Opera FAQ's, Tips, Tricks & Tweaks

To share profile/settings between Windows & Linux, you should have Windows FAT32 partition and it should be mounted (preferably automatically) in Linux with read write access.

Backup both profile & mail directories in Windows & Linux.

In Windows

Method 1

Install another copy of Opera in FAT32 partition with Individual Opera profiles for each user on this computer option unchecked. Copy settings from old Opera to new Opera.

Method 2

Using NTFS junction point (you should have NTFS in system drive)

Move profile & mail directories to FAT32 partition and create junction point from old profile & mail location to new profile & mail location using Junction Link Magic or command line tool Junction. See observed effects of junction point.

Method 3

1. Move profile & mail directories to FAT32 partition except profile\opera6.ini file and change all absolute file paths to reflect the new location in profile\opera6.ini, profile\widgets\widgets.dat & mail\accounts.ini.
2. Move profile & mail directories to FAT32 partition, change all absolute file paths to reflect the new location in profile\opera6.ini, profile\widgets\widgets.dat & mail\accounts.ini and run Opera with command line option /settings. Example: C:\Program Files\Opera\Opera.exe /settings D:\Opera\profile\opera6.ini

In Linux

Method 1

Change all file paths to reflect FAT32 partition location in opera6.ini.

Method 2

Using symbolic link (AKA symlink or soft link)

Symbolic links in Linux

Move all files from ~./opera except cookies4.dat, opera6.ini, pluginpath.ini & vlink4.dat to some folder. Create a script file with the following code, change /windows/Opera/profile with path to Opera profile in FAT32 partition, set executable permission and run.

#!/bin/bash -

if [ ! -e ~/.opera ]; then mkdir ~/.opera; fi
cd ~/.opera

ln -s /windows/Opera/profile/cache4 cache4
ln -s /windows/Opera/profile/cacheOp cacheOp
ln -s /windows/Opera/profile/images images
ln -s /windows/Opera/profile/keyboard keyboard
ln -s /windows/Opera/profile/mail mail
ln -s /windows/Opera/profile/menu menu
ln -s /windows/Opera/profile/mouse mouse
ln -s /windows/Opera/profile/sessions sessions
ln -s /windows/Opera/profile/skin skin
ln -s /windows/Opera/profile/styles styles
ln -s /windows/Opera/profile/toolbar toolbar
ln -s /windows/Opera/profile/userjs userjs
ln -s /windows/Opera/profile/widgets widgets
#ln -s /windows/Opera/profile/cookies4.dat cookies4.dat
ln -s /windows/Opera/profile/download.dat download.dat
ln -s /windows/Opera/profile/global.dat global.dat
ln -s /windows/Opera/profile/notes.adr notes.adr
ln -s /windows/Opera/profile/opcacrt6.dat opcacrt6.dat
ln -s /windows/Opera/profile/opera.dir opera.dir
ln -s /windows/Opera/profile/opera6.adr opera6.adr
ln -s /windows/Opera/profile/oprand.dat oprand.dat
ln -s /windows/Opera/profile/opssl6.dat opssl6.dat
ln -s /windows/Opera/profile/override.ini override.ini
ln -s /windows/Opera/profile/search.ini search.ini
ln -s /windows/Opera/profile/speeddial.ini speeddial.ini
ln -s /windows/Opera/profile/urlfilter.ini urlfilter.ini
#ln -s /windows/Opera/profile/vlink4.dat vlink4.dat
ln -s /windows/Opera/profile/wand.dat wand.dat
ln -s /windows/Opera/profile/widgets.adr widgets.adr
exit 0

Even if you create symbolic link for cookies4.dat & vlink.dat, these will be replaced by files when you close Opera.

Warning: There is no security option in FAT32. So, anyone can access your profile in FAT32 partition if they have account in Windows.

Update: Dec 17, 2007