When you import the Internet Explorer 8 Beta 2 bookmarks file to a system running Internet Explorer 7 or earlier, the following error occurs when you click Finish in the Import/Export Wizard.

I could fully reproduce the problem in my Windows XP SP3 system running Internet Explorer 7. The source computer runs Windows Vista with Internet Explorer 8 Beta 2 installed. Thinking that this could be due to incorrect formatting or missing tags in the HTML file, I opened the file using Notepad but couldn’t find any errors in it. Eventually I spotted that this issue is caused by incorrect encoding used by Internet Explorer 8 Beta 2 to create/write to bookmark.htm. With that said, the fix is very simple.
To resolve the problem, save the bookmarks file as ANSI text. To do so, use the following steps:
Start Notepad, and then open the bookmarks file (bookmark.htm)

Click Save As on the File menu.
In the Save As dialog box, click ANSI in the Encoding list, and then click Save.

Click Yes when prompted to overwrite the file.
You should be able to import the bookmark file successfully using the Import/Export Wizard in Internet Explorer.
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Thanks for the tip — your solution worked like a charm. :)
Thanks.
“You should be able to import the bookmark file successfully using the Import/Export Wizard in Internet Explorer.”
To make it easy for everyone, I’d add that when you use the import wizard you have to be sure to change the “FILE TYPE” it’s looking for from .htm to “all”, otherwise the import wizard won’t “see” your new text file.
Worked great.
Thanks for the Tip,I’ll be back for more
Thanks Dude….would have never figured this one out in a million years!!
GREAT!! Worked for me too. IE8 to IE6. Thanks
amazing stuff .. i was finally able to import bookmarks from IE8 to IE 6 ..
Good stuff, kiitos :)
this is really really good! thanks so much!
Thank you SO much.. was pulling my hair out after saving ie favs in win xp then trying to get vista to see the file… Many thanks
Thank you. It took less time then reading about the fix.