#qa | Logs for 2020-10-26

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[13:56:40] <Bytram> =g +thunderbird +password +manager +file
[13:56:41] <systemd> https://support.mozilla.org - Password Manger is not saving password | Thunderbird Support ...
[13:59:54] <janrinok> are you using TB to remember your pw or another program?
[14:00:46] <Bytram> TB
[14:01:01] <Bytram> "Password Manager"
[14:01:10] <janrinok> that's strange
[14:02:05] <Bytram> nod nod
[14:02:47] <janrinok> although I'm not sure what you are referring to as 'Password Manager' - I just tick the box underneath where I imput the password
[14:03:02] <Bytram> I *suspect* they are stored in a .sqllite db or flat file somewhere.
[14:03:57] <Bytram> yes, that checkbox asks if (from memory) "Save this using the password manager"
[14:05:01] <Bytram> =g where does Thunderbird store passwords?
[14:05:02] <systemd> https://support.mozilla.org - retrieve password | Thunderbird Support Forum | Mozilla Support
[14:06:05] <janrinok> probably, but they will be encrypted in some shape or form. But I've never had a password problem before. Although to be honest, I don't use a built-in password manager utility. I have a paper document with every password in it - over 70 so far. If people are in my home and have access to my computer the games is up anyway!
[14:07:34] <Bytram> same here, but I outsmarted myself in that what I wrote down was not verbatim but clear-to-me hints (some of which now escape me) or that somehow got updated along the way, but not recorded. :/
[14:08:13] <janrinok> ah, I'm not going to be much help here then
[14:09:09] <janrinok> and a disk crash denies access to whatever information you have saved upon it - as you know.... ;(
[14:09:29] <Bytram> fortunately, I just recently set up martyb (at) soylentnews\ (dot) org as the "backup account" for my primary (external) account on yahoo.
[14:10:31] <janrinok> I don't know how many email accounts you have, but don't they have a 'forgot password' option on their site?
[14:11:31] <Bytram> And... I can't seem to get that SN account working so far. Worse comes to worst, I could ask our admins to reset the pwd and PM it to me through hexchat. Then, when *that* is working, I can try to reset my YH account, and retrieve the YH pwd thru my SN acct.
[14:11:44] -!- Teckla [Teckla!~sid172075@fe-405803.highgate.irccloud.com] has joined #qa
[14:11:57] * Bytram waves at Teckla
[14:12:05] <Teckla> Hello! :)
[14:12:19] <Bytram> do you have scrollback?
[14:13:28] <Bytram> if not, see: https://logs.sylnt.us
[14:13:28] <systemd> ^ 03#qa | Logs for 2020-10-26
[14:14:59] <Bytram> (also, history of setting up TB here on Linux based off profile that had been on Win7Pro x64) is in the prior day's log: https://logs.sylnt.us
[14:15:00] <systemd> ^ 03#qa | Logs for 2020-10-25
[14:17:25] <Bytram> I was hoping for a quick-n-easy location that I can copy things from. Barring that, I'll take a few more tries at accessing my SN email. Then attempt account recovery thru the admins if that does not work.
[14:18:58] <Bytram> So, if anyone has some tricks, tips, or file locations -- I'm all ears (well, eyes). o/w it's going to be a trip (heh!) down "memory lane" for me.
[14:20:29] <Bytram> afk for a while; ping me if you've got something.
[14:23:29] <Teckla> Is Thunderbird a "first class product" from Mozilla these days?
[14:40:00] <janrinok> Bytram, you've got 2 SN email accounts haven't you?
[14:44:59] <Teckla> Bytram: Thanks for the scrollback link
[14:57:07] <janrinok> Bytram, I think that you might have found a difference in the config files between Win and Linux. The solutions I've found on goog suggest using options that do not seem to exist in the menu on linux
[15:11:53] <Bytram> janrinok: Yes, I have multiple email accts on SN. Have tried to not access TB while investigating this; IOW, I have not loaded TB since yesterday PM. Thanks for tracking down possible incompatibilities between Win/Linux.
[15:12:40] <Bytram> Unfortunately, I need to head out the door for a few hours. Will continue to ponder and will check in here when I get back.
[15:18:24] <Bytram> thanks so much for all the help!
[15:18:44] <Bytram> Have a great day everybody!!!
[15:18:51] <Bytram> laters
[15:19:19] <janrinok> laters
[15:20:35] <janrinok> Bytram, for later - try creating a new account to access one of your alternate SN email addresses - this will check if all of your other settings are OK, and then we can stop including them in our fault finding process.
[15:42:50] <janrinok> To clarify, the version of TB you have will work fine on linux, but there may be a slight difference in the Win and Linux formats, or between the version you were using on Win and the version you have now.
[15:43:38] <janrinok> Creating a new TB account to access an existing SN address will ensure that pw are being stored correctly within TB.
[19:27:16] <halibut> I don't run Thunderbird, so I won't say much. I did find these articles on transferring profiles: http://kb.mozillazine.org (mentions the filenames where passwords should be stored) and http://kb.mozillazine.org (mentions the changes that need to be made when transferring a profile directory).
[19:27:17] <systemd> ^ 03Transferring data to a new profile - Thunderbird - MozillaZine Knowledge Base
[19:27:17] <systemd> ^ 03Moving your profile folder - Thunderbird - MozillaZine Knowledge Base
[19:28:50] <halibut> The only tips I might add is to look for the password files, and maybe search for the names (case-insensitive signons.sqlite, key3.db, logins.json, and cert8.db) to see if they are referenced using an absolute Windows path in any files (like a prefs.js), and fix those. Also, check to see if multiple password files exist; perhaps Thunderbird is using an empty one it created instead of some other version
[19:28:56] <halibut> copied from Windows.
[20:15:41] <Bytram> halibut: thank you SO much for the pointers -- especially timely because it seems that the passwords that I entered yesterday have been completely forgotten. :(
[20:16:10] <Bytram> So, I'm getting a bit frustrated.
[20:21:21] <Bytram> Mostly at myself for writing the passwords down obfuscated, and so am not being able to enter them with certainty
[20:43:06] <Bytram> Oh, swell -- *now* I see: "A Master Password protects all your passwords, but you must enter it once per session." under / Thunderbird Preferences / Security
[20:43:54] * Bytram has no idea what that is/was nor any recollection of ever having had to enter it.
[20:48:24] <Bytram> And when I click on the checkbox: "[ ] _U_se a master password" it puts up a dialog box where I can enter a password (twice) and a scary message: "Please make sure you remember the Master Password you have set. If you forget your Master Password, you will not be able to access any of the information protected by it."
[20:49:10] <Bytram> It also helpfully notes that "Current Password:" is "(not set)"
[20:49:47] <Bytram> So, it is somehow not retrieving any previously-entered Master Password.
[20:50:36] <Bytram> Well, we're running out of stories, so let me play on that for a while and maybe something will jog my memory.