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Trying to link large file to email. keep getting asked for master pw to security device. I have changed master pw on firefox and TB but still same response.

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  • آخر ردّ كتبه hanson36

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I have tried over and over to send this large file. I've never synced before so i got that all set up. Then asking for master passwork to security device. Don't think I had ever set up an account so did that and created password. When trying to send the email I ask to link it goes to 'box' and I authorize thunderbird to use use it. then it ask for master password and I type that in and it doesn't work. I have reset master pw for firefox and thunderbird and still can't get it to work. I really don't know what I am doing here so any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks!

I have tried over and over to send this large file. I've never synced before so i got that all set up. Then asking for master passwork to security device. Don't think I had ever set up an account so did that and created password. When trying to send the email I ask to link it goes to 'box' and I authorize thunderbird to use use it. then it ask for master password and I type that in and it doesn't work. I have reset master pw for firefox and thunderbird and still can't get it to work. I really don't know what I am doing here so any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks!

الحل المُختار

If the error message is: The message is "Please enter the master password for the Software Security Device."

then it is possible you have set up a Master Password in Thunderbird.

The master password protects account passwords that Thunderbird has remembered. You can reset the master password. More information in this article.

Each mail account will have a password which is the same one used to access that webmail account using a browser. However, it is quite easy to locate that password if other people have access to your computer User Account.

A Master Password is used to protect against people seeing those passwords if they get access to your computer User Account and Thunderbird.

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All Replies (6)

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re : When trying to send the email I ask to link it goes to 'box'

I presume you mean you want to add an attachment that is located in on Box server. So it is the password to Box that is being requested for it to access the attachment.

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leplummer said

I have tried over and over to send this large file. I've never synced before so i got that all set up. Then asking for master passwork to security device. Don't think I had ever set up an account so did that and created password. When trying to send the email I ask to link it goes to 'box' and I authorize thunderbird to use use it. then it ask for master password and I type that in and it doesn't work. I have reset master pw for firefox and thunderbird and still can't get it to work. I really don't know what I am doing here so any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks!

The file I am trying to attach is not in 'box'. I am able to attach the file. It is just when I give permission to box to authorize Thunderbird to sync is when it asks for the master PW to security device. Do you think it is asking again for the box PW? Thanks!

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الحل المُختار

If the error message is: The message is "Please enter the master password for the Software Security Device."

then it is possible you have set up a Master Password in Thunderbird.

The master password protects account passwords that Thunderbird has remembered. You can reset the master password. More information in this article.

Each mail account will have a password which is the same one used to access that webmail account using a browser. However, it is quite easy to locate that password if other people have access to your computer User Account.

A Master Password is used to protect against people seeing those passwords if they get access to your computer User Account and Thunderbird.

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In response to the "enter master password" message, I resorted to uninstalling Thunderbird, but I get the same message , which is now required to reinstall it. I have tried every thing I can think of to remove all traces of the previously installed program, but clearly there is something left to require the master password. I have used the Firefox direction to eliminate the master password, which I never defined in the first place, to no avail. What must I do now? I do have it (Thunderbird) running on other computers. Thanks, David

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In my previous response, I gave a link to this website page: http://kb.mozillazine.org/Master_password

It contained some information about what to do if TB keeps asking for a 'Master Password' which was never set. This was an old bug that was resolved years ago, so it is surprising you are getting it assuming the Thunderbird Master Password was never set.

However, your comments are confusing because they are conflicting; in your question you say:

 I have changed master pw on firefox and TB 

This implies you set a master password in Thunderbird and changed it, but in last comment you say you never defined it: I have used the Firefox direction to eliminate the master password, which I never defined in the first place,

I'm not sure what you mean by 'I have used the Firefox direction' - perhaps you mean the link I gave. As of course we are not talking about firefox :)

So, at this point, it is hard to know what you did because you are posting conflicting information.

Using info at the link, I presume you tried this: quote Thunderbird: Choose Tools -> Error Console, paste the expression: openDialog("chrome://pippki/content/resetpassword.xul") and press the Evaluate button. That will open a dialog asking you if you want to reset your password.

quote If that doesn't work exit Thunderbird and delete the key3.db file in your profile. Did you do this? You do not say if you did this.


At no point does it say uninstall Mozilla Thunderbird program, so I do not know why you would do it. Uninstalling the Program has nothing to do with your Profile for very obvious reasons.

More clearer instructions on how to delete the key3.db file. Make hidden files and folders visible:

The AppData folder is folder is a hidden folder; to show hidden folders, open a Windows Explorer window and choose "Organize → Folder and Search Options → Folder Options → View (tab) → Show hidden files and folders".

Assuming your Profile was stored in the default place, it can be located here:

  • C:\Users\Windows user name\AppData\Roaming\Thunderbird\Profiles\Profile name\

Thunderbird must be closed before doing anything in the Profile folders.

If you have since reinstalled Thunderbird, you can also use it to get quick access to your Profile folders.

In Thunderbird

  • Help > Troubleshooting Information
  • click on 'show folder' button
  • Close/Exit Thunderbird - this is important
  • Look for and delete this file : key3.db file.
  • Restart Thunderbird.
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The reason I uninstalled TB is because it is locked while displaying the error message demanding the Master Password (even after reinstalling TB). I did get instructions for deleting the MP from Firefox because there is nothing to be done from TB while it is locked up and unresponsive to anything but the correct MP. That was a pointless thing to do, of course. The removal of the (nonexistent) TB MP was done on another computer that does not share the problem; that does not help either, so I uninstalled TB where there is a problem. The reinstalled program has exactly the same problem.

While trying to follow your advice (http://kb.mozillazine.org/Show_hidden_files_and_folders) I find that the Mozillazine Knowledge Database has a problem -- "technical difficulties". That information is followed by advice to wait a few minutes and "reload", whatever that means. I will keep trying, and thanks for responding.