows.inetexplorer.ie6.browser, Robert

Alan -
I just read this Discussion Group series between you and "Candida 781"
regarding her browser Favorites being gone (see
microsoft.public.windows.inetexplorer.ie6.browser, 3/19/2006 8:17 PM PST). I
have a similar situation in that I accidentally lost all my Favorites from my
user account, and need to recover them if possible.
I had trouble with a Lexmark Z12 USB printer installation on my XP Pro
system, and needed to uninstall it before attempting a reinstall. The printer
software didn't appear in Control Panel's Add/Remove Programs, so I had to
use Lexmark's Uninstall package. In so doing, the Lexmark Uninstaller also
deleted every single Favorites link in my user account! The Favorites
subfolders are still there, but they're all empty! [Note: other users'
Favorites links were not touched.]
Unfortunately, these deleted links were not in the Recycle Bin. Nor are they
in the "c:\Documents and Settings\<username>\Favorites" folder as you
suggest. I lost hundreds of important business links that I thought could be
recovered when I ran Windows Restore. (I make frequent Restore points for
just such occassions.) But, to my dismay, browser Favorites are NOT restored
by using this tool!
Lexmark refuses to address the problem, telling me I can "safely" reinstall
their printer software without further incident. (But, I have no intention of
reinstalling any software that is potentially so destructive, at least until
I'm assured it won't happen again, or that I can completely undo any
catastrophic changes that might occur.)
1. Does Windows create a log file of the URLs that are deleted? If so,
where would I find it?
2. Is there a way to restore the missing URLs from this Uninstall Lexmark operation?
3. Is there a way to set Restore so it saves/reinstalls browser Favorites?
I realize your original message string is 14 months old. Nevertheless, I
hope you can still help me.
Thanks in advance for any assistance you might provide,
- Robert

Alan Edwards

2008-05-09 21:07:58 UTC

Permalink

Hi Robert

The "New" subfolder should be REG_SZ
For information on both types, read here:

Description of the Microsoft Windows registry:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;256986

Recently used links should be in the History folder. You can see the
location in the same Registry key.
It should be %USERPROFILE%\Local Settings\History, although it is
normal to access History using IE with either the History button or
Ctrl+H
Of course, what you can gather from History depends on how long you
have it set for in IE-Tools-Internet Options.

...Alan
--
Alan Edwards, MS MVP Windows - Internet Explorer
http://dts-l.com/index.htm

On Fri, 9 May 2008 10:00:01 -0700, in
microsoft.public.windows.inetexplorer.ie6.browser, Robert

Post by Robert
Alan -
You're absolutely correct. It was 26 months ago, not 14! (It was late at
night when I wrote that; sorry, too tired to add.) Thanks for taking the time
to help me after all these years since you first responded to this problem!
The Favorites I've saved since the Uninstall disaster are in fact stored in
the same location you mention. And, I did a search for other possible
Favorites folders and found one in a smiliar path for each of the user
profiles on this computer. Yet, none of those folders were touched; only the
one I was logged into at the time I attempted the Lexmark Uninstall.
Too bad Microsoft hasn't figured out a way to include the IE-File-Export
function as part of their other system Save/Restore processes so users will
have an easier time of trying to back-up/save their systems (fewer steps).
I checked the HKEY_CURRENT_USER value in the Registry as indicated in the
older response extract you included. The value of %USERPROFILE%\FAVORITES was
indeed "REG_EXPAND_SZ". However, the "New" subfolder under "User Shell
Folders" has a default value of "". Should that be REG_EXPAND_SZ as
well? BTW, what's the meaning of and difference between Reg_SZ and
Reg_Expand_SZ?
Also, it occurs to me that there might be some trace of the previous URLs
I've visited in a "Recent" folder or History of some sort. But, I'm not sure
where all the various places are that previous internet activity and history
is stored. Could you please list the various places/folders where I might
look for such copies of my previous URL History? Maybe I can reconstruct a
good portion of my lost links.
Thanks again for your valuable assistance!
-Robert