thoffman
asked on
Saving IE passwords, history, autocomplete, etc. for an XP re-install
Well, I installed some software that completely hosed my ability to burn DVDs. I think it was the ASPI layer that came with the software that shipped with my Sony video camera. I should've known better than to install it, but I did. I can burn CDs, but not DVDs, which is very odd. The drive's fine, because it's now sitting in a second computer and works fine.
Anyway, that's not my problem. I'm planning on just formatting and re-installing, rather than spend hours trying to solve that and a few other problems I'm having (the 3 columns' worth of programs in the start menu on a 1024x768 screen probably isn't helping much either <g>). The problem is that my wife relies on IE's autocomplete for her username and password for several sites she goes to. I'm planning on installing Roboform after the re-install for future re-installs, and will make a Ghost image once I get everything working just right, but that doesn't help me now.
So, what's the best method of preserving all that IE information, then importing it back in once I have Windows set up again? I've only used the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard a few times. Does it really transfer files and settings? Is there a utility out there that can do this for me that really works? I'd even be willing to export/import registry keys and copy files to a temporary location if I need to. I'm just hoping to find a time-tested method of saving all the autocomplete, history, and password information from IE, rather than using trial and error and finding out I picked error.
Thanks for any help.
--
Troy
Anyway, that's not my problem. I'm planning on just formatting and re-installing, rather than spend hours trying to solve that and a few other problems I'm having (the 3 columns' worth of programs in the start menu on a 1024x768 screen probably isn't helping much either <g>). The problem is that my wife relies on IE's autocomplete for her username and password for several sites she goes to. I'm planning on installing Roboform after the re-install for future re-installs, and will make a Ghost image once I get everything working just right, but that doesn't help me now.
So, what's the best method of preserving all that IE information, then importing it back in once I have Windows set up again? I've only used the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard a few times. Does it really transfer files and settings? Is there a utility out there that can do this for me that really works? I'd even be willing to export/import registry keys and copy files to a temporary location if I need to. I'm just hoping to find a time-tested method of saving all the autocomplete, history, and password information from IE, rather than using trial and error and finding out I picked error.
Thanks for any help.
--
Troy
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What burning software do you use? It may be possible to fix the initial problem unless of course you really want to reinstall those 3 columns of software.
ASKER
Lehan, I'll give that a shot.
Fatal Exception, I'll also give FAST a shot. I'm going to use Ghost to copy the system as-is to a second drive, just in case.
I just don't want to spend hours swapping the two drives getting the data through trial and error.
I know FAST claims to copy files and settings, and I noticed that it did the few times I used it. I just didn't notice if it also gets your autocomplete information.
Biggles, I tried Nero, EZ CD Creator, and even XP's built-in burning. The Sony video camera software is what hosed my system to the point of only being able to burn CDs. I uninstalled it, threw another ASPI on there, but nothing worked.
The 3 columns of software are the reason I decided to just reinstall rather than try to solve the problem. Most of those apps are things I used once or twice and was just too lazy to uninstall when I was done. The way I look at it now, my system's so bloated, it's time to start over. I really don't need a 5 GB program files folder and a 4 GB Windows folder. :)
Hopefully, I'll get to it this weekend. Then I'll start dishing out the points.
Fatal Exception, I'll also give FAST a shot. I'm going to use Ghost to copy the system as-is to a second drive, just in case.
I just don't want to spend hours swapping the two drives getting the data through trial and error.
I know FAST claims to copy files and settings, and I noticed that it did the few times I used it. I just didn't notice if it also gets your autocomplete information.
Biggles, I tried Nero, EZ CD Creator, and even XP's built-in burning. The Sony video camera software is what hosed my system to the point of only being able to burn CDs. I uninstalled it, threw another ASPI on there, but nothing worked.
The 3 columns of software are the reason I decided to just reinstall rather than try to solve the problem. Most of those apps are things I used once or twice and was just too lazy to uninstall when I was done. The way I look at it now, my system's so bloated, it's time to start over. I really don't need a 5 GB program files folder and a 4 GB Windows folder. :)
Hopefully, I'll get to it this weekend. Then I'll start dishing out the points.
Good luck with this.. will wait for the good news... (And to tell the truth, I never noticed whether autocomplete was transfered either...)
But, just in case you are interested, I found some free software that pulls the autocomplete data for you and will make sure you get it transfered...
Internet Explorer Password Revealer
http://www.rixler.com/internet_explorer_password_revealer.htm
You can save all the passwords and autocomplete data stored by Internet Explorer into a file and then restore them at any time. It might be necessary when you want to reinstall Windows or migrate from one version of Windows to another. This operation allows you to avoid repeated typing of logins, passwords and other autocomplete strings, which you have already entered before.
But, just in case you are interested, I found some free software that pulls the autocomplete data for you and will make sure you get it transfered...
Internet Explorer Password Revealer
http://www.rixler.com/internet_explorer_password_revealer.htm
You can save all the passwords and autocomplete data stored by Internet Explorer into a file and then restore them at any time. It might be necessary when you want to reinstall Windows or migrate from one version of Windows to another. This operation allows you to avoid repeated typing of logins, passwords and other autocomplete strings, which you have already entered before.
Hmm.. FYI: looks like a trial version.. It may not have all the functionality to it...
Just tried it out, and I was right.. you need to purchase it to have it actually reveal the passwords.. My bad...
ASKER
https://www.experts-exchange.com/questions/21018519/Saving-IE-passwords-history-autocomplete-etc-for-an-XP-re-install.html
Sorry it took so long to get back to this. I was unable to get the time to re-install XP until this weekend, then ran into a problem with standby after it was re-installed. I love Windows. :)
Anyway, Lehan, I couldn't find any PWL files (even when searching the entire driver for *.pwl), but the cookie import/export trick worked for some of the cookies. The Intelliforms import didn't seem to work. I think it's because it needs something else to go with it. Or, possibly, the encryption it's using on the value names is user specific and I was importing into a different user name.
Fatal Exception, FAST didn't save the autocomplete or URL history, but your mentioning of IE Password Revealer got me headed down the right path. I did some more Googling and found an answer.
So, what I wound up doing was using BackRex IE backup (http://www.backsettings.com/internet-explorer-backup.html), which does what IEPR does, but it's free. It actually worked great and backed up more than just the passwords. It also included the URL history and a few other IE things.
Because both of you contributed enough to get me thinking along the right lines, I'll split the points.
Here's what I did for those who want to do this in the future:
1) First, I used FAST to export all my user settings. This certainly helped because OE settings and email were saved. However, the email account passwords weren't saved, so I had to remember those. Also, the filtering got broken because it couldn't find the old folders. I had to re-associate each rule with the correct folder. I guess the folders for rules aren't saved by folder name, but by a GUID or something which is different after a re-install.
2) I then ran BackRex IE backup and saved the files on my second drive.
3) When I installed Windows, I installed a new copy of Windows but, when prompted, installed to a different directory. This gave me a dual-boot between the "old" Windows and the new Windows and saved a lot of time when I realized I had forgetten registry keys needed for some of my programs. I edited boot.ini to add "(old)" to the name of the "old" install of Windows XP. A dual-boot can be useful if you forget to download drivers and can't get on the Internet. When I'm comfortable with the new install, I will edit boot.ini, delete the old install from it, and delete the old "\windows" directory to free up the hard drive space.
I just wish I had renamed Program Files to Old Program Files because now I'm having to manually weed through which apps I am no longer using. No big deal, though.
Thanks again for all your help and patience with me.
Sorry it took so long to get back to this. I was unable to get the time to re-install XP until this weekend, then ran into a problem with standby after it was re-installed. I love Windows. :)
Anyway, Lehan, I couldn't find any PWL files (even when searching the entire driver for *.pwl), but the cookie import/export trick worked for some of the cookies. The Intelliforms import didn't seem to work. I think it's because it needs something else to go with it. Or, possibly, the encryption it's using on the value names is user specific and I was importing into a different user name.
Fatal Exception, FAST didn't save the autocomplete or URL history, but your mentioning of IE Password Revealer got me headed down the right path. I did some more Googling and found an answer.
So, what I wound up doing was using BackRex IE backup (http://www.backsettings.com/internet-explorer-backup.html), which does what IEPR does, but it's free. It actually worked great and backed up more than just the passwords. It also included the URL history and a few other IE things.
Because both of you contributed enough to get me thinking along the right lines, I'll split the points.
Here's what I did for those who want to do this in the future:
1) First, I used FAST to export all my user settings. This certainly helped because OE settings and email were saved. However, the email account passwords weren't saved, so I had to remember those. Also, the filtering got broken because it couldn't find the old folders. I had to re-associate each rule with the correct folder. I guess the folders for rules aren't saved by folder name, but by a GUID or something which is different after a re-install.
2) I then ran BackRex IE backup and saved the files on my second drive.
3) When I installed Windows, I installed a new copy of Windows but, when prompted, installed to a different directory. This gave me a dual-boot between the "old" Windows and the new Windows and saved a lot of time when I realized I had forgetten registry keys needed for some of my programs. I edited boot.ini to add "(old)" to the name of the "old" install of Windows XP. A dual-boot can be useful if you forget to download drivers and can't get on the Internet. When I'm comfortable with the new install, I will edit boot.ini, delete the old install from it, and delete the old "\windows" directory to free up the hard drive space.
I just wish I had renamed Program Files to Old Program Files because now I'm having to manually weed through which apps I am no longer using. No big deal, though.
Thanks again for all your help and patience with me.
ASKER
Dang it. I messed up. I had meant to split the points. This question wound up being pretty tough and drawn out anyway, so Fatal Exception, pick up your points here.
https://www.experts-exchange.com/questions/21036362/Points-for-Fatal-Exception.html
Now, to solve my standby problems. Wheeeeeeeeeeee!!!!
--
Troy
https://www.experts-exchange.com/questions/21036362/Points-for-Fatal-Exception.html
Now, to solve my standby problems. Wheeeeeeeeeeee!!!!
--
Troy
So, I would use the FAST wizard, but I would also follow lehan's advice regarding backing up the important things separately. (I use a sharepoint on a server for this, but you can burn them to a cd easily enough...) The cost is only a little more time, and that way, if FAST does not work to your satisfaction, you can always bring them back..
Here is a list of what gets migrated with FAST:
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/winxppro/deploy/mgrtfset.mspx#XSLTsection123121120120
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