Bitcoin Forum

I was just thinking to installing a Bitcoin Core on my computer, because I've never really done it before. The problem is, this is an old computer. And sometimes is often freeze (The screen still on, but can't do anything), the only thing I can do is just forcing it to off by press & holding the power button.
Now the question is, is it actually safe to use a Bitcoin Core on my computer? considering that my computer can got freeze suddenly.

It may be safe if you are only wiling to add your computer as another new node to bitcoin network but if you consider using address generated by that computer than make a copy of all the private key and addresses info in safe place or in another computer good one. ;)

No, i don't prefer to install and use bitcoin core on a broken computer which can freeze or shutdown on critical situations. You should always have latest backup for your wallet.

i think is safe, but if there are constraints such as freeze, it will waste your time, in bitcoin time is money. why not create an online wallet, like blockchain or other reliable sites online wallet? the choice is in your hand.
thanks...

Better don't install bitcoin core on your old computer, as it takes much space (about 60GB, if i'm right) and also it takes much time to synchronize. Your computer might get more problems if you do! If you still install, at least back up your wallet.

Ye this is correct why you wasting your system memory and you said it's old system so you can not update your system also because to that mother board latest versions will not work. So even i would suggest you to use any online wallet Blockchain or any other wallets you will get lot many in online. But what you said it's correct it's safe to use a Bitcoin core on your computer but computer will not support means change your system or use online.

What OS do you have on that old computer of yours? If it's a version of Windows and it's slowing down your system I recommend putting a Linux distro on there it will surely speed some things up. Also are you planning to run Bitcoin Core as a node or also as a fully functioning wallet as well? I don't recommend storing Bitcoins on a crash-prone computer as your wallet may get corrupted or something. You can get Bitcoin Core for Linux by the way.

My experience has been that if my computer crashes while Bitcoin Core is running, the database is corrupted and I must re-sync the entire block chain.

I now use Bitcoin Unlimited and it doesn't seem to have that problem, so perhaps Core no longer has that problem.

You said it yourself, it's a broken computer why would you trust it to hold your bitcoins ?
What if the hard disk crashes ? Be on the safe side, either repair the computer, or don't put valuable and sensitive information on it.

I would suggest doing the same, see if the crashes stop.


It would be my main concern, OP could try it out and avoid storing coins there if it's problematic.

If it's an old computer it might be crashing because the hard drive is approaching the end of its life. Try connecting an external hard drive and installing an operating system on that. If it solves the problem I might risk running Bitcoin core on it, but if the crashes continue I wouldn't consider it. Crashes lead to data corruption and you don't want your wallet.dat getting corrupted.