laptop died with bitcoins, hard drive intact

Malawi

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One bitcoin to rule them all!

Quote from: Stuzul on April 08, 2013, 12:14:17 PM

found it. now just get the latest version running right?

i think i might have another hard drive with a similar thing. do i just rotate the wallet.dat's in an out if i want to access them or can i do it simultaneously, or send the contents of one to the other?

sorry for my incompetence :/

Guess the easiest way is to send the conten of one vallet to the other, and then delete the first one when the transaction is completed, then do backup :-P

M2NY

newbie

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Well, Windows 8 has built-in tools for file-history. I tried it a few weeks. But as far as I know that's only able to backup the stuff you have in you Windows libraries (like documents, pictures, custom libraries etc.). So no AppData except you add those to the libraries.. Also the file-history tool has almost no options you can configure so I'd recommend to use another backup software.

jfhoff

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You should be OK if the wallet.dat file is intact

Stuzul

newbie

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yeah, no backup. i only had a few, and until recently, werent worth much at all. dont worry, wont be making that mistake again!

Gabi

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If you want to walk on water, get out of the boat

The first, you can only have one wallet.dat in roaming/bitcoin

Do not confuse the different wallets...

But the real problem is: you had no backup? Really? Or is this a joke? The instand your hard disk die you will lose everything?

Stuzul

newbie

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found it. now just get the latest version running right?

i think i might have another hard drive with a similar thing. do i just rotate the wallet.dat's in an out if i want to access them or can i do it simultaneously, or send the contents of one to the other?

sorry for my incompetence :/

dancupid

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Just paste wallet.dat into the the bitcoin folder on your new computer (rename the one created by the bitcoin client to wallet.dat.old, or just delete it if it contains no bitcoins)

C:/Users/Administrator/AppData/Roaming/Bitcoin - you need to set hidden folders to visible.

Malawi

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One bitcoin to rule them all!

you don't need a caddy unless you want to use the disk as a backup device or the disk has another form factor than your new computer (ide/sata).

Your HD is most likely a SATA one, with no encryption or other stuff that will complicate stuff.

I am assuming that you are going to buy a new computer - if so, open the HDD-cover that is located at the underside of your new computer. Pop the old disk in and find your files.

You can also connect it to a stationary computer. They normally have SATA contacts at the back, but you will have to open the case to get to the power-connectors. In this case you'll need a SATA cable (You or a geeky friend probably have one lying around.)

Main point is that when you connect the HDD to a working computer, you don't have to think about the license as that is only needed when booting from that disk. Also - as long as the HDD is working fine, all the necessary files should be there, but do a backup next time. ;-)

Stuzul

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sorry, forgot to mention that i do have a caddy. i am only relatively computer able, i know my way around a computer hardware wise, but am pretty pathetic when it come to most things bitcoin

ill google where to find the wallet.dat. what do i do once i've found it? can i open it with the latest version or whatever?

edit: so many typos

MysteryMiner

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Death to enemies!

You need this device to connect any hard drive or optical drive to any computer http://www.ebay.com/itm/USB-2-0-to-IDE-SATA-S-ATA-2-5-3-5-HD-HDD-Adapter-Cable-/180550148600?pt=US_Drive_Cables_dapters&hash=item2a09a0a1f8

Except server-specific drives of course.

Amitabh S

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Quote from: Stuzul on April 08, 2013, 11:33:41 AM

hey people, i feel like i am stuck in some perculiar circumstances here. ive looked around a bit, but i can really only find information to get my bitcoin wallet back if either my hard drive has crashed or re-formatted
essentially, my laptop died, with what seems to be a power supply problem that is quite tedious and costly. the hard drive seems to be intact, however, due to oem windows 7 being installed, i dont think i can boot off the hard drive again
a point in the right drection as to what to do or which instructiosn to follow would be greatly appreciated Cheesy

Just take out the hard drive and pop it into an external caddy and read the files as other have said.

Some things to note:
You will not be able to do that if NTFS encryption is on. In that case you have to boot off that drive.
Do not give your laptop for service as they will mostly wipe the hard drive. Take the drive out before any servicing. Also let this be a lesson to you to keep a wallet backup on several locations.

vm1990

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theres a few ways to do this depending how computer abale you are

1. buy a hardrive caddy and stick your laptop harddrive in the caddy and connect it to a computer
2. stick harddrive inside a desktop computer
3. send the harddrive to someone who knows what there doing to recover it

im happy to do number 3 for a small fee depending where you live

John (John K.)

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Away on an extended break

Quote from: Stuzul on April 08, 2013, 11:33:41 AM

hey people, i feel like i am stuck in some perculiar circumstances here. ive looked around a bit, but i can really only find information to get my bitcoin wallet back if either my hard drive has crashed or re-formatted
essentially, my laptop died, with what seems to be a power supply problem that is quite tedious and costly. the hard drive seems to be intact, however, due to oem windows 7 being installed, i dont think i can boot off the hard drive again
a point in the right drection as to what to do or which instructiosn to follow would be greatly appreciated Cheesy

Easy. Pop the drive into a hdd caddy, and connect via USB to another PC/MAC/whatever. Mount the drive and copy the wallet.dat out. (Google for the location if you don't know)

HiveLibrary

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i know someone who can help

Stuzul

newbie

Activity: 19

Merit: 0

hey people, i feel like i am stuck in some perculiar circumstances here. ive looked around a bit, but i can really only find information to get my bitcoin wallet back if either my hard drive has crashed or re-formatted
essentially, my laptop died, with what seems to be a power supply problem that is quite tedious and costly. the hard drive seems to be intact, however, due to oem windows 7 being installed, i dont think i can boot off the hard drive again
a point in the right drection as to what to do or which instructiosn to follow would be greatly appreciated Cheesy

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