Backup Your Internet Explorer Favorites 

Before getting into Linux, we need to get your data prepared for migration. Most people that use MicroSoft Windows today either have Windows XP or Windows 2000 operating system. I've based this backup portion on these two platforms.

First we need to clarify what to backup. The most common items needed to be saved should include:

1. Files from the "My Documents" folder
2. Bookmarks from "Internet Explorer" and/or "FireFox"
3. Email from "Outlook Express", "Outlook" or "Thunderbird"

Next you will need to decide what you will back up your files to. Some of you may have a CD or DVD burner, others may have a USB drive and the ones that can afford it will have an External Hard Drive.

I would recommend burning to a CD or DVD. This allows you to have an extra copy of everything you save. If you want to do a quick and dirty transfer, then a USB drive should suffice. 

Internet Favorites/Bookmarks

Applicable to Windows 2000, XP and Vista

Internet Explorer Bookmarks
What we want to do here is save all our bookmarks to the 'My Documents' folder. This way when we are ready to either burn our files to CD/DVD or copy them to a USB drive then we only have one location to do this from.

If you are using Windows XP or Vista, it is most likely that you have Internet Explorer 7 installed. For these users, we will do some initial steps so that this tutorial will relate to all three operating systems.

1. Right click on any of the toolbars at the top
2. When the context menu appears choose 'Classic Style'

Ok, with your Internet Explorer browser open, click on the 'File' menu then click 'Import and Export'

Once you click that, the next window will be the 'Import/Export Wizard'. Clicknext on this window.

Next the 'Import/Export Selection' window will appear. Click on 'Export Favorites' and click 'Next'.

Once this is done the 'Export Favorites Source Folder' window will appear. Choose the top folder which is 'Favorites'. That way you can ensure that all your favorites will be saved. Click 'Next'.

T he 'Export Favorites Destination' window now appears. Here you need to tell the system where to backup all your favorites to. The default is the 'My Documents' folder. We will keep this and click 'Next'.

Lasly, you will se the 'Completing the Import/Export Wizard' window will appear. You can now click 'Finish'.

Now, lets open up the 'My Documents' folder just to make sure that the Internet Explorer Favorites made it there. When you open up the folder, you should see an icon with the words 'bookmark'. The computer I used, has the fancy blue E icon used for the bookmarks. We are done backing up our Internet Favorites.