How to share Opera settings between Windows & Linux?
Wednesday, 21. February 2007, 03:56:23
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
- 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.
- 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/mail mail 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/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/contacts.adr contacts.adr #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 0Even 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
(11%)
WIDGETIZE
serious # 21. February 2007, 05:46
vvoody # 18. March 2007, 06:29
Wolf_Gang # 26. March 2007, 06:51
Congratulation for becoming member of the week. I've lived for a couple of years in India and love everthing coming form there.
zoligrg89 # 11. May 2007, 20:01
Tamil # 21. May 2007, 12:31
Originally posted by zoligrg89:
If you update in both Windows & Linux, Opera will work fine.Anonymous # 22. June 2007, 01:48
Thanks for this, i have been looking for this.
I have the Ext3 driver installed and am trying to move to Linux can i just move all the relevant profile files to my linux installation and point the windows Opera to the ext3 profile?
Tamil # 22. June 2007, 02:02
Anonymous # 25. June 2007, 06:51
yeah i broke my mail box :( that'll teach me
Anonymous # 18. July 2007, 05:50
Hi,
I've followed method 1 for Linux (without storing the profile on FAT32 - I use ntfs-3g and it seems quite reliable). However the success is only partial, the bookmarks & sessions are updated on the both profiles, but I see at least 2 problems:
1. The widgets downloaded on Windows don't function on Linux and vice-versa, they are only listed correclty (i.e., I have to download each widget twice - once under linux & once under windows - this results is two copies of each widgets, with one being usable at any time.
2. The unfinished transfers are not shared between sessions. In fact, if I start a transfer under Linux, stop it, launch O. under Windows the Transfers box is cleared and so it stays after returning to Linux.
If anybody has any suggestions, I would appreciate.
Anonymous # 15. May 2008, 10:52
The symlink method with the script has now broken my Opera Mail after I upgraded to 9.5b2. I get 2 well-known init-errors on starting Opera, and then mail is disabled. moving the old .opera and letting 9.5b2 create a new one worked tho'.. but I want my old settings.. ;)
Anonymous # 2. October 2008, 00:31
Linux
Method 1:
doesn't seem to work for me
(the windows method 3a worked however)
klingoncowboy4 # 29. January 2009, 06:05
You still need to use one of the other 3 methods to move mail, but opera will automatically update speed dial, bookmarks, and notes.
I moved my opera settings from a windows xp computer to my Fedora machine.
I used SFTP to transfer the mail (about 300 mb worth at the time), then used opera sync, the cool thing is that after I changed the speed dial on my fedora machine and it automatically changed it on my windows machine (something to look out for if you want to use different settings aftwords, remember to turn off the syncronisation when you are done).
Of coarse opera sync assumings you have an internet connection (why else would you be using opera), and that "my.opera.com" isn't blocked by your firewall. Though in that case you couldn't read my comment
BTW I am writing this in FF 3 on win7
Tamil # 29. January 2009, 08:39
Anonymous # 27. March 2009, 22:22
Why not use ntfs-3g and leave the folders and profiles on the windows partition. Also you can just make a symbolic link to the whole sessions folder. check here: http://hydtech.wordpress.com/2009/03/26/lenovo-thinkpad-x60-with-fedora-10-opensuse-11-ubuntu-904-and-windows-xp/
Anonymous # 22. May 2009, 11:44
At least in my installation,
ln -s /windows/Opera/profile/mail mail
should be
ln -s /windows/Opera/mail mail
Otherwise, very nice and no problems. Thanks!
Tamil # 22. May 2009, 14:41
Anonymous # 23. May 2009, 08:51
There is also another missing simlink:
ln -s /windows/Opera/profile/contacts.adr contacts.adr
Otherwise, Linux installation doesn't see mail contacts (I had not realized until now).
Great work doing it, and great work keeping it updated!
Tamil # 23. May 2009, 12:34
klingoncowboy4 # 10. June 2009, 22:23
try using synchronization software (an example of one available on the Fedora repo is Unison)
That should copy the entire profile bookmarks, saved tabs, speed dial, and mail (unless of coarse you limit it is specific directories).