This site will have limited functionality while we undergo maintenance to improve your experience. If an article doesn't solve your issue and you want to ask a question, we have our support community waiting to help you at @FirefoxSupport on Twitter and/r/firefox on Reddit.

Search Support

Avoid support scams. We will never ask you to call or text a phone number or share personal information. Please report suspicious activity using the “Report Abuse” option.

Learn More

Cuireadh an snáithe seo sa chartlann. Cuir ceist nua má tá cabhair uait.

Major Bug? browser stops accepting "security device" password.

  • 4 fhreagra
  • 2 leis an bhfadhb seo
  • 1 view
  • Freagra is déanaí ó cor-el

more options

The backstory: 1. New computer (Intel I5 windows 7 64 bit, OS all up to date) 2. So I installed firefox 16 3 weeks ago. 3. Configured ff sync on old computer and new as well, sync'd logins and passwords and bookmarks to, old browser to new 4. the sync worked fine, I decide to password my FF logins and passwords in the new computer, no password on old computer tho. alls well for the next 3 weeks.

THE PROBLEM: This morning, browser asks me for The security device password upon browser launch. I type in password, the same I've used for the last 3 weeks but its not accepted. No mistake in password recall or entry, I made no attempt to change the pw, and capslock is off. Some sort of pw hash corruption perhaps? I imagine that would be a major bug, if the devs are following. In the mean while, my old computer has all the info up to 3 weeks ago. What is the best way to delete corrupt files on new computer then restore with anotehr sync from old computer? I'm hoping to restore PWs while avoid having to reinstall FF 16 on new machine if at all possible.

The backstory: 1. New computer (Intel I5 windows 7 64 bit, OS all up to date) 2. So I installed firefox 16 3 weeks ago. 3. Configured ff sync on old computer and new as well, sync'd logins and passwords and bookmarks to, old browser to new 4. the sync worked fine, I decide to password my FF logins and passwords in the new computer, no password on old computer tho. alls well for the next 3 weeks. THE PROBLEM: This morning, browser asks me for The security device password upon browser launch. I type in password, the same I've used for the last 3 weeks but its not accepted. No mistake in password recall or entry, I made no attempt to change the pw, and capslock is off. Some sort of pw hash corruption perhaps? I imagine that would be a major bug, if the devs are following. In the mean while, my old computer has all the info up to 3 weeks ago. What is the best way to delete corrupt files on new computer then restore with anotehr sync from old computer? I'm hoping to restore PWs while avoid having to reinstall FF 16 on new machine if at all possible.

All Replies (4)

more options
more options

Sounds that the key3.db file got lost or corrupted.

If you still have matching copies of the key3.db and signons.sqlite files then you can try to restore those.

more options

My question:

  • Can the corrupted files be restored from 0ld computer (files not corrupt) to new computer using firefox sync?*
more options

I don't know if you can recover from a broken master password via sync.

It is probably best to transfer the files directly by copying them to an USB stick.