Hi,
I was writing an article on Avast 2016, and activated the Password function on my test machine. As it’s not something I’m actually going to use on that machine, and it was late, I entered an obvious password as my master password. However, today when I went to type out the procedure for activating it and needed to go back through it, I discovered my password isn’t as obvious as I thought. I’ve tried everything and can’t get back in. I’m fully aware that losing the password means losing the database.
Now that isn’t really a problem, as I said I don’t plan on actually using it on that machine. However, I can’t get it to reset the database. I just want it to forget it was ever activated and start from scratch again. And I’ve tried reinstalling, using the inbuilt reset function, and even the uninstall tool to try to wipe it, but every time it starts up it asks for the password. I can’t get into the settings without the password, and even checking on another machine, there doesn’t seem to be any reset system in place.
So basically, the question is: if you forget your password once, does that mean you can never ever ever ever use Avast Password again for as long as you live?
No, I mean the password vault. It’s a database containing all your passwords for the web. The new function in Avast 2016. The great big “Passwords” button next to the scan…?
And this is OS independant, or I would have mentioned an OS. As I said, you can’t reset this thing on any computer.
Already looked at the EasyPass stuff, doesn’t work.
I’m not talking about resetting just the master password to regain access, I’m talking about resetting the entire thing. Wiping out all stored passwords, so I can start again from scratch, with no stored passwords.
It seems I can never use the Passwords tool again on that computer without formating it (and even then I’m not sure that would be enough, as I gather the password vault is backed up online).
The uninstall tool is not removing everything.
To really remove all, you have to do it manually.
Delete all folders/files.
Delete all registry entries.
Yes, I know it sucks.
But for many years it seems that developers can’t seem (or not want) to write a uninstaller that really uninstalls everything.
Don’t know if you have done it or not, but before testing something…
I always create a image of the drive(s) before starting.
My test machine is a virtual machine, so yes I have a backup copy of the drive. As I said, this is just a test machine, I don’t really care. What worries me is that there is no way to correct this. Not only do I write tech articles, but I also answer readers’ questions. And I know that people are going to try this and forget their password, and come to me for help. Losing all passwords saved by the tool is perfectly normal. But not having any way to reset the tool so they can start again is completely bizarre. I’ll try the manual deletion of everything, but not knowing where everything is stored, I guess I’ll give Revo Unistaller a go at it.
I know that people are going to try this and forget their password
I know what you mean. Been working with computers over 33 years. Had my own computer (related) service shop, been (trying to) help people on IRC since 1996 etc.
Please keep me (us) informed about the things you find.
I for sure am interested to know.
I’m curious what happens after you have used Revo.
Well Revo didn’t help, even on the highest setting. I suspect that as I don’t have an Avast account, it does a hash of the PCs components and uses that as an identifier for storing your passwords online, which would mean that there’s nothing on my PC to erase. But I could be wrong…
I was hoping that Avast actually kept up with their official forums, but obviously not. So I just reported this problem with their integrated feedback tool. We’ll see if they actually get back to me…
Well, I don’t have an account on that installation, just a “Sign in” button where your arrow shows the user name should be. I never set an account up. The “Passwords” tool worked just fine without one.
Thanks Charyb, that actually did the trick. I just had to sign in with any generic account. So I used this one. I didn’t feel like creating a new account to post on here, so I just used the one already created with a mailinator address (disposable e-mail boxes that anyone can access). So I reused the same account on there, and dozens of PCs showed up using this same account… lol.
Then removed the account, and that removed the passwords.
A bit of a roundabout way, but it solved it.
Thanks everyone for your input.
And oddly enough, signing back in with the same account does not restore the passwords. So they’re not saved to the account, despite the fact removing the account also removes all stored passwords… Most odd.
