Ubuntu 16.04, Thunderbird 38.8 - cannot create keys

OpenPGP addon for Mozilla Thunderbird

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Ubuntu 16.04, Thunderbird 38.8 - cannot create keys

Forum: Enigmail Support

Creator: Matthias Ristow

Created: 2016-05-24

Updated: 2016-09-19

Matthias Ristow - 2016-05-24

Hi all,

I have tried several times to generate a key pair (without passphrase and with permanent validity).
But after clicking on "Create keys" the progress bar remains at 0%. Even after two hours of intensive computer usage...

I have already considered this thread here.
He has not helped.

Can someone help me?

Thanks very much
Matris2

Last edit: Matthias Ristow 2016-05-25

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Olav Seyfarth - 2016-05-24

The link you provided yields 404, please edit your post.

Worst case it should take 5 minutes to compute a really long key on a not-so-powerful PC.
What processes do you see? (Task manager, top, ...)

Sidenote: 16.04 has 38.8? I really like the new features of 45.0 ...

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Matthias Ristow - 2016-05-25

Thanks for the answer.

The link was corrected.

The running processes after start of the key generation you see here:

From "Top"

And a filtered process list from "KSysGuard"

My problem is: I can see no one process that is involved in the generation of keys. The "gpg-agent" seems not work and is already loaded BEFORE I start the key generation.

Thanks for your Help!

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Ludwig Hügelschäfer - 2016-05-25

Did your setup ever work before? What does Enigmail display in Preferences, Basic Tab, "GnuPG was found in"?

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Olav Seyfarth - 2016-05-25

It's not unusual that gpg-agent is started on session start, although there are other setups (see "Resolving issues with GnuPG 2.x and gpg-agent").

I recommend to analyse the issue step by step, which means to test key generation using the gpg CLI first. Please open a terminal (non-root) and generate a test key:

gpg --gen-key

Name it just "TEST". Does that work fine? You may test whether it worked using

gpg --list-keys TEST

Last edit: Olav Seyfarth 2016-05-26
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- Ludwig Hügelschäfer - 2016-05-26
  
  Olav, see subject - it's Ubuntu 16.04. It has gnupg (1.4.20-1ubuntu3) and gnupg2 (2.1.11-6ubuntu2) packages available. I was curious...
  
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Matthias Ristow - 2016-05-26

Hi Ludwig and Olav,

thank you for your intense discussion.
GnuPG was found in /usr/bin/gpg2 (so far everything ok, right?).

The hint of Olav works well - thank you!

It might accordingly be the thread described as "solved".
But why does not work in the EnigMail window?
Alternatively: Could you make EnigMail something user friendly by such advice there appear (for example, in the help)?

Thanks again!
Matthias

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Ludwig Hügelschäfer - 2016-05-26

Hi Matthias,

good to know that key generation works on the command line, but not good that it doesn't work via Enigmail, so it's not solved I'm afraid.

Could you please try it again from Enigmail and create a debug log? Instructions can be found here: https://enigmail.net/index.php/en/faq?view=category&id=11#faqLink_6 (you might need to scroll a bit). Please either obfuscate personal information before posting it here or send it to ludwig at enigmail dot net, preferrably encrypted.

The help system is a big ToDo....

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Matthias Ristow - 2016-05-26

Hi Ludwig,

here the logfile (see attachment).
For this test I started again the key generation.
However, I had to stop this again after several minutes because no action took place.

Thanks!
Matthias

Last edit: Matthias Ristow 2016-05-26

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Ludwig Hügelschäfer - 2016-05-27

Thanks for the log! I have removed it from here, because it still contained sensitive information.

The key generation is started in the log, but there isn't even an invocation of GnuPG and there's no visible reason. In order to further investigate this, could you please do the following:

Open Thunderbirds Error Console (Tools -> Error Console)

Clear it (Button top right)

Select the "All" Button

Keep the Error Console Window open

Start Enigmail Key Management

Start generation of a new key pair

Observe the Error Console Window

Do you get new entries there? If yes, please post them here! They can easily be transferred via copy&paste.

Thanks for your help!
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Patrick Brunschwig - 2016-05-27

Is it correct that you checked the box "No passphrase" before creating the key?

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Matthias Ristow - 2016-05-27

Yes - correct.
I am the only user on this computer.and he is not transported.

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Patrick Brunschwig - 2016-05-28

Fine, then it's clear thar you hit a bug. I fixed it for the next release.

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Matthias Ristow - 2016-05-30

Hi Patrick and Ludwig,

thanks very much for all! Good job!
@Ludwig: The error console gives messages, but another permanent error floods the console continuos and I cannot read the single message.
So sorry...
@Patrick: I will wait until the next release. Do you know, by when the next version will come?

All the best for you
Matthias

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Matthias Ristow - 2016-05-30

Edit @Ludwig: The only thing I found were two warnings (see appendix).

Warnings.png

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Patrick Brunschwig - 2016-05-30

I expect the next release to be ready in 1 - 2 weeks.

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Oliver - 2016-09-11

Dear, I had the same problem. The problem was solved?

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- Ludwig Hügelschäfer - 2016-09-19
  
  Yes, this was resolved with Enigmail Version 1.9.3, released June 3rd.
  
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