Can't setup firefox sync easily for different desktop account (not mobile)
Setting up firefox Sync seems to be almost impossible. I am trying use Sync so that my Firefox experience is consistent between accounts on the same machine (ie Firefox in Windows and in OSX - I am running bootcamp on Macbook Pro). I am not trying to use it to sync between desktop and a mobile device, which is the way Sync seems to be setup. Is this possible or have I been misled into thinking Sync can sync betweem different desktop accounts. I have setup an account, but I can't use it because of the need to type in some characters to pair a device which I don't want to do. I just want to backup and sync my adds & history so why do I need a mobile device to do this? Please put me out of my agony and tell me if Sync will do this or not, and how do I set it up (with no reference to a mobile device).
Chosen solution
Ok, right I have solved my problem. I decided to just try and delete the account and start again. Fortunately, the delete occurred immediately which meant I could setup the account again. All I needed was for someone to say, just delete the account. That is the solution for this problem if anyone else is interested. It has to be said that this Sync setup is a real poor hash which has not been clearly thought through. So I say to Mozilla this is a complete fail. Chrome in this regard is so much better and easier to use.
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Try it http://mzl.la/aHHUYA
Sorry but that link is completely irrelevant. I already have an account but can't use it in the registration process. If you select 'I have an account', it asks you to type in some codes on a mobile device (Pair a device). If you select setup new account, it says the account already exists and won't let you onto the next step.
Use the I don't have the device with me link on the lower-left corner.
Then you'll need to use the Recovery Key to complete the set up of Sync on that second "device".
You can't use 'pair a device' in your case because that requires both devices (computers) to be online at the same time, so you can enter the 3x4 character code that is generated on the computer that you want to add on the computer that has sync set up and is connected to the Sync server.
In your case you need to use "I don't have the device with me" like posted above and enter the name (e-mail) and password and Sync key manually.
Thanks again for your response. However, I don't have a recovery key and I don't know how to reset it. I don't have any device which is successfully setup with Sync. All I have is a firefox sync account setup and that's it. As far as I can see, there is no way to generate a new recovery key. I have attached a picture that shows what my page looks like when I log into my Sync account online. As you can see there is no way to regenerate a recovery key, and without this, I am stuck. (When I open up Sync options in firefox, the only options are 'Setup Firefox Sync' and 'Pair a device'; no 'manage account' here, because I don't have Sync setup yet). How can such a simple feature be so difficult to use.
The only other thing I can think of is to delete my account and start again. The problem I see with this is, I don't know if I'll be able to use the same account id, if it has previously been deleted and also, anytime you request a change in your account (eg, changing password) it doesn't happen immediately as is the case with most other websites which causes problems in itself especially since the request usually timesout after 6 hours and you're back to square 1.
Modified by Plastikfan
Chosen Solution
Ok, right I have solved my problem. I decided to just try and delete the account and start again. Fortunately, the delete occurred immediately which meant I could setup the account again. All I needed was for someone to say, just delete the account. That is the solution for this problem if anyone else is interested. It has to be said that this Sync setup is a real poor hash which has not been clearly thought through. So I say to Mozilla this is a complete fail. Chrome in this regard is so much better and easier to use.