What OS are you guys on? I get this error at ~1% of launches on Windows 7 x64. It has been going on forever, but it would only fail to read settings until recent months. Now it also wipes cookies.

I suspect it's caused by a failed call to CryptUnprotectData() in crypt32.dll. With --enable-logging I see ERROR:os_crypt_win.cc(92)] Failed to decrypt: The parameter is incorrect. (0x57) every launch, but I think there were multiple such lines on a problematic launch. The cookie wipes started to occur for me around the same time as the latest crypt32.dll update (6.1.7601.24542).

Can we please get --disable-encryption support in Opera to avoid such issues?

I'm saying that if they are do things based only on complaints, they probably would do nothing.

That is not true and not relevant. In this case they've simply cut the functionality (#search-in-open-tabs) for the sake of cutting.

Are You observing this issue just after automatical update of browser too?

I thought so, but no. The last time it happened on a normal launch. There was a welcome page, but that's probably because of a failure to read some file. Still, this error might be more likely to occur following an update.

I've got it again, this time I've saved the log with --v=1. Maybe it's not related to os_crypt_win.cc after all, as it appears in the problematic log only once, just like with a normal launch.

The first difference between the logs is VERBOSE1:statistics_recorder.cc(438)] Collections of all histograms on a problematic launch.

I've noticed that the last 2 times the problem appeared after high RAM usage (either by Opera or by another program).

I've backed up Cookies file before the problematic launch and was able to restore it afterwards, therefore the file itself was not corrupt.

@andrius-s On June 19 I had an autoupdate to 68.0.3618.173 with a Profile Error, but no cookie wipe. How comes you are still on .165?

Still an issue on 69.0.3686.36. Got the error twice: with and without cookie wipe.

I've compared "profile error" logs with and without cookie wipe.
Without:

>**VERBOSE1:first_run_detector_impl.cc(150)] No version change detected. Assuming normal run.**
>VERBOSE1:pref_proxy_config_tracker_impl.cc(185)] 0000000000595CD0: set chrome proxy config service to 0000000000596130
>WARNING:process_singleton_win.cc(345)] Will attempt to lower process integrity level.
>VERBOSE1:statistics_recorder.cc(428)] Collections of all histograms
>VERBOSE1:statistics_recorder.cc(428)] Collections of all histograms
>**VERBOSE1:first_run_detector_impl.cc(150)] No version change detected. Assuming normal run.**
>VERBOSE1:pref_proxy_config_tracker_impl.cc(185)] 00000000004147D0: set chrome proxy config service to 0000000000414C30
>WARNING:process_singleton_win.cc(345)] Will attempt to lower process integrity level.
>VERBOSE1:component_update_scheduler_impl.cc(88)] Registered component Partner Content Autoupdate
>VERBOSE1:component_update_scheduler_impl.cc(190)] Next component update check in 60 s
>VERBOSE1:network_delegate.cc(32)] NetworkDelegate::NotifyBeforeURLRequest: https://autoupdate.geo.opera.com/geolocation/
>VERBOSE1:component_update_scheduler_impl.cc(88)] Registered component PrefsOverride
>VERBOSE1:component_update_scheduler_impl.cc(88)] Registered component sitepatcher_opautoupdatechecker
>VERBOSE1:component_update_scheduler_impl.cc(88)] Registered component sitepatcher_opautoupdatechecker_siteprefs
>ERROR:os_crypt_win.cc(92)] Failed to decrypt: The parameter is incorrect. (0x57)
>VERBOSE1:pref_proxy_config_tracker_impl.cc(185)] 00000000084C4F20: set chrome proxy config service to 000000000344F440
>VERBOSE1:token_cache_impl.cc(28)] Token cache created.
>VERBOSE1:token_cache_impl.cc(37)] Token cache initializing.
>**VERBOSE1:persistent_session_impl.cc(140)] Loaded session in state INACTIVE for user_id**

With:

>**VERBOSE1:first_run_detector_impl.cc(150)] No version change detected. Assuming normal run.**
>VERBOSE1:pref_proxy_config_tracker_impl.cc(185)] 0000000000434CD0: set chrome proxy config service to 0000000000435130
>WARNING:process_singleton_win.cc(345)] Will attempt to lower process integrity level.
>VERBOSE1:statistics_recorder.cc(428)] Collections of all histograms
>VERBOSE1:statistics_recorder.cc(428)] Collections of all histograms
>**VERBOSE1:first_run_detector_impl.cc(46)] Unable to fetch version from list.**
>VERBOSE1:first_run_detector_impl.cc(122)] Last version not found. Assuming first run ever.
>VERBOSE1:pref_proxy_config_tracker_impl.cc(185)] 00000000021870A0: set chrome proxy config service to 0000000000679200
>WARNING:process_singleton_win.cc(345)] Will attempt to lower process integrity level.
>VERBOSE1:component_update_scheduler_impl.cc(88)] Registered component Partner Content Autoupdate
>VERBOSE1:component_update_scheduler_impl.cc(190)] Next component update check in 60 s
>VERBOSE1:network_delegate.cc(32)] NetworkDelegate::NotifyBeforeURLRequest: https://autoupdate.geo.opera.com/geolocation/
>VERBOSE1:network_delegate.cc(32)] NetworkDelegate::NotifyBeforeURLRequest: https://autoupdate.geo.opera.com/geolocation/
>VERBOSE1:component_update_scheduler_impl.cc(88)] Registered component PrefsOverride
>VERBOSE1:component_update_scheduler_impl.cc(88)] Registered component sitepatcher_opautoupdatechecker
>VERBOSE1:component_update_scheduler_impl.cc(88)] Registered component sitepatcher_opautoupdatechecker_siteprefs
>ERROR:os_crypt_win.cc(92)] Failed to decrypt: The parameter is incorrect. (0x57)
>VERBOSE1:pref_proxy_config_tracker_impl.cc(185)] 0000000008AE8690: set chrome proxy config service to 0000000008AE8980
>VERBOSE1:token_cache_impl.cc(28)] Token cache created.
>VERBOSE1:token_cache_impl.cc(37)] Token cache initializing.
>**VERBOSE1:persistent_session_impl.cc(135)] Loaded broken session, treating as empty.**
>VERBOSE1:persistent_session_impl.cc(219)] Changing state from UNSET to INACTIVE

Notice, that first_run_detector_impl.cc and persistent_session_impl.cc are not the Chromium code. And the whole problem is likely triggered by some Opera telemetry collection code in statistics_recorder.cc.

70.0.3728.95, Profile Error, no cookie wipe.

70.0.3728.106, cookies wiped. I've noticed that the size of Cookies file did not decrease when they got wiped.

I've checked the bad Cookies file in SQLite browser and hex editor: 90% of records are wiped (zeroed), but the remaining ones are spread throughout the file (not just at the beginning).

Still an issue on 77.0.4054.172.

But with the VPN gone, there is no reason for me to stick to Opera. Just migrated to Vivaldi. So long, and thanks for all the fish.

74.0.3911.160, still an issue.

Got a Cookies wipe as well. I've managed to capture that launch in Procmon, but I don't see any unusual errors regarding the Cookies file in the capture.

73.0.3856.257, Profile Error without cookies wipe.

72.0.3815.400, Profile Error without cookies wipe.

Anyone running Bitdefender and or Sandboxie and or Internet Download Manager (IDM)?

No. I don't have any software, that could possibly interfere with file reading or caching. What other advice do you have? To run a virus scan, reinstall Windows or maybe check the power cord?

I've compared "profile error" logs with and without cookie wipe.
Without:

>**VERBOSE1:first_run_detector_impl.cc(150)] No version change detected. Assuming normal run.**
>VERBOSE1:pref_proxy_config_tracker_impl.cc(185)] 0000000000595CD0: set chrome proxy config service to 0000000000596130
>WARNING:process_singleton_win.cc(345)] Will attempt to lower process integrity level.
>VERBOSE1:statistics_recorder.cc(428)] Collections of all histograms
>VERBOSE1:statistics_recorder.cc(428)] Collections of all histograms
>**VERBOSE1:first_run_detector_impl.cc(150)] No version change detected. Assuming normal run.**
>VERBOSE1:pref_proxy_config_tracker_impl.cc(185)] 00000000004147D0: set chrome proxy config service to 0000000000414C30
>WARNING:process_singleton_win.cc(345)] Will attempt to lower process integrity level.
>VERBOSE1:component_update_scheduler_impl.cc(88)] Registered component Partner Content Autoupdate
>VERBOSE1:component_update_scheduler_impl.cc(190)] Next component update check in 60 s
>VERBOSE1:network_delegate.cc(32)] NetworkDelegate::NotifyBeforeURLRequest: https://autoupdate.geo.opera.com/geolocation/
>VERBOSE1:component_update_scheduler_impl.cc(88)] Registered component PrefsOverride
>VERBOSE1:component_update_scheduler_impl.cc(88)] Registered component sitepatcher_opautoupdatechecker
>VERBOSE1:component_update_scheduler_impl.cc(88)] Registered component sitepatcher_opautoupdatechecker_siteprefs
>ERROR:os_crypt_win.cc(92)] Failed to decrypt: The parameter is incorrect. (0x57)
>VERBOSE1:pref_proxy_config_tracker_impl.cc(185)] 00000000084C4F20: set chrome proxy config service to 000000000344F440
>VERBOSE1:token_cache_impl.cc(28)] Token cache created.
>VERBOSE1:token_cache_impl.cc(37)] Token cache initializing.
>**VERBOSE1:persistent_session_impl.cc(140)] Loaded session in state INACTIVE for user_id**

With:

>**VERBOSE1:first_run_detector_impl.cc(150)] No version change detected. Assuming normal run.**
>VERBOSE1:pref_proxy_config_tracker_impl.cc(185)] 0000000000434CD0: set chrome proxy config service to 0000000000435130
>WARNING:process_singleton_win.cc(345)] Will attempt to lower process integrity level.
>VERBOSE1:statistics_recorder.cc(428)] Collections of all histograms
>VERBOSE1:statistics_recorder.cc(428)] Collections of all histograms
>**VERBOSE1:first_run_detector_impl.cc(46)] Unable to fetch version from list.**
>VERBOSE1:first_run_detector_impl.cc(122)] Last version not found. Assuming first run ever.
>VERBOSE1:pref_proxy_config_tracker_impl.cc(185)] 00000000021870A0: set chrome proxy config service to 0000000000679200
>WARNING:process_singleton_win.cc(345)] Will attempt to lower process integrity level.
>VERBOSE1:component_update_scheduler_impl.cc(88)] Registered component Partner Content Autoupdate
>VERBOSE1:component_update_scheduler_impl.cc(190)] Next component update check in 60 s
>VERBOSE1:network_delegate.cc(32)] NetworkDelegate::NotifyBeforeURLRequest: https://autoupdate.geo.opera.com/geolocation/
>VERBOSE1:network_delegate.cc(32)] NetworkDelegate::NotifyBeforeURLRequest: https://autoupdate.geo.opera.com/geolocation/
>VERBOSE1:component_update_scheduler_impl.cc(88)] Registered component PrefsOverride
>VERBOSE1:component_update_scheduler_impl.cc(88)] Registered component sitepatcher_opautoupdatechecker
>VERBOSE1:component_update_scheduler_impl.cc(88)] Registered component sitepatcher_opautoupdatechecker_siteprefs
>ERROR:os_crypt_win.cc(92)] Failed to decrypt: The parameter is incorrect. (0x57)
>VERBOSE1:pref_proxy_config_tracker_impl.cc(185)] 0000000008AE8690: set chrome proxy config service to 0000000008AE8980
>VERBOSE1:token_cache_impl.cc(28)] Token cache created.
>VERBOSE1:token_cache_impl.cc(37)] Token cache initializing.
>**VERBOSE1:persistent_session_impl.cc(135)] Loaded broken session, treating as empty.**
>VERBOSE1:persistent_session_impl.cc(219)] Changing state from UNSET to INACTIVE

Notice, that first_run_detector_impl.cc and persistent_session_impl.cc are not the Chromium code. And the whole problem is likely triggered by some Opera telemetry collection code in statistics_recorder.cc.

I've checked the bad Cookies file in SQLite browser and hex editor: 90% of records are wiped (zeroed), but the remaining ones are spread throughout the file (not just at the beginning).

70.0.3728.106, cookies wiped. I've noticed that the size of Cookies file did not decrease when they got wiped.

70.0.3728.95, Profile Error, no cookie wipe.