I assume i need to plug the device in locally to reset the ota password and API key. I rebuilt the config over ethernet, which generated a password and API key, but i get an authentication error when updating and Home Assistant says the API key is not valid. I assume Home Assistant is looking for the original key. 
I had backups for my appdata, but i suspect my cache drive was dying a slow death, as a file check said it was fine. But obviously not.
No configuration is stored in your docker image.
“I had backups for my appdata, but i suspect my cache drive was dying a slow death, as a file check said it was fine. But obviously not.”
Yes, but the Cache drive holds the Docker images and configuration files; My question was about updating my ESP 32 api key in any event. Trust me the Config is F’d. There are entries in there, but they are not complete. All of my integrations, devices, automations, helpers and ESP Home devices are MIA. This is not a huge loss, as restoring the Dockers is easy. The configuration was not huge, so i can do most of it from memory.
I restored the Yaml for the one ESP 32 device I care about, but the ota password and api key are not what Home Assistant is looking for. I assume it remembers the original some how? If i knew, i wouldn’t be asking.
When you reflash esp all is rewritten. Whatever key you flash it what it will become
OTA may not work and you may need to flash over usb
Thanks, but that does not seem to be working. It says my key from ESP Home is invalid. But I’m updating my device over ethernet, so that may be the issue. I’m going to try updating it locally with the default configuration and then copying my YAML back.