Wallet.dat advice | Bitcointalksearch.org

nc50lc

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Quote from: tiffy on February 26, 2024, 03:23:15 PM

Quote from: nc50lc on February 13, 2024, 01:52:21 AM

So this is what you need, basically:
-snip-

If you are only interested in the keys and the corresponding addresses are known, then you can also inspect the old wallet on an offline machine, right?

Yes, but it depends on what you mean by "inspect", if through simple open as text, even if the wallet isn't encrypted, the keys wont be readable.
If through "hex viewer" tools, it's possible with unencrypted legacy wallet files and master keys for descriptor wallets.
If encrypted, you'll have to rely on wallet.dat-compatible tools.

I wouldn't recommend it unless the wallet.dat is corrupted though since you can still use the instructions on an offline machine.
Bitcoin Core doesn't need internet to restore or load wallet.dat files to be able to export the master keys/private keys.

Quote from: tiffy

What does Bitcoin Core actually do when restoring old non-HD wallets? Does it convert them into HD wallets with the old key pool added?

It doesn't convert, "Restore" simply creates a wallet-name directory inside wallets directory and copy the selected wallet.dat file there, then attempts to load it.
The only update that it'll do is to update the keypool to 1000 with the old keypool intact, it'll remain non-HD unless imported with an HDSeed.

There are other commands that will upgrade, import HDSeed or migrate (to descriptor) the old wallet.dat file.

ranochigo

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Quote from: tiffy on February 26, 2024, 03:23:15 PM

If you are only interested in the keys and the corresponding addresses are known, then you can also inspect the old wallet on an offline machine, right?

Yes. However, you would have to manually search up your addresses to search for balance. Or else, you'd be able to sign transactions with your wallet or export your private keys even if you are offline.

Quote from: tiffy on February 26, 2024, 03:23:15 PM

What does Bitcoin Core actually do when restoring old non-HD wallets? Does it convert them into HD wallets with the old key pool added?

No. You have to run -upgradewallet manually for the wallet to be converted to a HD wallet. All your addresses that you've used or generated are retained. Your keypool will be flushed immediately if you are using a version later than Bitcoin Core 0.23.0 when upgrading wallet.

tiffy

jr. member

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Quote from: nc50lc on February 13, 2024, 01:52:21 AM

So this is what you need, basically:

Install Bitcoin Core in your new computer, do not open yet.
Paste a copy of your wallet.dat somewhere in that computer.
Open Bitcoin Core with GUI for simplicity, set your preferred settings in the Welcome Screen.
(make sure to set a directory with enough space or enable pruning).

If you are only interested in the keys and the corresponding addresses are known, then you can also inspect the old wallet on an offline machine, right?

What does Bitcoin Core actually do when restoring old non-HD wallets? Does it convert them into HD wallets with the old key pool added?

nc50lc

legendary

Activity: 2394

Merit: 5531

Self-proclaimed Genius

Quote from: ?? on ??

To move/update your wallet.dat file from an old desktop to a new computer, -snip-

Code:

6. Replace the wallet.dat file in the Bitcoin data directory with the one you copied from your old desktop.

That is mainly used in the very old version when Bitcoin Core didn't have multi-wallet support.
Something our friendly neighborhood AI chat bot would answer.
Now, it's not recommended because Bitcoin Core now has a native way of importing wallet.dat files like the one in my instructions above.
Additionally, it's not good to replace files while Bitcoin Core is running as it may introduce inconsistencies or even file corruption in some cases.

nc50lc

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Self-proclaimed Genius

Quote from: um35h on February 12, 2024, 05:05:59 PM

beside that not sure how to move/update this to file to a later computer as the HD on the old desktop is full with block chain data updates and will not open the BTC software.

Not sure if I get it right but; you want to load it to a new computer with newly installed Bitcoin Core?
You can, even with limited drive space as long as the wallet.dat is loaded right at the start of its initial block download.

The latest Bitcoin Core v26.0 can still load an old non-HD wallet without requiring it to be migrated into a descriptor wallet.

So this is what you need, basically:

Install Bitcoin Core in your new computer, do not open yet.
Paste a copy of your wallet.dat somewhere in that computer.
Open Bitcoin Core with GUI for simplicity, set your preferred settings in the Welcome Screen.
(make sure to set a directory with enough space or enable pruning).
Once Open, Restore the wallet quickly! Use the menu: "Load->Restore Wallet...", find the wallet.dat file, set a wallet name and it should load
(with a warning about future depreciation of legacy wallets)
Once it loads, let Bitcoin Core sync and your balance will show once it reached blocks of year 2012~2013 (if there's any)
If it shows another error, your wallet.dat may be corrupted or from another wallet or something else, share the error here and do not sync Bitcoin Core yet if pruned mode is on.

BTW, not all old wallet.dat files are from Bitcoin Core, most of those straight copy of the old Bitcoin software use the same default wallet name.

BitMaxz

legendary

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Block halving is coming.

You can try to dump private keys from this wallet.dat file but before you take any action make a copy of your wallet.dat file to make sure if anything happens to the wallet you still have a backup copy.

You can try to install the latest version of Bitcoin Core and import it since you have a backup copy if it fails you can make another copy of the original file and try to dump the private key using pywallet.py you can download it here https://github.com/jackjack-jj/pywallet
and use this command below

without pass

Code:

pywallet.py --dumpwallet --datadir=.

with pass

Code:

pywallet.py --dumpwallet --datadir=. --passphrase=YourPassword

um35h

newbie

Activity: 2

Merit: 0

Hi,

I've manage to find the BTC wallet.dat file on an old desktop from 2012/13, beside that not sure how to move/update this to file to a later computer as the HD on the old desktop is full with block chain data updates and will not open the BTC software.

I tried to serch the forum as I'm sure this topic must have been covered many times over, although it sound quite confusing any help most appreciated.

TIA

Topic: Wallet.dat advice (Read 181 times)