I downloaded the block data into an external hard drive, which took weeks.
But when I run Bitcoin Core on a different computer from my hard drive, it asks where I want to download the block data again.
Does this mean I can only use it on one computer?
No. Bitcoin Core will automatically look for the datadir in the default data directory location (i.e. not your external drive). It does not know that your external drive has all of the data, so it thinks the data is not there. You have to tell it to look for the external drive for the datadir by either choosing it in that dialog or starting Bitcoin Core with the -datadir=But when I run Bitcoin Core on a different computer from my hard drive, it asks where I want to download the block data again.
Does this mean I can only use it on one computer?
Is there a way to get around this?
Once you set the datadir either in that dialog or the startup option in a shortcut on that computer (not your hard drive), it will always use the external drive so long as that drive uses the same drive letter every time.The simplest way to do it is using the line of code below (include the full stop after the =). It will tell Bitcoin-qt to dump all the blockchain files into whatever folder Bitcoin-qt is in.
-datadir=.
Follow these instructions I posted for installing blackcoin to a thumb drive.
There is a way to to that if you create a shortcut to your
Right click your
-datadir=.
Press the apply button, then the OK button.
Double click the shortcut to start the
You can install the
If you use that technique, and accidentally double click the qt instead of the shortcut a new wallet dat and blockchain will get created on your C drive inside appdata. Make sure you always start your wallet using the shortcut.
