Can't remember master password, please someone help me!

Just to be quite clear, I'm understanding:

1. You have forgotten your 1Password master password so can't access your 1P data.
2. As a result of that, you can't log in on the laptop that is running 1P because you can't remember the password you need to log in on that laptop.

Is that correct? Sorry to appear obtuse but there is something odd about those two statements. You can't run 1P before you've booted your laptop—so you can't access 1P to get your laptop password in any event (if 1P is only on the laptop for which you need the password).

I'm also confused, in that context, by this statement:

I have a PhD deadline but I am glad I back that up to the IMac

From that do I take it that your usual procedure was to find the laptop login password on 1P running on the iMac? Do you have 1P running on the iMac?

Now I'm afraid the bad news is that if you really have forgotten your 1P master password there's no way you're going to be able to access your 1P data. There is no "back door" to that data (for obvious security reasons). The only thing I can do to try to help is to direct you to this knowledge base article which has a few tips which might help you to recall your master password—or to make it work again.

Stephen

@RunInCircles

There are others that disagree with me but my opinion is that some passwords SHOULD be written down AND PLACED IN MY SAFETY DEPOSIT BOX.

Tough row with Parkinson’s. You have my sympathy as well.

Nothing to find harsh or hurtful in these posts, however:
If you mean my saying “Muddled & confusing” The opening post was unclear.
That’s simply an observation & it gives you an opportunity to restate with more information.

If I can butt in one last time:
From what you wrote most recently, I gather you are locked out of the laptop log-in itself.

• 1Password being inaccessible is a separate issue from your laptop log-in.
  The laptop log-in is your initial concern, imo.

AFTER regaining access to the laptop:

• Since you have a desktop too, is it running 1Password as well?
• What are you locked out of, as a consequence of 1Password being locked?

Apple store in person might be the most useful place to see what can be done to access your computer: Since you need to do that first in the sequence - in order to even get to 1 Password. Just my opinion as a private user.

1Password works quite well. Once the laptop is sorted, its worth a good look.

I sympathize with Vaultimore - dealing with computers can be tough. If you are a bit vague on how they really work, as I am, you often need some help from a good technical advisor. When I was working my employer had a good IT staff that could always help, but now that I'm retired I'm on my own. I mostly use Macs, which I find to be a bit easier to understand than Windows PCs. I also purchase AppleCare. I have received excellent help from their telephone and shared screen advisors on many occasions. I have never found an equivalent good "human" help service for Windows.

Regarding 1P master passwords, I have found the 1P Secure Notes to be a great resource for saving important information in addition to my web site logins. I keep all of my computer Admin and User login passwords, plus my home wifi network and my router passwords, in 1P notes. If I forget everything and can't even login to my own computers I can still download and install 1P on another computer and access all my forgotten info. This puts a lot of importance on having, and remembering, a very secure 1P password. Since I use my 1P password every day I don't have any problem remembering it. But I know that if I am ever sick and off my computers for a month, or if I have a slight stroke, or if my mother's and grandmother's Alzheimers begins to set in, I could easily forget my IP master password.

My solution has been to write down my 1P master password and keep it in my safe deposit box. I have never had to refer to it, but if I ever need it I know it can be retrieved.