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Sync rejects key?

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  • Last reply by Cronk

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Trying to setup up sync on another OS (same laptop, though: Linux and Windows); FF tells me the key is invalid. This is the key obtained from the other installation via the 'Manage' button.

The Linux side is, apparently, hooked up and working with Sync. I am now trying to activate the Windows side.

I tried copy/pasting it through a text document that is visible to both installs; it rejected it. I tried 'Save'-ing it from the Linux side; I opened that HTML file from the Win side and again copy/pasted it - rejected. I removed the dashes: rejected.

I have been careful to not get extraneous line-feed/returns when selecting the string.


(UPDATE: I have a third system, also setup with the same sync account, and the key that it suggests matches the key from the first correctly-functioning system. Putting that key into the browser that isn't currently connected doesn't work. So the two functioning systems DO sync up correctly and show the same key, indicating that the account itself is working; it is just that third system that doesn't like the key for some reason and won't sync.)


Anyone have a suggestion?

Thanks, J

Trying to setup up sync on another OS (same laptop, though: Linux and Windows); FF tells me the key is invalid. This is the key obtained from the other installation via the 'Manage' button. The Linux side is, apparently, hooked up and working with Sync. I am now trying to activate the Windows side. I tried copy/pasting it through a text document that is visible to both installs; it rejected it. I tried 'Save'-ing it from the Linux side; I opened that HTML file from the Win side and again copy/pasted it - rejected. I removed the dashes: rejected. I have been careful to not get extraneous line-feed/returns when selecting the string. (UPDATE: I have a third system, also setup with the same sync account, and the key that it suggests matches the key from the first correctly-functioning system. Putting that key into the browser that isn't currently connected doesn't work. So the two functioning systems DO sync up correctly and show the same key, indicating that the account itself is working; it is just that third system that doesn't like the key for some reason and won't sync.) Anyone have a suggestion? Thanks, J

Modified by Cronk

Chosen solution

Well, I don't know about the latter problem, but I'm glad to hear you're up and running now.

Could you click the "Solved" (or Helpful button) so that others can find it when doing a Google search for the same problem?

Thanks.

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All Replies (9)

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See Firefox Sync troubleshooting and tips

P.S. Sorry it took so long to respond to your question.

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Been there and done all of that a number of times. Those solutions don't solve my problem. The issue isn't trying to find the key, or where to put the key once found, but the fact that the server responds back saying that the key is invalid. There are two other systems using this same key, and they seem happy enough.

The third system is running FF 4.0, the same as the other two, so I don't think that there would be problems with application versions.

-- Cronk

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There's another help page which deals with adding additional systems to an existing account. Have you been through those yet? Setup Sync on other installations

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Make sure that you use the correct user name. If the key is correct them you may be using a different account.

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Well, ain't that somewhat embarrassing? Yes, the 'Add a Device' sequence worked. I had read through that many times, but I guess I had discounted it because I had tried using the sync key method and that one was failing. I originally was trying to set this up across two OSs on the same computer, so I couldn't do the 'Add a Device' method (would have to reboot to enter in the code, and it doesn't work unless they are both active). But I have the third system that I could use; doh!  :)

However, while that solves my problem, it doesn't answer the question of why it was refusing the key. There may be something deeper there that needs investigating.

-- Cronk

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Chosen Solution

Well, I don't know about the latter problem, but I'm glad to hear you're up and running now.

Could you click the "Solved" (or Helpful button) so that others can find it when doing a Google search for the same problem?

Thanks.

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Hi,

I am having the same problem. I have sync running fine on a windows 7 desktop, and on an xp laptop, but it fails on a linux laptop.

1) The account name and password are accepted.

2) The sync key is rejected. I get the message:

Unknown Error. You can find your saved sync key by.... .

I emailed the sync key from the windows 7 desktop to the linux laptop and merely pasted it into the sync key field, so I know they are the same.

Win 7 is running 3.6.10, linux has 3.6.17, so they ought to be compatible, right?

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks.

Ron

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Ron,

   I never did get a solution to the problem with the sync key.  However, there is a work around that is looks like you could use...

Since you have multiple computers, go to one of the working ones and start the 'add device' process in the Sync control screens. (There are a few links above that take you to some documentation about it.) Copy the numbers from the working system to the non working one, and it should (might) work. It worked for me, anyway. But, as noted, it doesn't really answer the underlying question.

Now, why doesn't Sync appear to 'sync' my tabs? It doesn't like tab groups, apparently. I don't know that I have tried it w/o tab groups or not, but it certainly doesn't seem to be working WITH tab groups. BUT, not real critical right now...I haven't even done any searching about the issue.

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(Wow, does that reply look odd to everyone else? The salutation is fine, but then the next two lines are monospace and larger font. The subsequent lines are all normal...)