Topic: New to Bitcoin, help with wallet program? - page 2. (Read 1623 times)

Not sure if you are aware of it, but Electrum does perform SPV. (since version 1.3)
It downloads all the block headers and it verifies all the transactions sent by the server.

while you wait, make a backup of your wallet.dat to some usb stick or floppy disk can't hurt.

The fastest and easiest option would probably be blockchain.info.

https://blockchain.info/wallet/import-wallet

Lol

I am not fluent in Bitcoin, I have no idea what any of you just said.  I am now at 14508 blocks remaining.

The version is 0.7.1beta
My setup is as follows:

running win 7 home premium
Intel core i3 processor 2.8GHz
4GB Ram

Internet connection I get about 11 meg speed

If I am going to use a temporary fast wallet idea any reccomends that will let me access the Bitcoin already sent to my wallets address? That way I can make my payment and wait this program out

Thanks everyone

And the internet speed/port forwarding options too. 8 connections + slow DSL would take more than 7. I prefer just downloading the older blockchain first and update the rest via Bitcoin-QT. Saves a lot of hassle and time.

Heh.  I'm pretty sure that is far, far outside the norm.    Recently on a really, slow old computer (Atom processor if I remember correctly) I hit about 30 hours.

If your operating system bogs down with a screen saver, or stops the hard drive on inactivity, or goes to sleep then any of that will, of course, cause a significant delay in syncing.  Other delays can occur in using older versions (pre-v0.7) of the client.



This specific problem reported is probably past benefiting from this, but now the client can take a bootstrap.dat that is downloaded as a torrent.  Simply put that in the bitcoin folder, launch bitcoin and wait.  Other performance tweaks involve using -connect=[a well connected node]   so that the client isn't doing its random peer selection while you are trying to get the blockchain.   SSD hard drives are good as speeding things up too.  Really good.

It really depends on the specs of the computer you are using.  I've heard people complain that it took them more than 7 days, and I've heard people claim that they were done in less than 2 days.

First of all thanks to you all for replying as Im sure newbies do ask you the same questions a lot.  I dont mind waiting as such just might look at temporary option to access my funds to make this payment and then by the next time I should be up running with the official client.

Its been 48 hours now with my computer mostly on for the full time. 

How long do you find generally people wait for the initial synch 3 days? 5?

Thanks again for the advice

This will vary based on your hardware and other factors (e.g., if using an encrypted filesystem).   

If you can't wait for it to sync, you have options.  You can import the private key for the address that the funds were sent to using another type of client or perhaps an EWallet service so that there is no start-up time.

For instance, the Blockchain.info/wallet hybrid E-Wallet has a method to import a private key.    So while your Bitcoin-Qt client is downloading you can go to the debug window and enter the commands to export a private key for the one address.  Then import it into Blockchain.info/wallet.  And you can spend the funds right away.

The next version of the Bitcoin.org client (v0. has been completely redesigned as far as how the data is stored and accessed, and the initial installation and sync can be as quick as an hour or so (with beefy hardware).   For some people, even that is too lengthy so alternate options include using an Simplified Payments Verification (SPV) client (e.g,., MultiBit or Bitcoin Wallet for Android), or a lite client like Electrum or Bitcoin Spinner, hosted (shared) EWallets, or a hybrid E-Wallet like Blockchain.info/wallet:
 - http://Blockchain.info/wallet

But if you can wait, you are already fairly close to where you only need to leave the client run a bit longer so it can finish up syncing.

For your purposes, the reference client may not have been the best choice.  You may have to wait a few days for the synchronization to complete.  If you choose to switch to some other client, there are ways to import your wallet (for example at blockchain.info/wallet) or export the private keys from your client for import into a more lightweight client (such as Electrum)

The blocks are basically groups of the data of
made transactions through Bitcoin.

These blocks then form a blockchain.

You need to get this for security reasons.

okay so, It usually takes about 20 - 90 blocks per
Minute. I suggest that you choose an alternate
client or wallet like Multibit. It's faster though you
have to pay a fee (Adjustable ## - 0.0001)

Good luck

Hi everyone

I wanted to make a donation to something that only took Bitcoin, so I thought it wouldnt be hard to get set up.  I fear I was being naive.

I downloaded the official wallet, and using the address key ordered my first Bitcoin to make my transaction.

Heres my issue

The wallet seems to be synchronising with the network which wouldnt concern me but it has been doing this since yesterday morning granted I did have my laptop off for a small amount of time.  It says that I am 89.9% done with 21,305 blocks remaining but how long should this take?

Also will be Bitcoin show up when the synch is finished?

Thanks for anyone who advises me on this.  Oh I also checked and the port this program uses seems to be open on my router.  It says that I have 10 active connections to the network.