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The Darn! Passwords! FAQ's

First of all:

1. What about the other Darn! products?
   Sorry, they have likely been discontinued. We are only supporting Darn! Passwords Standard and Pro, version 3. If anything has changed, it'll be noted here at the "remnants of darn!" site.

Troubleshooting:

1. Darn won't open, or doesn't know my userid

General questions

1. Does Darn! run on Vista?  I want to run Darn! on Vista.
2. I have lost my master password. What do I do?
3. I have "www..." for my URLs but the World button doesn't go there.
4. Why doesn't dragging work with Netscape 6?
5. Can I use Darn! Passwords! on more than one computer?

Registering

1. How do I register Darn! Passwords! Pro! Edititon?
2. How do I register Darn! Passwords! Standard Edititon?

Version 1

1. How can I create a Darn! Passwords! System Backup in DP version 1?
2. I opened my safe, but the passwords appear as garbage characters. Can they be restored? (Version 1)
3. Can I make Darn! Passwords! start whenever I boot Windows?
4. How can I duplicate the passwords on my desktop computer onto my notebook for when I travel?
5. I installed v2, and now I want to delete DP v1. What files do I delete?
6. How do I restore a "Daily Backup" from my \Backups folder? (Version 1 Only)

Version 2

1. How do I synchronize my passwords from my desktop to my laptop when I travel?
2. Can I import my passwords from Version 1?
3. How do I get DP to work on an NT or Windows 2000 user account?
4. I just reinstalled Darn! Passwords! under Windows XP and it won't run.

Version 3

1. I get error messages when I go to a URL when using AOL as my browser.
2. How do I turn off the Internet warnings?
3. I am looking for something in the menu, but I can't see a menu.
4. I purchased DP Pro, but I do not have the vault converter.
5. How do I make backups and where will I find them?

Troubleshooting

Q: Darn won't open, or doesn't know my userid

A: Most problems of this sort can be cleaned up by deleting the following files/folders from the darn directory (typically c:\program files\darnpasswords3, or c:\apps\darnpasswords3):

1. darn.ini
2. names.txt
3. TMP or TEMP directory, within the darn passwords directory.

After these are gone, Darn should start fine.

Note: if you see lots of files without extensions in the darn directory, it's because Windows is configured to "hide extensions of known file types". Change that option within windows explorer. It's under the Tools menu | file and folder options | view | advanced.  Once the extensions are showing, it's easier to find the files that need to be deleted.

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General questions

Q: Does Darn! run on Vista?  

A: Yes, but.....

Darn! will run on Vista, but there are some issues. The big one is that Darn! Passwords stores its settings and data within the program directory.  Vista does not like this, and does not allow regular programs to write to any files within the "\program files" directory (with the exception of installer programs, which run as "administrator" privileges). 

If you install Darn! to the default location (usually c:\program files), it will appear to run ok, but in reality, your settings and data are not stored in the program directory, but in a "virtual store" directory.  Vista fools Darn! into thinking that it can read/write the Darn! directory, but it isn't. Normally, this works ok but leads to problems if you run into trouble. For starters, the built-in backup doesn't do anything - it's backing up an old copy of the darnpwrd.vlt file, from when you first ran the program on Vista. And if you try to copy the darnpwrd.vlt file yourself, to copy to a USB stick or another computer, you will be copying the old file - not the current vault file.  If you are interested in the technical details of this, see this article.

The short version of the story is that if you run Darn! from the program directory, the vault will be stored in a path such as: 

C:\Users\<yourname>\AppData\Local\VirtualStore\Program Files\DarnPasswords3\darnpwrd.vlt

The Solution For Running Darn! on Vista:

1. Create a directory OUTSIDE of the regular Vista "program files" directory, such as C:\apps, or C:\users\public\apps
2. Install Darn! passwords into that directory.  ex: c:\apps\darnpasswords3.  At the end of the installation, if the installer offers to run Darn! Passwords now, do NOT let it.  Run it yourself after the installer has completed.
3. If you have an existing vault (from another computer, or rescued from the aforementioned VirtualStore directory), move it into the new directory.
4. Now you should be ok, and it'll run fine on Vista.

Q: I have lost my master password. What do I do?

A: Don't do that!

Seriously, you are responsible for your master password. For obvious reasons we can not retrieve it for you.

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Q: I have "www..." for my URLs but the World button doesn't go there.

A: Make sure you always include the "http://" at the beginning of each URL.

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Q: Why doesn't dragging work with Netscape 6?

A: Netscape completely changed the underlying technology with version 6 of the browser. Unfortunately it does not seem to support dragging into html form fields. The Netscape developer's program has been most unhelpful, but we are continuing to investigate.

In the meanwhile, DP's clipboard function was designed for programs that do not support dragging. Click the "hand" button, and then paste into the field in Netscape (using ctrl-v or Shift-Insert).

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Q: Can I use Darn! Passwords! on more than one computer?

A: Yes, you may, as long as it is for your own use only. Many people like to take their desktop computer passwords along on their laptops when they travel. Use the "Restore" plug-in to synchronize your desktop safe onto your laptop.

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Registering

Q: How do I register Darn! Passwords! Pro! Edition?

A: 1. If you do not have the version 3 evaluation version installed, download and install the Darn! Passwords! evaluation version from the download page.

2. In the order confirmation mail sent to you by Digibuy you will find a name and registration key. Enter your registration key by starting Darn! Passwords!. If you exit immediately the "evaluation" window is displayed. Or you can pick "Enter Registration Code" from the Help menu.

If you do not see a menu at the top of the DP window, open the safe and pick Setup in the Lobby Tab. About the fourth choice down is a check box to enable the menu. Check it and close the safe. The menu will appear above the tabs.

This only works in version 3 (the version # is on the "About" tab).

3. Download and install the vault converter by first connecting to the Internet and then choosing "Get Vault Converter" from the Help menu. Running the downloaded file should install the converter in your DP3 folder.

You are all set! Keep a copy of this mail in a safe place in case you ever need to reinstall.
******************

If you are upgrading from version 2 start DP and pick the "Import v2 Vault" option in the Tools menu. Browse for the darnpwrd.vlt file in your v2 installation and the converter will move it into the new format.

Note that we do NOT recommend installing version 3 in the same folder version 2 is in.

v3 also reads v2 vaults. The best way to bring one over is to use the "Restore" tool to restore a backup made with v2. If for any reason the converter doesn't work, we recommend this as an alternative.
 

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Q: How do I register Darn! Passwords! Standard Edition?

A: 1. If you do not have the version 3 evaluation version installed, download and install the Darn! Passwords! evaluation version from the download page.

2. In the order confirmation mail sent to you by Digibuy you will find a name and registration key. Enter your registration key by starting Darn! Passwords!. If you exit immediately the "evaluation" window is displayed. Or you can pick "Enter Registration Code" from the Help menu.

If you do not see a menu at the top of the DP window, open the safe and pick Setup in the Lobby Tab. About the fourth choice down is a check box to enable the menu. Check it and close the safe. The menu will appear above the tabs.

This only works in version 3 (the version # is on the "About" tab).

You are all set! Keep a copy of this mail in a safe place in case you ever need to reinstall.
******************

If you are upgrading from version 2 start DP and pick the "Import v2 Vault" option in the Tools menu. Browse for the darnpwrd.vlt file in your v2 installation and the converter will move it into the new format.

Note that we do NOT recommend installing version 3 in the same folder version 2 is in.

v3 also reads v2 vaults. The best way to bring one over is to use the "Restore" tool to restore a backup made with v2. If for any reason the converter doesn't work, we recommend this as an alternative.
 

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Version 1

Q: How can I create a Darn! Passwords! System Backup in DP version 1?

A: 1. Start DP and right click. If you see "Restore Plug-in on the menu, click it. If it is not there, go to the plugin page and download and install it. Then start DP, right click and choose the "Restore Plug-in." from the popup menu.

2. Click the third button from the right, the one with the picture of a closed file cabinet.


3. You will find the file PwdMove.sy1 in the \Backups folder that you will find in your DP folder. This file is the Darn! Passwords! System Backup.

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Q: I opened my safe, but the passwords appear as garbage characters. Can they be restored? (Version 1)

A: If you are seeing "garbage text" when viewing your passwords there must have been some file write error during your last save. This can be caused by programs that monitor file writes (such as anti-virus checkers), or by restoring as daily backup that was created prior to changing the key for your safe. Your passwords are probably retrievable.

If you have used the "Restore Plug-in to make a "DP System Backup" simply load the plug-in and use it to restore this "System Backup." If not there is a manual approach that may take some time, but should be successful if you are careful and have patience.

1. Using Windows Explorer, look in your \Backups folder and make a copy of the latest backup file.

2. Rename this file to: pwdsafe.vlt

3. Start Darn! Passwords! Open your safe.

4. On the Setup tab, change the "Key."

5. Close the safe and the program.

6. Copy pwdsafe.vlt from your \Backups folder to your DP folder.

7. If the passwords still do not show normally, go back to step 3 and continue until they do.

If you have tried all the keys and none work correctly you may need to work with an earlier backup.


Here's how to avoid this problem in the future:

1. Go to the plugin page and download and install the Darn! Passwords! Restore Plug-in on both computers.

2. Start DP and right click. You will see the plug-in on the menu.

3. Once started press F1 for instructions. It is highly recommended that you regularly make a "DP System Backup" and save a copy of it on a floppy disk.
 

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Q: Can I make Darn! Passwords! start whenever I boot Windows?

A: In Windows Explorer go to C:\WINDOWS\Start Menu\Programs\StartUp 2. In the Startup folder right click and pick New 3. Choose Shortcut. Browse for the file pwdsafe.exe (probably in C:\Program Files\EmmaSoft\Darn! Passwords!) 4. name the shortcut "Darn! Passwords!"

That will do it. The program will not be minimized, but it will run whenever you boot. I will put your suggestion on the list for possible future updates.

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Q: How can I duplicate the passwords on my desktop computer onto my notebook for when I travel?

A: First, install Darn! Passwords! onto your laptop. Be sure to use the registered version installer if you purchased the program.

1. Go to the plugin page and download and install the Darn! Passwords! Restore Plug-in on both computers if it is not already installed.

2. Start DP and right click. You will see the plug-in on the menu.

3. The instructions for using the "DP System Backup" are in the help file (press F1 while the plug-in is running). These instructions are also shown below:
 

1. Find the \Backups folder in your original Darn! Passwords! Installation. Click the button with the closed file cabinet to create the DP System Backup file. Copy the file named PwdMove.sy1 onto a floppy disk.

2. Install Darn! Passwords onto the new computer.

3. Install the Restore Plug-In onto the new computer.

4. You may not have a \backups folder in the new installation. Either create it in your Darn! Passwords! folder manually using Windows Explorer, or go to the "About tab and click Back Up Now.

5. Copy the file PwdMove.sy1 from your floppy disk to the new \Backups folder.

6. Start Darn! Passwords! and right click. Choose "Restore Plug-In" from the pop-up menu.

7. Click the Install DP System Backup Button. After restoring Darn! Passwords! will be closed. The restored passwords and settings will be in place the next time you start Darn! Passwords!.


 

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Q: I installed v2, and now I want to delete DP v1. What files do I delete?

A: In Windows Explorer, find your Darn! Passwords! folder, and delete the following files:

Anything named pwdsafe.* can go.

Also these v1 filesmay be deleted:

dpbak.dll
dpexp.dll
dpprnt.dll
eupdate.dll

If XCDUNZ32.DLL and XCDZIP32.DLL are in your DP folder they can be deleted. However, if they are in your Windows\System folder, you should leave them there in case other programs are sharing them.
 

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Q: How do I restore a "Daily Backup" from my \Backups folder? (Version 1 Only)

A: The simplest way to restore a DP backup is to use the free plug-in we have provided. To get it go to the plugin page and download the "Darn! Passwords! Restore Plug-in." After downloading run the file called dpbakpi.exe to install it.

Start DP and right click to view the menu. Choose "Restore Plug-in."

A Daily Backup is a file that contains your passwords, named for the day of the week it was saved. These files are created when you set the Backup Interval to 1 or higher in the "About" tab of Darn! Passwords!.

In most cases you will want to restore the most recent backup. Do not go by the name of the day - be sure to check the date in the "Modified" column. If you want to sort the list of backups by date click "Modified" once.

Click the backup file you want to restore. It should be highlighted when you do this.

Now click the Restore button. That file will replace your passwords file in your Darn! Passwords! installation.

Alternatively, just double click the file you want to restore.

Click the Exit Door button to return to Darn! Passwords! Now when you open your safe it will contain passwords from the backup.

Caution: Daily Backups only work if you have not changed the Key settings since the time the backups were made. If you are changing keys check the help file on "DP System Backups." Once you have started the plug-in press F1 to see the help file, which explains about this in detail.
 

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Version 2

Q: How do I synchronize my passwords from my desktop to my laptop when I travel?

A: First, install Darn! Passwords! onto your laptop. Be sure to use the registered version installer if you purchased the program.

Open your safe, go to the lobby tab and pick Security, and click Back Up Now. This will create an up-to-date backup in your \Backups folder.

On your laptop start DP and pick Restore Backups from the Tools menu (or by right clicking and picking it on the popup menu).

If you are on a Network you can simply find the file by clicking the "Import From" button (with the blue disk on it) and locating the backup on the first machine.

If not, copy the backup file from the first machine to a floppy disk, and click the "Import From" button, and locate the backup on the floppy disk.

The backup will be imported onto your laptop installation, and you will be all set to go.

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Q: Can I import my passwords from Version 1?

A: Yes, if one of these conditions is true:

1. You have a functioning copy of Darn! Passwords! version 1 on the SAME computer as the v2 you are importing to

OR

2. You have a Darn! Passwords! system backup file that was made from a functioning installation (the file would be called pwdmove.sy1).

If neither of these is true, please refer to other FAQs to learn how to restore your v1 setup to working order, and then proceed:

Open DP and right click the mouse. Choose "Import from v1" from the popup menu.

Now click the little button with the folder icon, and choose the pwdsafe.vlt file from your old installation, or choose a DP System Backup. Or if you are restoring from a DP System Backup, choose the file pwdmove.sy1.

The importing begins when you click OK, and your passwords will be in the new version when you next open your safe.

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Q: How do I get DP to work on an NT or Windows 2000 user account?

A: You have to add each user individually to the DP folder and set the permissions.

Sign on as Administrator.

In Windows Explorer go to DP folder.

Right click and pick Properties.

Choose "Security Tab"

Click "Add" and pick the user and click OK. After adding, highlight the user in the "Permissions" section.

When that user is highlighted it tells the kind of permissions that user has. Give it full control of this folder, sub-folders and files. (Or you can allow the user to modify but not delete.)

Then click "Apply."

(You may need to do this on the subfolders as well, though it should work when you do it on the main DP folder.)

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Q: I just reinstalled Darn! Passwords! under Windows XP and it won't run.

A: You need build 2.0.1.14 or later to run under Windows XP. If you have the evaluation version, please download and install the latest evaluation version that is available on our web site.

Registered users should re-download the full registered package. Contact technical support if you need help doing this.

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Version 3

Q: I get error messages when I go to a URL when using AOL as my browser.

A: Depending on the way your system is set up you may get messages that say "The file may not be supported by AOL" or "File too large."

To solve this problem, try adding -s to the beginning of a URL. For example:

-shttp://www.darnpasswords.com

 

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Q: How do I turn off the Internet warnings?

A: Go into the Setup part of the lobby and you will find two settings toward the top of the list here you can turn off that warning.

 

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Q: I am looking for something in the menu, but I can't see a menu.

A: If you do not see a menu at the top of the DP window, open the safe and pick Setup in the Lobby Tab. About the fourth choice down is a check box to enable the menu. Check it and close the safe. The menu will appear above the tabs.

This only works in version 3 (the version # is on the "About" tab).

Once this is done Pro users will be able to get the Vault Converter, and other options will be available for all users.

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Q: I purchased DP Pro, but I do not have the vault converter.

A: The vault converter only works with Darn! Passwords! Pro. If you have Pro connect to the Internet and pick "Get Vault Converter" from the Help menu. When you are finished downloading, run the installer. It should install in your DP folder.

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Q: How do I make backups and where will I find them?

A: To enable backups open your safe and pick "Security" on the Lobby tab.

Set the number of days to the interval you want between automatic backups. We recommend 10 (or any even number).

You may also make an instant backup by clicking "Back Up Now."

To find your backup file either use the "Restore" tool (after closing the safe) or look in the \Backups sub-folder in your "Darn! Passwords! v3" folder using Windows Explorer.

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If you still have a question and you cannot find the answer on this page, please let us know by emailing us at: darn@thornsoft.com.

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© 2003-2007 by Thornsoft