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Topic: [READ] Trying to recover bitcoin? Read this (Read 595 times)

sr. member
Activity: 356
Merit: 268
April 02, 2022, 05:22:14 PM
#24
guys don't listen to op dave just shut me down a few years ago he gets the wallet files from people who knows if he is selectively scamming. just do it yourself.
legendary
Activity: 1568
Merit: 6660
bitcoincleanup.com / bitmixlist.org
bump
legendary
Activity: 3290
Merit: 16489
Thick-Skinned Gang Leader and Golden Feather 2021
lol I'm trying to avoid having to download the full btc core node as it is 350gb, I'm sure there are other ways I can gain access to my private keys and address and transfer/import that wallet
As far as I know, downloading 350 GB should be okay on most home internet connections nowadays. But if you really don't want to: install Bitcoin Core, load your wallet, and check the receiving addresses in a block explorer.
If it shows anything, you may be rich Tongue

If you don't want a block explorer to know your addresses, download a list of all funded addresses and check it locally.
newbie
Activity: 10
Merit: 2
thank you for the advice, im just wondering do I need to do this step, as I don't believe my wallet.dat file is corrupted ?

would it not be easier to import said wallet.dat file to a new btc wallet
Pywallet is a last resort to recover from a damaged wallet. If your wallet.dat is not corrupted, you should be able to load it using a fresh installation of Bitcoin Core. And if your last transaction was made in 2013, it shouldn't take too long to synchronize the first few years for your balance to show up. You'll only know for sure after synchronizing completely, or looking up your addresses in a block explorer.

Make sure your computer is clean before doing anything though!


lol I'm trying to avoid having to download the full btc core node as it is 350gb, I'm sure there are other ways I can gain access to my private keys and address and transfer/import that wallet
legendary
Activity: 3290
Merit: 16489
Thick-Skinned Gang Leader and Golden Feather 2021
thank you for the advice, im just wondering do I need to do this step, as I don't believe my wallet.dat file is corrupted ?

would it not be easier to import said wallet.dat file to a new btc wallet
Pywallet is a last resort to recover from a damaged wallet. If your wallet.dat is not corrupted, you should be able to load it using a fresh installation of Bitcoin Core. And if your last transaction was made in 2013, it shouldn't take too long to synchronize the first few years for your balance to show up. You'll only know for sure after synchronizing completely, or looking up your addresses in a block explorer.

Make sure your computer is clean before doing anything though!
newbie
Activity: 10
Merit: 2
thank you for the advice, im just wondering do I need to do this step, as I don't believe my wallet.dat file is corrupted ?

would it not be easier to import said wallet.dat file to a new btc wallet

most youtube videos show as long as I can get my private keys and default address I should be able to import my wallet from 2013

or am I way off the mark
legendary
Activity: 1568
Merit: 6660
bitcoincleanup.com / bitmixlist.org
when I try and run pywallet, it flashes on the screen and disappears,

Can you open Windows Search (press Windows key + S or click on the magnifying glass at the bottom left), type "cmd", and then click on the entry with the console icon that says "Command Prompt" or "cmd"?

This will open a command prompt window where you can use the cd C:/Users/you/Downloads/whereverPywalletIs command to go to the folder of pywallet, and then try to run it again. It should not flash and disappear this time.
newbie
Activity: 10
Merit: 2
ok guys this is getting bloody tense, have found some files by searching wallet. I've realised before going any further I need back all this up

Good decision, but avoid cloud backup if you have another medium (such as different computer or USB flash drive).

It's a hidden folder, you either have to type it in the File Explorer address bar like C:\Users\yourself\AppData

You also can type %appdata% which open C:\Users\[your windows username]\AppData

yep backed up on USB stick and a standard external drive
newbie
Activity: 10
Merit: 2
how do i add an image, I want to add a screenshot of when I downloaded bitcoin core lool it beggars belief I had bitcoin core in 2011 I always thought it was 2013,

Upload the image on Imgur.com and post the link here.

I can't even find the folder named AppData

It's a hidden folder, you either have to type it in the File Explorer address bar like C:\Users\yourself\AppData or go to the ribbon and find the Tools tab > File and folder options > click Advanced options in the dialog that appears > Show hidden files and folders button in the list that appears.

PT1.

So I have made 3 back ups,

I have found the wallet.dat file from 2013  

I have downloaded Python and I have downloaded the  pywallet master file

when I try and run pywallet, it flashes on the screen and disappears,

PT2
having re-read the post after typing up the first part,

I've realised I don't think I need to do step 4 due to my wallet file not being corrupt (hopefully)

I'm going back to step 2 lol

I should extra benefits fro all the extra chromosomes i have

I don

just  note I have zero coding experience  
legendary
Activity: 1568
Merit: 6660
bitcoincleanup.com / bitmixlist.org
how do i add an image, I want to add a screenshot of when I downloaded bitcoin core lool it beggars belief I had bitcoin core in 2011 I always thought it was 2013,

Upload the image on Imgur.com and post the link here.

I can't even find the folder named AppData

It's a hidden folder, you either have to type it in the File Explorer address bar like C:\Users\yourself\AppData or go to the ribbon and find the Tools tab > File and folder options go to the "View" tab and select the "Properties" icon > click Advanced options in the dialog that appears > Show hidden files and folders button in the list that appears.
newbie
Activity: 10
Merit: 2
ok guys this is getting bloody tense, have found some files by searching wallet. I've realised before going any further I need back all this up
newbie
Activity: 10
Merit: 2
how do i add an image, I want to add a screenshot of when I downloaded bitcoin core lool it beggars belief I had bitcoin core in 2011 I always thought it was 2013,


also, update now that I have connected my old hard drive to my new laptop via USB, even tho i can't find

 Wallets are located at C:\Users\\AppData\Roaming\bitcoin\wallets on Windows


I can't even find the folder named AppData
newbie
Activity: 10
Merit: 2
awesome sauce, lets see how taking the hard drive out helps me locate the wallet file, I'm sure I didn't delete anything, upon further reading I've learnt that I didn't have to try and re-synchronise the node to see how much I have in my wallet lol learning everyday
legendary
Activity: 1568
Merit: 6660
bitcoincleanup.com / bitmixlist.org
thanks guys for replying to my posts, really appreciate ur help on this matter, due to being caught up trading cryptos i haven't replied here,

unfortunately, the laptop from 2009 is far too clogged up and slow, I'm unable to even open the documents folder let alone c drive and search/move any files let alone btc core wallet files,

my local repair guy is recommending rather than upgrading the ram and trying to fix up the laptop so its workable it would be easier to move the hard drive and retrieve any files via connecting said hardrive to another device,

this shouldn't comprise right?

That is correct.

For future reference, although I don't think you deleted your wallet file, it is far safer to recover a deleted file with the hard drive taken out and put it inside a disk enclosure with a USB port, than to attempt recovery while running the operating system on the same disk as your lost files, because swap memory that's constantly written to the disk can overwrite the area of the disk the file once was in.

Also dual-booting another operating system (on a different disk) or a DVD or USB stick provides equivalent protection for the deleted files.
newbie
Activity: 10
Merit: 2
thanks guys for replying to my posts, really appreciate ur help on this matter, due to being caught up trading cryptos i haven't replied here,

unfortunately, the laptop from 2009 is far too clogged up and slow, I'm unable to even open the documents folder let alone c drive and search/move any files let alone btc core wallet files,

my local repair guy is recommending rather than upgrading the ram and trying to fix up the laptop so its workable it would be easier to move the hard drive and retrieve any files via connecting said hardrive to another device,

this shouldn't comprise right?
legendary
Activity: 1176
Merit: 1280
May Bitcoin be touched by his Noodly Appendage
February 13, 2021, 02:27:13 PM
#9
Once I am able to eventually find this file do I just us e a USB stick and move it to a more stable and update device ? that connects to the bitcoin core network or will I able to add that file to another wallet type

again thank you for responding 
The bitcoin-core wallet format has changed since 2009 so I think the easier is to export the private keys using pywallet and import them into an Electrum wallet
You can also first export only the addresses to create an Electrum read-only wallet and then check the balances to export exclusively the couple of private keys you need
That would be safer as I guess the 2009 wallet isn't encrypted
newbie
Activity: 10
Merit: 2
February 13, 2021, 12:37:18 PM
#8
I recall having some (no idea if I have even a full BTC ) BTC on the bitcoin core desktop system that I downloaded in 2013,

what would be the most efficient way to move that btc from that harddrive?
Copy wallet.dat:
Bitcoin Core:

- Wallets are located at C:\Users\\AppData\Roaming\bitcoin\wallets on Windows, /Users//.bitcoin/wallets on MacOS, and /home//.bitcoin/wallets , Each subfolder in the wallets/folder represents a wallet you have created. In each of these sub folders there is a single wallet.dat file in each of them. The wallet.dat file in the .bitcoin/wallets folder is the wallet for [default wallet].


Once I am able to eventually find this file do I just us e a USB stick and move it to a more stable and update device ? that connects to the bitcoin core network or will I able to add that file to another wallet type

again thank you for responding 
legendary
Activity: 3290
Merit: 16489
Thick-Skinned Gang Leader and Golden Feather 2021
February 13, 2021, 11:45:43 AM
#7
I recall having some (no idea if I have even a full BTC ) BTC on the bitcoin core desktop system that I downloaded in 2013,

what would be the most efficient way to move that btc from that harddrive?
Copy wallet.dat:
Bitcoin Core:

- Wallets are located at C:\Users\\AppData\Roaming\bitcoin\wallets on Windows, /Users//.bitcoin/wallets on MacOS, and /home//.bitcoin/wallets , Each subfolder in the wallets/folder represents a wallet you have created. In each of these sub folders there is a single wallet.dat file in each of them. The wallet.dat file in the .bitcoin/wallets folder is the wallet for [default wallet].
newbie
Activity: 10
Merit: 2
February 13, 2021, 11:33:25 AM
#6
apologies if this has been covered or been requested many times,

I have got my old 2009 windows 7 sony vaoi laptop out, as I recall having some (no idea if I have even a full BTC ) BTC on the bitcoin core desktop system that I downloaded in 2013,

what would be the most efficient way to move that btc from that harddrive? as the laptop is super slow (takes about 5 mins to load the start menu ) and has a limited space of 450 gig on the hard drive, back then the bitcoin core would only take up a handful of gig whereas now it would need at least 350 gigs not sure if I even have enough free space for it to synchronize with the network along with the fact if it will even complete the task of synchronising   

thank you for reading this, I feel like a lost child even tho I use to be here regularly 8 years ago lol
legendary
Activity: 1624
Merit: 1200
Gamble responsibly
January 11, 2021, 02:40:10 AM
#5
This topic is very useful and helpful, it can help in recovering back wallet seed which is the reason I like this topic. Like the
The FinderOuter, a bitcoin recovery tool (v0.6.0 2020-12-24), it has been used before to recover back my friends seed phrase when he was unable to recover one of his missing 12 words due to his paper backup damage.

In addition, we need to also as a bitcoin users to focus on how to backup seed phrase and passwords in a way we will be able to recover it back. We know people can make mistake, even the experts can make mistake but we need to be conscious about how we will recover back our seed phrase in case of cases it got lost or not accessable because there are times our backup will be lost in a way even any requirement by the recovery tool may have also not accessable again and the wallet will be lost forever beyond recovery.

There are many people that lost their seed phrase and not able to recover it back. That is why we should just try as much as possible to make sure we do the proper backup in a way if one is lost, two or more will be available for recovery as replica.
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