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/