Importing old settings

Norton Security | Norton Internet Security
1

Hello everyone,

recently my system blew up, I have replaced the motherboard and video card, but kept all else.  I have had to reinstall windows 7 but did a complete backup to a portable USB drive prior to the fresh intall.

My question is, can I find from my back up the old Identity safe data and import it to the new installation of NIS2012 as I had so much saved in there with passwords etc.  If so how do I do this.

 

cheers

Tony

2

Hello everyone,

recently my system blew up, I have replaced the motherboard and video card, but kept all else.  I have had to reinstall windows 7 but did a complete backup to a portable USB drive prior to the fresh intall.

My question is, can I find from my back up the old Identity safe data and import it to the new installation of NIS2012 as I had so much saved in there with passwords etc.  If so how do I do this.

 

cheers

Tony

3

Thanks Alan,

I didn't backup the program data dir, dang, I backed up the "user data" dir so I guess that's me done and dusted

 

4
evo wrote:

Thanks Alan,

I didn't backup the program data dir, dang, I backed up the "user data" dir so I guess that's me done and dusted

 

Hi Tony,

 

Unfortunately that is probably true. It wouldn't hurt to search for the file I mentioned on your USB drive just in case though. Had you backed up your ID safe data before reinstalling Windows? If so you can restore this backup by importing into 2012.

 

I think it is a long shot but you can also check for the IDDStor2.dat on your C drive. Again browse to C:\ProgramData\Norton and then search for this file. Configure Windows Explorer to show hidden files & folders. See the following MS article:

 

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-vista/Show-hidden-files

 

Again this is a long shot since the reinstallation of Windows and your programs most likely would have wiped out this data.

 

Again, just to be sure had you ever created an online ID safe profile and move your ID safe data into it?

 

Though it won't help for this time I have two suggestions for you:

 

1. Do a periodic backup of your ID safe. This is done from Settings > Web > Identity Safe > Export Data. You back backup your ID safe to an external drive periodically such as when you add new logins or change passwords, etc. Later an import can be done with ease.

 

2. Invest in an imaging backup program like Norton Ghost or some other one. With an image backup, not only would you be able to recover your ID safe data but you would also be able to restore Windows in its entirety without having to reinstall any programs.

 

Hope this helps.

 

Best wishes.

Allen

5

Strangely enuf,

I have created a new identity safe have done a search for that file and cannot find it anywhere.  I enabled show hidden files and folders.  Could it be called something else?

6

Giddy up, in one of my "red wine" stupors, I must have backed the file up just prior to sending the system in for repair, it was an npn file I think.

But thanks Allen for your suggestions all helped my brain sort out the issue

7

Hi Tony,

 

Yes in NIS 2011, if you backed up your ID safe it would have saved it as an NPM file which can be restored in 2012. Note that in 2012 the ID safe gets backed up with a ".dat" extension. The format changed in 2012. NIS 2012 can read the 2011 format but 2011 cannot read the 2012 format.

 

This is why I mentioned backing up your ID safe periodically.

 

So do you have the ID safe restored now? How old was the NPM file? Either way that is a better starting point than having to redo all the logins from scratch. :smileyhappy:

 

Best wishes.

Allen

 

As far as the filename I mentioned for the ID safe in NIS 2012, it is the correct filename. After importing your ID safe data from the NPM file can you locate the file now?

8

Hi Tony,

 

You mentioned that you must have backed up ID safe just before you sent your computer in for repair and that you had an NPM file. If so then you must have NIS 2011 since as I mentioned NIS 2012 saves the ID safe backup as a ".dat" file extension. Either that or you "had" NIS 2011 and perhaps now have 2012.

 

Can you confirm your version of NIS? You can find this from Support > About. Also after reinstalling Windows 7, did you upgrade or did the repair shop upgrade you to SP 1? If not you should do this soon so that your fully up to date on Windows.

 

Be sure to run Windows Update to make sure you have all the latest updates.

 

Best wishes.

Allen

9

Yes mate it was a back up of one year old, but still its saved me some time and effort.  I am using now NIS2012

Thanks for your impressive assistance.

 

cheers

10

Hi Tony,

 

You are most welcome. :smileyhappy:

 

As I mentioned earlier it is most certainly better to start with "something" than "nothing". Hopefully it won't take too long to update all your passwords and/or new accounts. Thank goodness for the "forgot password" links so you can reset passwords on accounts which no longer work. :smileywink:

 

Best of wishes.

Allen