Problems importing presale-wallet / wrong password

[luclu]

Problem reports will be pooled in this issue.
If you are affected please use the specific issue for discussion or open a new one.

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Many users reported about lost passwords or Ethereum-Wallet not accepting their password.

Please verify the following:

1. update to the latest version (link)
2. make sure the keyboard-layout is correct
3. no caps-lock is active

Basicly check what you type is what you want to type in some texteditor.

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If you...

• try to import a presale-wallet (json-file) and encounter a password error, try to run geth (instructions).
  On the terminal, start it with: geth{.exe} wallet <json-file>
• can't unlock your account in Ethereum-Wallet start geth with: geth{.exe} --unlock <address>. If this does not help, try to update your web3-secret-storage file via geth account update
• still can't unlock your account try this service: https://www.myetherwallet.com (they implemented a "wallet viewer" following the official wallet-specs; it's client-side; source-code)
• did lose your password you have two possibilities:
  1. use pyethrecover which tries a user-specified list of passwords
  2. use a bruteforce-service to crack your password. Be sure to research for a trustworthy service.

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As the account management of Ethereum-Wallet is done by its client (geth/eth) - you might be presented with accounts you did setup withing geth before ever using Ethereum-Wallet.

If using geth or myetherwallet.com did help you to unlock your account, please report this - you might have found a bug!

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Currently several improvements/bug-fixes are planned to be incorporated:

• bug-fix: error/infinite import of wallet-file error/infinite import of wallet-file #714
• Add password visibility toggle on creation Add password visibility toggle on creation #554
• Advance notice to backup keystore + Backup strategy Advance notice to backup keystore + Backup strategy #555
• "Wrong password" if multiple copies of keyfile in keystore-folder "Wrong password" if multiple copies of keyfile in keystore-folder #780
• Import with private-key Importing accounts via private-keys  #427

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Additional resources:

• https://www.reddit.com/r/ethereum/comments/46887p/tips_for_recovering_your_presale_password/

[Orami]

Presale wallet is not working i have the right password. please advise

[p0mmi3]

@luclu

Hope you're well.
So I have been quite vocal, as I feel and do not want to disturb or disrupt the process in any way. Im just curious as to know if this is a real bug and if something is being done to solve it.

I have two accounts in my Mist as off now, the first one (main account) works great. I created the second account late November and has a considerable amount of Eth in it, the second account I created using Mist instead of geth. So this time I could view the password after writing it. I took a picture and saved it too. However the password does not work, Im unable to move the Eth or access the wallet. I have read through many posts here and realize it might or might not have something to do with special characters etc.

There has been a lack of feed back from anyone on this matter and now Im just try to here from the devs if this is actually a real issue and if something is being done to address it. In the meanwhile, yes, I am giving myself the human error dilemma and still thinking I did something wrong. Looking forward to your response. Thank you in advance.

[anormore]

^^Agreed -- no meaningful response from the devs. I'm stuck in hell. Is it my fault or theirs?

[evertonfraga]

Calling all users that can't access their accounts.
Please help us get more structured information about your "Wrong password" issues.

https://goo.gl/forms/jznmHV6Fpui7Ijds1

[qjermyn]

I had this error trying to import keys from geth to parity

I copied the key manually from .ethereum key path to io.parity.ethereum key and then was able to unlock successfully in web3.py

[keychainx]

You probably need to brute force it, it can be done with tools like hashcat or custom made tools in case you know part of the password you can do mask attacks with rules.