logins.json corrupt reset and deleted and still corrupt

Users and developers helping users with generic and technical Pale Moon issues on all operating systems.

Moderator: trava90

Forum rules
This board is for technical/general usage questions and troubleshooting for the Pale Moon browser only.
Technical issues and questions not related to the Pale Moon browser should be posted in other boards!
Please keep off-topic and general discussion out of this board, thank you!
pluto459

logins.json corrupt reset and deleted and still corrupt

Unread post by pluto459 » 2018-07-23, 22:02

Hello and thanks for the help.

Today I went to login to ebay and my pw wouldnt fill. I checked the saved passwords and all empty. Never had this issue before and truly lost with out them.

Followed these steps but still shows it as corrupt. Please advise how to get my pw back. In the show folder looks like there are 4 corrupt versions with the most recent 2 days ago.


To solve this, try:

Type "about:config" in the address bar and press enter
Find the preference "signon.importedFromSqlite", right-click it, and choose "Reset"
Click on Pale Moon > Help > Troubleshooting Information > (Under profile) Show Folder
This opens an explorer/file manager window in your profile folder
Close Pale Moon (Important!) -- keep the explorer/file manager window open
Delete "logins.json"
Restart Pale Moon. It will now create a new .json file with logins from the previous (sqlite) format.

User avatar
therube
Board Warrior
Board Warrior
Posts: 1650
Joined: 2018-06-08, 17:02

Re: logins.json corrupt reset and deleted and still corrupt

Unread post by therube » 2018-07-24, 01:25

Make backups first.

Do you have backups from before the issue started?

The corrupt files show in your Profile Folder as something like what, filename-corrupt, or similar?

What version of PM?
(Different versions of PM may use different files for "passwords".)
The instructions you posted sound like they are made for importing from one version of PM (FF) to another.
Most likely... PM 27 uses signons.sqlite & PM 28 would use logins.json. They would not be interchangeable (except that PM 28 should import a PM 27 signons.sqlite into logins.json).

I don't know that there is any "native" backup of password (signons/logins) files - unless you have actually made some.


If on Windows, maybe (Nirsoft's) PasswordFox might be able to pull something out - though if the files are corrupting with PM itself... (Can't hurt to try.)
Last edited by therube on 2018-07-24, 01:34, edited 2 times in total.

pluto459

Re: logins.json corrupt reset and deleted and still corrupt

Unread post by pluto459 » 2018-07-24, 03:30

Thanks for the reply but didnt know there was an issue until today when all my pw were gone.

Version: 27.9.4 (64-bit)

logins.json-4 and type is CORRUPT file

Everything was fine till it wasnt. Only backup if you used an addon and why would I need to back up pw when this was never an issue over 20 updates.

password fox pulled the pw from firefox, which are old but i guess better then nothing.
Last edited by pluto459 on 2018-07-24, 03:34, edited 1 time in total.

User avatar
therube
Board Warrior
Board Warrior
Posts: 1650
Joined: 2018-06-08, 17:02

Re: logins.json corrupt reset and deleted and still corrupt

Unread post by therube » 2018-07-24, 03:42

and type is CORRUPT file
Are you saying that or is something telling you that?

Based on the name, I would think it more likely to be a permissions issue?

(Oh, BTW, PM 27 does use logins.json, just checked.)

Presumably you have -3 -2 & -1 also?
Are all four of those files the same, duplicates of each other?

And then is the single file, logins.json, different, most likely smaller?

Look at the files - but do not change, in a text editor.
Does the data look OK?
In that it shows stuff like "hostname:" - within, in plain text, like https://www.yahoo.com?
And then "encrypedUsername:" - within, in plain text, followed by an encoded version of your username?

pluto459

Re: logins.json corrupt reset and deleted and still corrupt

Unread post by pluto459 » 2018-07-24, 04:37

Attached is the pic.

There are mutiple files so this must have happened a bunch based on the dates with the most recent days ago.
json.jpg
I can export with password fox but only to a txt file so adding the backup pw addon, it needs a csv.

I renamed the corrupt file to logins.json and restarted and no pw.

I am on v 27 as given above. See pic
version.jpg
At this point I could careless why it happened and would love to learn how to get the bad versions that exported just fine back into my browser. Saved as a txt file. Thanks again.

pluto459

Re: logins.json corrupt reset and deleted and still corrupt

Unread post by pluto459 » 2018-07-24, 21:32

bump
anyone at palemoon know how to resolve this?

User avatar
billmcct
Keeps coming back
Keeps coming back
Posts: 953
Joined: 2012-09-04, 15:19
Location: Costa Rica & Union City Georgia USA

Re: logins.json corrupt reset and deleted and still corrupt

Unread post by billmcct » 2018-07-25, 01:51

From the screenshot there's nothing in your profile to save.
Install this addon in both PM and firefox.

https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefo ... -exporter/

Export from FF and import to PM. I would delete all the extra logins.json files first except "logins.2.json"
rename that file to logins.json. Do this with PM closed.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The difference between the Impossible and the Possible lies in a man's Determination.
Tommy Lasorda

pluto459

Re: logins.json corrupt reset and deleted and still corrupt

Unread post by pluto459 » 2018-07-25, 16:15

what are you talking about bill?

FF was used 5 years ago and has 200 pw and my palmoon has 2200 pw
Used the password fox to export, but it is a txt file.

The REAL issues is how did it get corrupt and then how to fix and prevent.


Is no one from palemoom on the forum to advise issues with their software?

User avatar
therube
Board Warrior
Board Warrior
Posts: 1650
Joined: 2018-06-08, 17:02

Re: logins.json corrupt reset and deleted and still corrupt

Unread post by therube » 2018-07-25, 17:00

(I would NOT delete those files.)
(I WOULD backup your Profile.)

I am surprised that the files vary in size like they do.
Your issue has been around for a while, or at least something has been going on, since the end of last year.

Do you have any password related extensions?

Windows Explorer is identifying (most) of the logins.json* as "CORRUPT File".
How did that come about?

You have not been manually naming those files, have you?
Or do you assign some "marker" like "CORRUPT" to the file, such that its' Type shows that way?

And while we're at it, how did logins.2.json come about?


What extensions do you have?
Last edited by therube on 2018-07-25, 17:11, edited 2 times in total.

User avatar
billmcct
Keeps coming back
Keeps coming back
Posts: 953
Joined: 2012-09-04, 15:19
Location: Costa Rica & Union City Georgia USA

Re: logins.json corrupt reset and deleted and still corrupt

Unread post by billmcct » 2018-07-25, 17:15

If you have many restore points then with PM closed right click the "logins.json" file and select "properties".
Select "previous Versions" and see if it can be replaced.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The difference between the Impossible and the Possible lies in a man's Determination.
Tommy Lasorda

pluto459

Re: logins.json corrupt reset and deleted and still corrupt

Unread post by pluto459 » 2018-07-27, 00:16

therube wrote:(I would NOT delete those files.)
(I WOULD backup your Profile.)
I HAVENT DONE ANYTHING

I am surprised that the files vary in size like they do.
Your issue has been around for a while, or at least something has been going on, since the end of last year.
i HAVE NEVER LOOKED IN THE FOLDER TILL NOW. IT HAS ALWAYS CORRECTED ITSELF SO NEVER KNEW IT WAS ISSUE. NOT SURE IF RELATED TO UPGRADING PM
SEEMS NEW BLANK FILES ARE THE LOW KB AND ANYTHING W PW IN THEM ARE THE HIGHER KB
Do you have any password related extensions?
NOT UNTIL IT WAS SUGGESTED IN THIS THREAD. eXPORTED THE LIST FINE, BUT IN TXT FILE AND CANT FIGURE HOW TO UPLOAD.

Windows Explorer is identifying (most) of the logins.json* as "CORRUPT File".
How did that come about?
i DID NOT DO THAT AND WAS LIKE THAT WHEN OPENED THE FOLDER.

You have not been manually naming those files, have you?
Or do you assign some "marker" like "CORRUPT" to the file, such that its' Type shows that way?
THE SYSTEM DID THAT

And while we're at it, how did logins.2.json come about?
ANY WEIRDLY NAMED IS MY ATTEMPT AT RENAMING THE NEW ONE AFTER FOLLOWING A THREAD ABOUT THIS ISSUE ON UPDATE FROM 26 TO 27 AND RESTORING THE SQL FILE. I THEN TRIED TO TAKE THE CORRUPT ONE AND RENAME BACK TO LOGINS.JSON AND THE 2 WAS PROB THE NEW BLANK FILE.

What extensions do you have?
A LOT LOL THIS IS FIRST TIME SINCE USING PM FOR YEARS THIS HAS HAPPENED

User avatar
billmcct
Keeps coming back
Keeps coming back
Posts: 953
Joined: 2012-09-04, 15:19
Location: Costa Rica & Union City Georgia USA

Re: logins.json corrupt reset and deleted and still corrupt

Unread post by billmcct » 2018-07-27, 09:38

Try converting the text file you have to XML and see if you can import with password exporter.

https://www.freefileconvert.com/txt-xml
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The difference between the Impossible and the Possible lies in a man's Determination.
Tommy Lasorda

yami_

Re: logins.json corrupt reset and deleted and still corrupt

Unread post by yami_ » 2018-07-27, 09:49

therube wrote:Windows Explorer is identifying (most) of the logins.json* as "CORRUPT File".
Windows Explorer "identifies" those files as "corrupt", because their actual file name is logins.json*.corrupt.

pluto459

Re: logins.json corrupt reset and deleted and still corrupt

Unread post by pluto459 » 2018-07-27, 22:58

So every restart the pw file is blank, not even saving the new ones i added from scratch while trying to get this solved

pluto459

Re: logins.json corrupt reset and deleted and still corrupt

Unread post by pluto459 » 2018-07-28, 03:14

billmcct wrote:Try converting the text file you have to XML and see if you can import with password exporter.

https://www.freefileconvert.com/txt-xml
doesnt import anything
addon does nothing

User avatar
therube
Board Warrior
Board Warrior
Posts: 1650
Joined: 2018-06-08, 17:02

Re: logins.json corrupt reset and deleted and still corrupt

Unread post by therube » 2018-07-28, 16:19

yami_ wrote:Windows Explorer "identifies" those files as "corrupt", because their actual file name is logins.json*.corrupt.
Oh, so that means that Windows Explorer still hides file extensions by default. Lame.


And do make the change in Windows Explorer to show file extensions.
Last edited by therube on 2018-07-28, 16:33, edited 2 times in total.

User avatar
therube
Board Warrior
Board Warrior
Posts: 1650
Joined: 2018-06-08, 17:02

Re: logins.json corrupt reset and deleted and still corrupt

Unread post by therube » 2018-07-28, 16:32

So every restart the pw file is blank, not even saving the new ones i added from scratch while trying to get this solved
OK, so then at this point, you have no saved passwords, none of your old 2200 entries, correct.


Create a new, clean Profile
Open PM
Go to a site, anyone that prompts for a password
Enter a password, legitimate or not
At the (PM) prompt to save the password, do so

Quit PM
Restart PM

Does the un/pw show up in Password Manager?

illiad
Fanatic
Fanatic
Posts: 222
Joined: 2016-05-15, 13:04

Re: logins.json corrupt reset and deleted and still corrupt

Unread post by illiad » 2018-07-29, 20:28

how do you backup your 'logins.json' ? I normally just copy out the file, and can copy back later.

It may be worthwhile loading a old version of pale moon, and see if it works.. THEN you can use 'password backup tool' to save in a standard format, for import into the new version of PM.. :)

Also AFAIK PM 28 is NOT final yet..

"A LOT LOL THIS IS FIRST TIME SINCE USING PM FOR YEARS THIS HAS HAPPENED" :problem: :D never, ever, rely on computers.... **always** make a backup - I always keep a backup of the *whole * profile folder. :) :ugeek:
Last edited by illiad on 2018-07-29, 20:56, edited 5 times in total.
VM 300Mbs in london england :lol: :coffee: on Intel Core I7 3GHz on Gigabyte X58a.
PM 32.4.1(64bit) on win7(64bit) sp1 - does ytoobe better than FF!! 8-) :lol: :P
Got 24Gig, Nvidia GTX 1060 :D dont need 4k - not rich, not gamer, newer GPUs only for $$$ peeps
:eh: useragentstring(com) :problem: FF 115.3.1 :angel: :P

pluto459

Re: logins.json corrupt reset and deleted and still corrupt

Unread post by pluto459 » 2018-08-17, 22:22

IS ANYONE FROM PALEMOON ON THIS FORUM?????

Not thrilled lost 3000 pw and cant get this resolved.

Exported pw list are missing 100s of entries.

illiad
Fanatic
Fanatic
Posts: 222
Joined: 2016-05-15, 13:04

Re: logins.json corrupt reset and deleted and still corrupt

Unread post by illiad » 2018-08-20, 09:22

erm, palemoon is NOT a giant company... AFAIK maybe only 2 or 3 people...??

more here, but its your own fault for not being careful... :)
Last edited by illiad on 2018-08-20, 09:23, edited 1 time in total.
VM 300Mbs in london england :lol: :coffee: on Intel Core I7 3GHz on Gigabyte X58a.
PM 32.4.1(64bit) on win7(64bit) sp1 - does ytoobe better than FF!! 8-) :lol: :P
Got 24Gig, Nvidia GTX 1060 :D dont need 4k - not rich, not gamer, newer GPUs only for $$$ peeps
:eh: useragentstring(com) :problem: FF 115.3.1 :angel: :P

Locked