Profile lost after running Defragment and Optimize Drive on Windows 11

[ceds1]

Description of the issue: Brave Profile disappeared on Windows 11

Steps to Reproduce:

1. Tried a system restore and it did not work
2. Searched File Explorer for missing profile C:\Users\CODAT\AppData\Local\BraveSoftware\Brave-Browser\User Data\
3. Searched File Explorer for missing data in Recycle Bin

Actual Result: Lost Profile bookmarks on Windows 11

Expected result: Restored profile

Reproduces how often: Isn’t one time enough?? How many times do I need to lose work before I stop using Brave?

Operating System and Brave Version:

Brave Version: Version 1.42.97 Chromium: 104.0.5112.102 (Official Build) (64-bit)

Operating System: |OS Name|Microsoft Windows 11 Home|
|—|—|
|Version|10.0.22000 Build 22000|
|Other OS Description |Not Available|
|OS Manufacturer|Microsoft Corporation|
|System Name|CEDS|
|System Manufacturer|Acer|
|System Model|Aspire A515-43|
|System Type|x64-based PC|
|System SKU|0000000000000000|
|Processor|AMD Ryzen 3 3200U with Radeon Vega Mobile Gfx, 2600 Mhz, 2 Core(s), 4 Logical Processor(s)|
|BIOS Version/Date|Insyde Corp. V1.11, 11/16/2020|
|SMBIOS Version|3.1|
|Embedded Controller Version|1.09|
|BIOS Mode|UEFI|
|BaseBoard Manufacturer|PK|
|BaseBoard Product|Grumpy_PK|
|BaseBoard Version|V1.11|
|Platform Role|Mobile|
|Secure Boot State|On|
|PCR7 Configuration|Elevation Required to View|
|Windows Directory|C:\WINDOWS|
|System Directory|C:\WINDOWS\system32|
|Boot Device|\Device\HarddiskVolume1|
|Locale|United States|
|Hardware Abstraction Layer|Version = 10.0.22000.778|
|User Name|CEDS\CODAT|
|Time Zone|Pacific Daylight Time|
|Installed Physical Memory (RAM)|4.00 GB|
|Total Physical Memory|3.44 GB|
|Available Physical Memory|600 MB|
|Total Virtual Memory|11.9 GB|
|Available Virtual Memory|5.50 GB|
|Page File Space|8.50 GB|
|Page File|C:\pagefile.sys|
|Kernel DMA Protection|Off|
|Virtualization-based security|Not enabled|
|Device Encryption Support|Elevation Required to View|
|Hyper-V - VM Monitor Mode Extensions|Yes|
|Hyper-V - Second Level Address Translation Extensions|Yes|
|Hyper-V - Virtualization Enabled in Firmware|Yes|
|Hyper-V - Data Execution Protection|Yes|

Additional Information: I just need the json file to recover bookmarks.

[CerealLover]

Hi

I hope the following post will help you recover bookmarks and login data Restoring old Sync data after syncing "the wrong way" (Windows) - #2 by CerealLover

[CerealLover]

General Advice to avoid losing bookmarks, passwords, BATs, login data, …

1. Save passwords as CSV, for PC.
2. Sync data with another device.
3. Save bookmarks.
4. Daily Auto-backup (with a freeware like Iperius Backup ) of Brave user data folder located at %LocalAppData%\BraveSoftware\Brave-Browser\User Data\
5. Weekly System Auto-Backup (with a freeware such as Macrium Reflect) to external disk.

[ceds1]

Thank you! My system was set to backup to my university AWS account, but it didn’t happen for reasons that nobody can explain. So I set it back up again and agree that your advice to sync and also backup the bookmark file to a thumb drive is spot on.