#2100 Keepass 2.49 master password issue

[itmonitor]

Hello. Thank you for the work on Keepass.

I am using v.2.x since many years without any issue. Yesterday I reinstalled Windows 10 Pro in my pc and Keepass 2.49 on it. I was unable to open the .kdbx password database, Keepass tells me the master password is not correct.

At first I thought I was mistyping the Master Password, but after one hour trying to guess what was my mistake, I created a brand new .kdbx database with a short master password. I added a test password to it. I closed it. I then tried to open it using a purposedly wrong master password, it will not open and warn me about it. But, when I type the correct Master password, Keepass will minimize to the Windows 10 taskbar and continue blocked. No wargint about what was wrong.

On checking the bug tickets here, I found one about the .NET issue. But when I try to install the https://www.catalog.update.microsoft.com/Search.aspx?q=5003254 KB50033254 for Windows 10 v.20H2, it will tell me the update is not necessary on my PC. I check if my pc has the .net framework 4.8 installed, it is not in the app list. However, when I try to install it from the standalone Microsoft repository, it will not install telling me .net 4.8 or later is already installed in my pc.

I setup keepass.exe to bypass Windows Defender Exploit Protection, the issue persists.

After those checks, I believe I am typing the correct master password to the former .kdbx database, but somehow Keepass is not able to open it anymore, as it did until yesterday. I am using this same master database since more than six months, without any issue.

I need help because a couple of the passwords that I kept without any issue since years inside Keepass, are not retrievable. I cannot reset them in order to gain again access to their respective software through my cleanly resinstalled pc. I can manage those software through my Android smartphone, which keeps their passwords, but this is a provisional solution.

I installed Keepass 2.48 which was the last version I remember working well, but it will minimize silently to the taskbar as described above.

Rgs

IM

Edition Windows 10 Pro
Version 20H2
Installed on ‎27/‎09/‎2021
OS build 19042.1237
Experience Windows Feature Experience Pack 120.2212.3530.0

[wellread1]

Yesterday I reinstalled Windows 10 Pro in my pc and Keepass 2.49 on it. I was unable to open the .kdbx password database, Keepass tells me the master password is not correct.

These symptoms, occurring after a Windows reinstall, mean that your database master key probably included a key file or windows user account. If these components were part of the database master key, KeePass by default would have loaded these every time you tried to open the database. However, the Windows reinstall deleted the key file and changed the windows user account (even if the new Windows user profile uses the same username and password).

• If the database master key included a key file and the Windows reinstall deleted the key file you will need to restore it from a backup.
• If the database master key included the Windows User Account see the Recover Windows User Account Credentials. Otherwise you will need to restore you old Windows account from an image backup.
  
  

I can manage those software through my Android smartphone, which keeps their passwords, but this is a provisional solution.

If you cannot recover your database master key you will need to rebuild your database from the data stored in your smartphone.

..when I type the correct Master password, Keepass will minimize to the Windows 10 taskbar and continue blocked [locked].

This symptom will occur if both Minimize main window after opening a database in Tools>Options...>Interface(tab)>Main Window, and one of the Lock workspace when minimizing main window... is checked in Tools>Options...>Security(tab)>General(section).

Other setting combinations produce similar, but slightly different symptoms.

[Paul]

Depending on the app you use on your Android device, you may be able to send the database to your PC via email, or export the database and import it into a new database on your PC.

What is the Android app?

cheers, Paul

[Hay Dgha]

Good day
I am having similar issue,
Tried to open all my databases with master passwords gives me an error.

"Failed to load the specified file!
The master key is invalid!"

Using Windows 10 and latest version of Keepass 2
I tried on different computers all the same.
Any help is appreciated.

[Paul]

See this thread for master key issues.
https://sourceforge.net/p/keepass/discussion/329221/thread/e5654816/?limit=250#5b3a

cheers, Paul

[Adilson desouza]

I'm facing a same problem after to install Win11

[Paul]

What have you tried from the post above yours?
What changed since you were last able to open the database?

cheers, Paul

[Adilson desouza]

In my case I needed format Pc and install Win11.
After that, the keep pass show the msg: The master Key is Invalid.
I have my database into onedrive, I have try recovery six versions from database and the error is same.

I have tried use on Win10, Win7 and Android and the error is a same, as explained by others, I'm sure about the password is correct.

[Paul]

The password may be correct but you may be missing some part of the master key.

The only real way to recover your data is to restore your PC from a backup, open KeePass and print an Emergency Sheet. Once you have done that you can restore your W11 installation.

cheers, Paul