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External drive, different computers and Gmail 2FA

  • 4 replies
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  • Last reply by david

XRTx
XRTx
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I have set up my TB profile so that it is on an external SSD, but the program itself is on the computer. The reason I have done this is so that I can move the SSD from computer to computer (desktop to mobile laptop for example), attach the drive and access my e-mails using TB from different machines (each machine having its own TB installed).

I use POP3 to download my messages onto the SSD and periodically delete them from the Google server. This is why it is important to have only one data store for my e-mails (I keep them for years).

I have this working fine from my desktop, which was the original place I set up my e-mail. When I attach the SSD to my laptop and run it on the computer, I can see all my previously stored e-mails etc. but the connection to Gmail to download new messages doesn't seem to work. I do not get any error message, but neither do my waiting e-mails get downloaded, even if I explicitly request this.

My suspicion is that the issue is that I have 2FA on the Google login, and so TB can't access the Gmail server. I want to keep 2FA for security reasons. Is there a way of setting up (presumably unique) 2FA on both machines (presumably other than on the external drive) but so that each TB installation accesses GMail via its own 2FA, but stores and views e-mails from the external drive? Or is there some smart workaround?

TIA.

I have set up my TB profile so that it is on an external SSD, but the program itself is on the computer. The reason I have done this is so that I can move the SSD from computer to computer (desktop to mobile laptop for example), attach the drive and access my e-mails using TB from different machines (each machine having its own TB installed). I use POP3 to download my messages onto the SSD and periodically delete them from the Google server. This is why it is important to have only one data store for my e-mails (I keep them for years). I have this working fine from my desktop, which was the original place I set up my e-mail. When I attach the SSD to my laptop and run it on the computer, I can see all my previously stored e-mails etc. but the connection to Gmail to download new messages doesn't seem to work. I do not get any error message, but neither do my waiting e-mails get downloaded, even if I explicitly request this. My suspicion is that the issue is that I have 2FA on the Google login, and so TB can't access the Gmail server. I want to keep 2FA for security reasons. Is there a way of setting up (presumably unique) 2FA on both machines (presumably other than on the external drive) but so that each TB installation accesses GMail via its own 2FA, but stores and views e-mails from the external drive? Or is there some smart workaround? TIA.

All Replies (4)

XRTx
XRTx Question owner
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I should have included this information as it may be pertinent: The Desktop is TB 91.10.0 running on Windows 10 (fully updated) The Laptop is TB 91.10.0 running on Windows 11 (fully updated)

One other question. If I do as described in OP, does the laptop in effect become a clone from the perspective of TB and Gmail of the Desktop -if so, this may not be a 2FA issue... It may be down to Win 11 blocking TB?

david
david
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Gmail sees them as two separate entities. For Oauth2, each needs its own password.

XRTx
XRTx Question owner
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Where does TB store the Oauth2 passwords? And is there any way of telling TB to store just that p/w on the individual computers, rather than on the external drive that I'm hoping to use to move the rest of the balance of the data from one computer to the other.

david
david
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I believe I misspoke. I was thinking profiles were on each PC, but that isn't the case. My suggestion is to put the profile on the two computers, but the account on the SSD. That allows each computer to have its own identity and to each have separate passwords stored. The only downside I can think of is that the addressbooks would need to be separately administered. HOWEVER, this is an unusual setup, and you may want to get opinions from others. I know the two profile approach works, as I do that, but if there is a way to administer one profile on two computers, I don't know of it.