Topic: [Guide] Saving your wallet.dat to PAPER (Read 6482 times)
Just ported the guide over to the wiki https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/WalletPaperbackup
I'm calling it now. People using this method incorrectly are going to cause the bitcoin economy to lose another 1-2% of its coins. I can't wait for the lawsuit threads.
It should be yet another method, not the only method. I have copies of my wallets backed up and encrypted in three local locations and also on a webserver in another continent. Here's something else to add "just in case."
Not that I have too many bitcoins, really, but better be safe NOW rather than learn the hard way later.
I'm calling it now. People using this method incorrectly are going to cause the bitcoin economy to lose another 1-2% of its coins. I can't wait for the lawsuit threads.
This is awesome. Feels good having a hard copy.
OFFTOPIC
Is Ubuntu a real OS? I've tried their LiveCD briefly and looking forward to learning more.
windows users can use cygwin if they really don't feel like getting a real OS 
Is Ubuntu a real OS? I've tried their LiveCD briefly and looking forward to learning more.
Very nifty, jrwr! I tried it with a compressed, encrypted wallet.dat and even with six times redundancy it fit on one page of letter and scanned back nicely. Much fun. 
As far as program/data obsolescence is concerned, it wouldn't be a problem because there should be plenty of time to switch to something else if/when the program will no longer work. I hear of people/companies who are stuck with lots of data on inaccessible floppies. Why didn't they backup/copy the data from the floppies when they were on their way out in the first place?!
As far as program/data obsolescence is concerned, it wouldn't be a problem because there should be plenty of time to switch to something else if/when the program will no longer work. I hear of people/companies who are stuck with lots of data on inaccessible floppies. Why didn't they backup/copy the data from the floppies when they were on their way out in the first place?!
Whoa, easy, easy! I love the idea of a paper backup and I congratulate the OP to finding a program to do it.
I was simply stating that if you do not know how to extract the keys, print them to paper, then re-insert them into your wallet once they are rescanned, the next best option would be to print out the entire wallet.dat (back it up on paper) just like OP suggested.
Sorry if my lack of words made you think I don't give a damn. I do.
I was simply stating that if you do not know how to extract the keys, print them to paper, then re-insert them into your wallet once they are rescanned, the next best option would be to print out the entire wallet.dat (back it up on paper) just like OP suggested.
Sorry if my lack of words made you think I don't give a damn. I do.
Well, according to the description, bitcoin tools will output all the keys. But it seems to me like it's much more convenient to put all the coins in a single address before exporting its key.
What I like with the print-a-key approach is that you need much less space than actually printing the full wallet. It opens the way to lots of interesting possibilities, for example I can get the key engraved inside of a ring, learn it by heart, you name it.
You might also be interested in how to bury some bitcoins without even installing the client (windows users can use cygwin if they really don't feel like getting a real OS
) 
Nah, just hand etch the wallet.dat file bit by bit to an unused hard drive plaster. When you need your wallet.dat, just read the harddrive with your eyes and re-construct the bits.
How? Please explain how that is simple, as I really have no idea how to "print out a keypair".
Well, you extract it from your wallet using gavin's bitcoin tools, and then you... print it ?Nope. And davout only said "theoretically". You could go all the way and look at the source code just to get the keys, but then again you could also just back up the entire wallet.dat of a few 100 KB. That's what I do. (Apart from printing out random Google search pictures)
Well, this thread is about printing wallets to paper, if you're not interested, please refrain from polluting it.Whoa, easy, easy! I love the idea of a paper backup and I congratulate the OP to finding a program to do it.
I was simply stating that if you do not know how to extract the keys, print them to paper, then re-insert them into your wallet once they are rescanned, the next best option would be to print out the entire wallet.dat (back it up on paper) just like OP suggested.
Sorry if my lack of words made you think I don't give a damn. I do.
Don't worry, davout said it's simple... simple enough for a newbie with 10 posts I assume.
A newbie that knows how to run a plain script with a couple of arguments could do it I guessDamn, that rules me out... 15 years in Windows, no Linux experience yet... I can't decipher that bitcoin tools page yet.
I'm going to say .py = python? Total guess; Never seen python code
Simple when you know how.
No you idiot, .py is obviously code for Pi, it's math code!
Damn, that rules me out... 15 years in Windows, no Linux experience yet... I can't decipher that bitcoin tools page yet.
Check this out, scroll down the page on github, you'll see the usage instructions.EDIT : Oh, and you might also be interested in the big bold "Download" button on the same page.
I'm going to say .py = python? Total guess; Never seen python code
Yup, that is correct.Simple when you know how. actually try
Fixed that for you, because now you know 
Damn, that rules me out... 15 years in Windows, no Linux experience yet... I can't decipher that bitcoin tools page yet.
I'm going to say .py = python? Total guess; Never seen python code
Simple when you know how.
The general steps for an adventurous windows user:
1. Download Python 2.7.x from Python.org
2. download Bitcoin tools
3. Exit Bitcoin
4. Back up your wallet.dat file
5. run Python
6. write a few lines (probably 2 to 5) to open the wallet file and extract the key pair and print it
Not saying it's easy, but it's really not that hard either if you want to give it a try.
Don't worry, davout said it's simple... simple enough for a newbie with 10 posts I assume.
A newbie that knows how to run a plain script with a couple of arguments could do it I guessDamn, that rules me out... 15 years in Windows, no Linux experience yet... I can't decipher that bitcoin tools page yet.
I'm going to say .py = python? Total guess; Never seen python code
Simple when you know how.
JRWR -- perhaps you could put your post on the Bitcoin wiki? That seems a better place for it than here....
How? Please explain how that is simple, as I really have no idea how to "print out a keypair".
Well, you extract it from your wallet using gavin's bitcoin tools, and then you... print it ?Don't worry, davout said it's simple... simple enough for a newbie with 10 posts I assume.
A newbie that knows how to run a plain script with a couple of arguments could do it I guessNope. And davout only said "theoretically". You could go all the way and look at the source code just to get the keys, but then again you could also just back up the entire wallet.dat of a few 100 KB. That's what I do. (Apart from printing out random Google search pictures)
Well, this thread is about printing wallets to paper, if you're not interested, please refrain from polluting it.
I printed out the following keypair to paper and deleted my wallet.dat
Now, how do I scan it and get my 10,008.15 BTC back???!?
Now, how do I scan it and get my 10,008.15 BTC back???!?
ha!....well played, sir.
-shad3d
Print it on toilet paper with invisible ink.
Then noone will suspect anything, I mean. Who would be that stupid.
Then noone will suspect anything, I mean. Who would be that stupid.
Seriously, can you tell me how to extract the keypair from the wallet?
Don't worry, davout said it's simple... simple enough for a newbie with 10 posts I assume.
NFI how though.
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