transfer of Opera browser mail, bookmarks, contacts to new computer

rosmari

rosmari

I should get my new computer in a couple of days and expect to download the latest OPERA version.
How will I transfer all my browser Opera mail (received and sent) to the new computer?

I did click File > Export (both Bookmarks and Contacts, though only the bookmarks seem to be there) into my external hard drive; and I assume I'll be able to drag it over to the new computer.

Could I please have step-by-step instructions?

linuxmint7

linuxmint7

Ok, first things first. Have you actually tried the new version of Opera ?, if not, I suggest you give it a try as soon as possible, using your old computer. Do it so you can familiarise yourself (and possibly be shocked) with the drastic changes that have been made with the completely new version.

Just a for your information about some of the big and obvious changes regarding the completely new version of Opera (Blink):

There is no mail client.
The user interface can not be customised.
There is no side panel (F4).
There are no user interface (GUI) 'Skins'.
Bookmarks are handled differently.

And many others that are not so obvious or as drastic, but are different all the same.

The reason for this is, the new version of Opera has been built completely from scratch and bears no resemblance (either in function or code base) to the old version of Opera 12.xx and older. It now uses the same rendering engine (heart) as Chromium, Chrome, Maxthon and many other similar web browsers.

rosmari

rosmari

what do you mean "there is no mail client" - I want my mail to pop us instantly when I open my browser. I also absolutely do like the side panel.
I understand that up to Opera 15, there were the old features. Can I download Opera15?

rosmari

rosmari

I just dragged to my external hard disc the two OPERA folders I found in Program Files (Opera6.adr, and the big one, consisting of 25 files/folders - I now have Opera 12.
If I then drag all this to my new computer (with Windows 8.1), would that allow me to keep on using this old version of mine?

I'm afraid that if I now download opera 25, it will push out version 12 forever.

blackbird71

blackbird71

Opera 12 and Opera 25+ can (and do, for many users) coexist quite nicely side-by-side on a system... just be sure not to install them into the same folder. They are completely independent programs, and can even be run at the same time.

However, you need to be very careful about simply "dragging" Opera folders around from system to system and expecting the result to work. It's very unclear just which files and folders you are referring to, but if your old Opera 12 was a "normal" installation, the only things that might readily copy to a "normal" Opera 12 installation on another system are your personal files (bookmarks, notes, overrides, etc) and a few of the possibly customized ones (toolbars, etc). Some of the remaining files have path-names in their code that will almost certainly be incorrect for a new system's file tree, and will cause all manner of grief in that new installation. (If you used a "USB installation" for your old Opera 12, then copying the profile over to a "USB installation" on the new system works much better, simply because its "portability" makes it free from the path-name issues in its files, even when installed onto a hard drive instead of a USB stick.)

Moreover, Opera 25 is a totally different animal from Opera 12... the program operates completely differently, with completely different file-types and so on, along with the performance/behavioral differences @linuxmint noted above. You cannot simply copy or move profile/personal files directly between versions 12 and 25. While your bookmarks can be imported into the newer version (though it's easier with v26), things like settings will not because of the great differences in the version software.

burnout426

burnout426 Volunteer

WinXP 32-bit to Win Vista/7/8 64-bit

*Before* you install Opera 12 on the new computer:

Move "C:\Documents and Settings\user\Application Data\Opera" from the old computer *into* "C:\Users\user\AppData\Roaming" on the new computer.
Move "C:\Documents and Settings\user\Local Settings\Application Data\Opera" *into* "C:\Users\user\AppData\Local".

(If you already installed and ran Opera 12 on the new computer before moving the profile folders from WinXP, close Opera on the new computer and delete the existing profile folders there.)

Then, download the Opera 12 installer from ftp://ftp.opera.com/pub/opera/win/, run it, click "options", set the "install path" to the same program files path you had Opera installed in before. For example, if you had Opera installed at "C:\Program Files\Opera" on WinXP, you'd install it to "C:\Program Files (x86)\Opera". Then, set "install for" to "All users", set "make Opera my default browser" if you want, and install.

You need to install Opera 12 on the new computer instead of copying the Opera 12 program files from the old computer so the proper registry settings can be created/set on the new computer.

*If* you had Opera 12 installed in more than one location on WinXP, run the installer again and install Opera 12 to the other paths. For example, "C:\Program Files (x86)\Opera Test 1" and "C:\Program Files (x86)\Opera Test 2". Just note that whatever Opera 12 you want to be the default Opera 12, install that one last or after you're done installing all of them, run the installer again and install to the path of the Opera you want the default again and make sure to check "make Opera my default browser" if you want.

Note though that if the Opera with your mail on WinXP is installed to somewhere other than "C:\Program Files\Opera", you fix it so it is installed at "C:\Program Files (x86)\Opera" on the new computer. To do that, in "C:\Users\user\AppData\Roaming\Opera" and "C:\Users\user\AppData\Local\Opera" (after you've moved the profile files over from the old computer) on the new computer, there will be a profile folder for each Opera install you have. The name of each folder will be based on the program files folder for that Opera. For example, on WinXP, if Opera is installed to "C:\Program Files\Zip Zam Bam", the profile folders for that Opera will be named "Zip Zam Bam" too. So, you would just rename those Zip Zam Bam" folders to "Opera" once they're moved to the new computer (and before you install Opera 12) and then set the "install path" in the Opera 12 installer to "C:\Program Files (x86)\Opera". And, don't forget to check "Use Opera as my default browser" and set "All Users" for "Install for". The reason you want to do all of this to make Opera 12 be in the default program files folder of "Opera" is so that if you ever install the standalone Opera Mail client, its import options dialog can find your mail files and present you with a new import option (above the old "Import from Opera" option) that imports everything mail related (including labels).

Also, for good measure, after you have the Opera profile folders in the proper place on the new computer, before you launch/install any Operas, in each Opera roaming profile folder, edit operaprefs.ini and remove any lines that have paths in them. This will ensure that Opera uses default paths for all those settings and not paths specific to your WinXP setup.

Anyway, ignoring all the extra info above, you basically move the two profile folders to the new computer so they're in the right spots and then install Opera 12 on the new computer in the corresponding program files spot it was installed on the old computer. When Opera 12 runs, it'll find the profile folders right where they should be and it'll be like Opera was always installed on the new computer.

Now, Win Vista/7/8 64-bit to Win7/8/ 64-bit is even easier. You just put the profile folders in the same spot as they were on the old computer (fix operaprefs.ini if necessary) and then install Opera 12.

Another note though. If you install the 64-bit version of Opera 12, you'd install it to "C:\Program Files\Opera" instead of "C:\Program Files (x86)\Opera". Or, if you install Opera 12 on a 32-bit Win7 for example, you install it to "C:\Program Files\Opera" like you would on WinXP. You don't have to do anything differently with the profile folder names.

Now, as for the standalone Opera Mail client, if you ever use it, when you launch the installer, click "options" and set the "install path" to "C:\Program Files (x86)\Opera Mail" as the default path will be incorrect. Then, its roaming and local profile folders will be in "C:\Users\user\AppData\Roaming\Opera Mail" and "C:\Users\user\AppData\local\Opera Mail" instead of "Opera" folders.

Now, as for Opera 15 and newer, it uses different roaming and local profile locations. It uses "C:\Users\user\AppData\roaming\Opera Software" and "C:\Users\user\AppData\Local\Opera Software". In those folders will be one or more Opera folders depending on what versions of the new Opera you have installed. If you just have the default/normal, stable version of Opera installed, you'll see an "Opera Stable" folder. If you have the beta version installed, you'll see "Opera Next" (or "Opera Beta"). If you have the developer version installed, you'll see "Opera Developer".

Now, the developer version will be installed to "C:\Program Files (x86)\Opera Developer". The beta version will be installed to "C:\Program Files (x86)\Opera Next" or "C:\Program Files (x86)\Opera Beta". But, the stable version will be installed to "C:\Program Files (x86)\Opera" by default. So, if you don't have Opera 12 installed at "C:\Program Files (x86)\Opera", you can install the stable version of the new Opera there. But, if you do have Opera 12 installed there (for reasons mentioned earlier), make sure you click "options" when installing the new Opera and change its install path to something else like "C:\Program Files (x86)\Opera Stable".

Given that Opera 12, the standalone Opera Mail and the new Opera all use different profile folder locations, you can see how they can all coexist. And, with Opera Mail and Opera 12 having profile folder names based on their program files folder names, you should see how you can see how you can manually move installs and their profile folders (keeping in mind that you'd have to run the installer again to install to that new location to fix keys in the registry).

grierzo

grierzo

Is your mail account set up as pop3 or imap? If it is imap, then when you create the account and sign in on the new computer using Opera Mail or Opera 12 it will synchronise with the server and download your emails and their folders structure. No need for any files to be transferred. Your contacts would be a different matter.

rosmari

rosmari

Thank you very much for trying to help me.

First, to grierzo: I went to "mail and chat accounts" and noticed that I have 3 of them: one for google, which is never used; and two operamail, one imap and one pop (it just says pop, not pop3). I do not know which one is actually used.

Now to burnout426:

Currently, my Opera is in Program Files, and I copied it from there into my hard drive. So, I assume, I will move it from there into Users\user\AppDatea\Roaming in the new computer (which will have Windows8.1 - I now have WindowsXP).

Re your second move, my path does not show "local settings"; also, it's "all users: not "user".

So I could understand the process, I opened the fft... site that you mention; there is no option to download it - it's just a list of 30 Directory files. When I left-click it, if gives me one file "pub"; when I right-click it, the options include "open in new window"; "copy link address"; "save linked content as"; "save to Download folder". One I know how to download it, I assume that I would do all that in the new computer?

Though I have read your instructions carefully, I'm still quite confused.

Perhaps you could confirm, or restate, the steps I need to take to install my current Opera12 on my new computer:

as said above, I'll move it from my external hard drive to Users\user\AppData\Roaming
I'll move another copy of it into Users\user\AppData\local (assuming that both these paths will exist on my new computer!)

3)please explain how I can download the fft://fft... site you mention

4)Since I'll be moving from WindowsXP, 32-bit to Windows8.1, 64bit, will I need to insert the (86x)after program files?

If I understand correctly, if all of the above goes well, my browser (client) operamail will naturally be part of it; Will I have to reregister in "mail & chat accounts"? as imap?

Again, I really appreciate your guidance.

rosmari

rosmari

I just enabled Opera Link which, I understand, will get all my data (mail, bookmarks, contacts) into my new Opera browser. Is that correct?

In that case, should I perhaps just download the latest browser? It is important to me that my mail be available immediately without my having to access another website such as fastmail.

Is there any way I can actually see now, before downloading it, what the 25 version looks like?

rosmari

rosmari

what would happen if I actually downloaded the 25 version now in a different folder, such as "my documents"? would that kill my existing version 12 which is in Program Files?

linuxmint7

linuxmint7

would that kill my existing version 12 which is in Program Files?

No, you should be fine. But it would not hurt to back-up your version 12 profile folder just in case something does go wrong.

Find the location of your version 12 profile folder by going to the menu 'Help / About Opera'.

The locations are usually 'C:\Documents and Settings\user\Application Data\Opera\Opera'

And

'C:\Documents and Settings\user\Local Settings\Application Data\Opera\Opera'.

burnout426

burnout426 Volunteer

please explain how I can download the fft://fft... site you mention

Just download ftp://ftp.opera.com/pub/opera/win/1217/int/Opera_1217_int_Setup.exe. The link I previously gave you was ftp://ftp.opera.com/pub/opera/win/, which will take to you to the Windows section for downloading the old Opera (Opera 12 and below). you were supposed to click on the folder for the version you want, click on the "int" or "en" folder depending on whether you wanted the international or English-only setup file, and then click the non-x64 setup exe to download the setup file for that version. But, you can just click this new link to go directly to the setup file so you can download it.

4)Since I'll be moving from WindowsXP, 32-bit to Windows8.1, 64bit, will I need to insert the (86x)after program files?

You need to install Opera 12 to "C:\Program Files (x86)\Opera" (or "C:\Program Files (x86)\Opera 12" if you want). If you open up windows explorer on Win 8 64-bit and browse to your c: drive, you'll see 2 program files folders: "Program Files" and "Program Files (x86)". The former is for 64-bit programs and the latter is for 32-bit programs. Since you'll be installing a 32-bit program when installing Opera 12, you install to the x86 one.

If I understand correctly, if all of the above goes well, my browser (client) operamail will naturally be part of it; Will I have to reregister in "mail & chat accounts"? as imap?

If you copy the profile folders to Win 8 correctly and install Opera 12 correctly, everything will still be set up just like it was on WinXP. You won't have to create the accounts in Opera again or anything like that.

I just enabled Opera Link

Opera Link won't sync mail, so using Opera Link is not a solution for your case.

what would happen if I actually downloaded the 25 version now in a different folder, such as "my documents"? would that kill my existing version 12 which is in Program Files?

When you run the Opera 26 installer, just install it to "C:\Program Files (x86)\Opera Stable" and it won't interfere with Opera 12. So, you can test the new Opera all you want. But, as mentioned before, the new Opera doesn't have a built-in mail client, so you'd be using it only for browsing and would still use Opera 12 for mail.

Currently, my Opera is in Program Files, and I copied it from there into my hard drive

You don't copy the Opera program files at all unless you have a standalone installation/single user installer there in the Opera folder in the program files folder. You can tell by browsing to that folder in Windows Explorer and looking to see if it has a "profile" folder in it or not. If it doesn't, then you have a normal install of Opera and you don't need to back up the program files at all, only the local and roaming profile folders for that install.

Re your second move, my path does not show "local settings"

There's a local folder and a roaming folder on Windows. On WinXP, they're "C:\Documents and Settings\user\Local Settings\Application Data" and "C:\Documents and Settings\user\Application Data" respectively. On Win8, they're "C:\Users\user\AppData\local" and "C:\Users\user\AppData\Roaming". So, you won't see "Local Settings" on Win8 as it's just called "local" and you won't see "Application Data" as it's just called "AppData".

Note though that the folders are hidden by default in Windows explorer. So, you need to unhide them. On WinXP, you click the tools menu in windows explorer, goto "folder options" and then "view". There you'll check "show hidden files and folders" and you'll uncheck "hide extensions for known file types". On Win8, you need to do the same thing. To do that, search for "folder options" in the control panel, go into "folder options" and then "view". For the extension part on Win8, it'll be an option on the windows explorer toolbar.

So, in short, you need to back up the "Opera" folders inside the local and roaming folders on WinXP to your external hard drive, connect that drive to the Win8 computer and move/copy them from the external hard drive to the local and roaming profile folders on Win8 *before* you run the Opera 12 installer on Win8.

also, it's "all users: not "user"

When I mention "user" in a path, I mean "insert your username for your windows account". "All Users" is something different and not what you want.