Solved Vivaldi won't open

Ayespy

@casc5962 The data you are looking for (bookmarks, etc) is in the file you renamed.

When you renamed the Default folder, it created a new one, that does not know you are synced, who you are, what your settings were, or anything.

In the old folder you renamed are files named Bookmarks, Icons, Login Data, cookies, notes. These can all be copied from the old file and pasted into the new one.

Do you recall your username and decryption code for sync? If so, you can simply sign in and everything in sync will arrive at your browser in a matter of minutes.

Pesala

@casc5962 Akismet is a spam filter that prevents new users making more than one post in five minutes. Since you had zero reputation points, you were made to wait before posting again.

Now that you have a few reputation points (upvotes) you should be able to post and edit your posts without a long delay - maybe 30 seconds.

casc5962

@ayespy I'm not sure what data was there. I don't know much about computers, I know where I save the stuff I need, but I have no idea what was in the Default folder. Do you think it was anything important that might make my Surface glitch in some way, since I renamed the folder?

casc5962

@pesala Thank you for explaining

Ayespy

@casc5962 Well, apparently you would like to have your bookmarks. They were/are in that folder. You did keep the folder after you renamed it, yes? That is the reason for renaming it rather than deleting it. AND, do you recall how you were logging in to sync?

casc5962

@ayespy Yes, I kept the folder after renaming.
To log in, I did a search "Vivaldi + log in"

Ayespy

@casc5962 Web searches will not apply to this - nor will searches on your system. Logging in to sync requires clicking on the sync cloud on your status bar, entering the user name (your same user name as in the Vivaldi Forums) and your password (the same password as used to log in to the Vivaldi community) and telling it to start syncing, and if asked, entering your decryption code. If you have not set a specific decryption code before this, your code will be your Vivaldi community password.

Most important question here: Have you EVER synced different devices with each other before? Have your for instance synced Vivaldi data and settings between your Surface tablet and a cell phone?

casc5962

@ayespy I'm not sure if I synced my cell phone. What I was trying to do was log into Vivaldi and see all my bookmarks. I didn't see them after I logged in, even after I made the bookmark bar visible through settings, so I pressed the Sync button. But the beginning, when I first started using Vivaldi was so long ago that I don't remember if I Synced it.

What would it look like, if I did, versus if I didn't Sync?

Ayespy

@casc5962 Vivaldi.com and Vivaldi.net are web destinations. Vivaldi itself is a browser. These a two totally different things. You cannot sign in to Vivaldi the browser. You can only sign in to websites. THEY DO NOT HAVE YOUR DATA (bookmarks, passwords, etc.) These are stored locally on your computer in the folder I had you rename. Can you find that folder? To move data from it to your new Default folder, you need to view them in Windows Explorer. Can you do that?

casc5962

@ayespy I'm not sure I'm understanding your meaning. I renamed the folder, so technically, it is the SAME folder. Do you mean to say to take stuff out and put it right back in?

Ayespy

@casc5962 When you renamed the folder, it was removed from Vivaldi data and preference sources. It was shelved. A NEW "Default" folder was created as soon as Vivaldi started up again. That new folder, that you and Vivaldi never used before, is the one you are using now. The renamed folder is still in the Vivaldi\User Data folder, just sitting idle, not being used, but containing all the data (bookmarks, etc.) that you had before. It also contains corrupted data, which is what was causing Vivaldi to be unusable before you renamed it. SO - from that OLD folder that still has all your data, certain files can be moved to the NEW folder safely. The problem I am having in coaching you with this is that for some reason you are unable to see AppData and the files within it, in your system file explorer. The file path you posted above to show where the Default folder was, clearly shows that you have the conventional directory structure on your machine. The folders are there. It LOOKED as though you had turned on visibility for hidden files on your system, but for some reason you still can't see them.

But if you could find and re-enter that old folder that you have renamed, there are files in there you can put in your new folder, and get back your data.

Please read my tutorial here: https://forum.vivaldi.net/topic/10388/refreshing-or-cleaning-your-profile
and see if that clarifies anything for you.

casc5962

@ayespy You are exactly on the money! As you said, I can't open the folder in my system's file explorer.

I found it through the search bar before, I think. Or, maybe I followed what the other moderator said, cause it was easier. Anyway, I took a picture of the pathway you gave me. Maybe I will be able to retrace the steps, if not, I will check out the link you provided.

So far, I have been terrible with understanding computers, but I'm trying to change that. Thank you for all your patience.

casc5962

@casc5962 I'm trying to follow your directions from the link you posted and I can't find AppData again

Pathduck

@casc5962 AppData is a hidden folder.

In Win Explorer, go to View menu, then options.

Then the View tab, and select "Show hidden files, folders..."

Also I recommend you uncheck "Hide extensions for known file types" (because that's the stupidest option in Windows ever)

Click OK and now you should see AppData and other hidden folders.

Or, simply copy the following text, then paste it into the Explorer address bar:
%localappdata%\Vivaldi\User Data
and press Enter.

casc5962

@pathduck How do I get to Windows Explorer?

DoctorG

@casc5962 Hit Win+E

casc5962

And then?

DoctorG

@casc5962
pathduck said in Vivaldi won't open:

Or, simply copy the following text, then paste it into the Explorer address bar:
%localappdata%\Vivaldi\User Data
and press Enter.

casc5962

@doctorg Didn't work and I don't think I made a spelling mistake

DoctorG

@casc5962 Do not paste this in Explorer search, use Explorer address field.