removing account info from Pidgin with the program not running.

Asked by jgibson

As soon as I closed Pidgin the first time with my yahoo login information, and restarted it later, it fails to launch due to another libpurple client running, I created a new user account in Ubuntu 8.04, logged in, started Pidgin up, entered my MSN info, and the client works so far, what I need is a way to remove my account info from my original account, so I can add my MSN info there, to have it work again, instead of failing to launch.

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h2g2bob
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jgibson (gibsonjont) said :
#1

I don't even know how to find my way back here to see if anyone posts, so far, I'm seriously NOT impressed with Linux and the way things are done. Not to be snarky....

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nhasian (nhasian) said :
#2

you'll be emailed everytime someone responds to your message. or you can click on the answers button to see threads your involved in.

as for pidgin, if there is another instance running or if it didnt close properly you can Open a Terminal from the menu Applications → Accessories → Terminal and type: sudo killall pidgin

and it will close all instances of pidgin. pidgin save's its data in the folder ~/.purple

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jgibson (gibsonjont) said :
#3

I refreshed the page to learn I'd get an email notification, GLORY BE! Good that the site does that.

So, how do i find this ~/.purple folder? The file system is unlike any I'm used to seeing...

As for closing all instance of pidgin, would any instances be running on a fresh log in where I haven't started the program up yet?

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jgibson (gibsonjont) said :
#4

I 'killedall instances' with terminal reporting 'no process killed'. Pidgin still will not start. If I've been vague, I apologize.

I'm running Hardy 8.04 and Pidgin 2.4.1, I believe. I filled in the add account on pidgin with my yahoo info. Now the program won't start up again so I can change it from yahoo to MSN. I need to get the yahoo info OUT of it, but how do i do that if the program won't start?

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jgibson (gibsonjont) said :
#5

I'm still getting the note: 'main: exiting because another libpurple client is already running'

This is after a fresh log in, also after the killall pidgin command.

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Martin Biggs (kasamhor) said :
#6

To find out which program is using libpurple type in:

  lsof /usr/lib/libpurple.so.0

and it should tell you. If it comes up blank try:

  lsof /usr/lib/libpurple-client.so.0

see if it comes up with anything

I do not think it will solve the problem for you, but to remove all account information from pidgen type in

  mv ~/.purple ~/.purple.bak

which should reset pidgen for you. If this does not work or messes other things up type the following to put it back:

  rm -r ~/.purple
  mv ~/.purple.bak ~/.purple

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jgibson (gibsonjont) said :
#7

 lsof /usr/lib/libpurple.so.0 - no such file or directory
Isof/usr/lib/libpurple-client.so.0 - no such file or directory

the other commands, mv ~/.purple I put a space between the mv and the tilde, and also did it without a space there, both commands return - command not found

since nothing changed, I didn't try rm -r~/.purple in either iteration.

This doesn't sound like it's going very well. I've been searching for two days, to do what I can do on a Mac in less time than it takes to tell it, by going to the user folder, library, preferences, pidgin.plist, if there was such a thing, and move it, so that the program creates a new one in its spot. Is there anything analogous to that with Linux?

I mean, I can't even find where the actual programs ARE on Hardy... other than the add/remove program interface, is everything really hidden by the gui?

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Best h2g2bob (d-j-batley) said :
#8

Hello

Simple one first: closing the main pidgin window doesn't close pidgin - look for an icon in the top-right (near the time) which is a speech bubble with (probably) a green circle on it. Click that to get to your contacts (or right click for a menu).

If that fails, try to reinstall pidgin. Normally a reinstall leaves the config files, so we want to "purge" to get rid of it, then install again. You can select "completely remove" in synaptic if you like graphical tools, otherwise open a terminal with Applications > Accessories > Terminal. Run:
sudo apt-get purge libpurple0 pidgin

At this point you might like to check your ~/.purple folder (which stores config) is gone. ~/.purple is a folder named ".purple" in your home folder. Things beginning with . are hidden, so you need to select view, show hidden files from the menu. If it's not gone, delete it.

Finally install it again:
sudo apt-get install pidgin

If all this fails, please post the results of the following so we can see what's going on:
ps ax | grep -iE '(purple|pidgin|gaim)'
pidgin -d

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Martin Biggs (kasamhor) said :
#9

The settings for pidgen are in the .purple folder, which is why i was trying to get you to rename it (same as deleting but is easily reversible) The command not found reply to the mv command is confusing though.

2 things I want you to try please.

1) Type:
      mv
    and copy the result in here please

2) You are using a different version of ubuntu to me, maybe the libpurple files are in a different place.
    Type:

  locate libpurple.so

  if this comes up blank try:

  locate libpurple

and copy the results here please (may be quite large for the second locate command)

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jgibson (gibsonjont) said :
#10

I FOUND my accounts! I found the menu bar icon, tyvm :D changing account from Yahoo to MSN allows Pidgin to keep running. What I guess I have to figure out now is can I contact all my yahoo people through the MSN protocol. I think I can.

Is something with the link between pidgin and yahoo screwed up?

And I still don't know where this purple folder is... search for it with the file browser turned up no results. I know the point is moot, but I'd like to know how to navigate my system if need be.

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jgibson (gibsonjont) said :
#11

locate libpurple.so turned up - /usr/lib/libpurple.so.0

sh*t.

Places/Computer/file system/usr/lib/ ok ok, I get the file structure now, basically, in the lib folder i see purple-2 but no purple, what am I missing here? Other than a few brain cells?

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Ben Bridts (band-b) said :
#12

the .purple folder is in your home folder. (/home/username/). The dot indicates that it's a hidden folder. So you'll have to turn 'show hidden folders' on. Then you'll find it, but not between the folders that start with p. It will be between all the other hidden folders. (you'll understand when you see it).

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jgibson (gibsonjont) said :
#13

Thanks h2g2bob, that solved my question.