sync data lost
I reinstalled my OS and went to get my sync data back, but my key does not work anymore. I might have accidentally changed keys before i tried to get my data back.
Is there anyway i can get the data that was stored using my original key?
Chosen solution
Sorry, about your loss of data. Sync isn't intended for the purpose of being a "backup" service while the user re-installs their operation system. It was made to synchronize data between Firefox installations on multiple devices, where not every device is devoid of their Firefox installation and data at the same time.
Without the exact Sync Key with which the data was originally encrypted before being sent to the Sync Server, your data is useless. As cor-el pointed out, when the user creates a new Sync Key for that account, the Server wipes the "useless" data, so that the user can start out all over again using that same Sync account.
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If you have changed the Sync key (i.e. generated a new sync key) then all data stored on the Sync server is removed because the sync key is used locally to encrypt all data before it is send to the Sync server and can't be decoded anymore.
Chosen Solution
Sorry, about your loss of data. Sync isn't intended for the purpose of being a "backup" service while the user re-installs their operation system. It was made to synchronize data between Firefox installations on multiple devices, where not every device is devoid of their Firefox installation and data at the same time.
Without the exact Sync Key with which the data was originally encrypted before being sent to the Sync Server, your data is useless. As cor-el pointed out, when the user creates a new Sync Key for that account, the Server wipes the "useless" data, so that the user can start out all over again using that same Sync account.
is there a way to recover my bookmarks. i had some research stuff saved....and i really need some of those links.
I have the same problem, only I couldn't do anything before my hard drive was wiped. My PC crashed under warranty and wouldn't turn on again so naturally, the tech guys replaced every component. Furthermore, since I set up my sync account (and touched it or rather its settings last) years ago back when it was still unencrypted or differently encrypted, I didn't get the memo (an email woulda' been nice) there was such a thing as an encryption key for me to write down or save. I only ever knew of my sync account credentials. So now my hundreds of bookmarks are gone, my list of addons, my settings, etc. because I don't have a second device logged into the account to provide a temporary unlock key. While I understand mine may be a special case and Mozilla can't serve every indivual right it still blows to know everything's just sitting there.