Bitcoin Forum

Thanks! :)

do i just export wallet.dat and delete everything else (bitcoin-qt, everything) off my computer?

Correct you only need to put wallet.dat on the USB.

then how would I import wallet.dat the on my next computer i wish to open my wallet on?

also, people still send me transactions on those RECEIVE keys, right? even if my wallet is not online? how does that work, they will just show up in my account next time i sync up and load my wallet.dat file?

bump doing this right now need a quick answer =)

helppp

Move your wallet.dat to another machine. If that other machine is up-to-date with blockchain, you should see all your transactions from that wallet.dat. Not sure, but you may have to start client once with the -rescan option.
Let us know how it goes.

And yes, anyone can send coins to any address - your wallet simply enables you to (1) keep track of your addresses, and (2) spend these balances (send coins that belong to your wallet).

so... can anyone clarify?

how do i import the wallet.dat file? there's no "import" option :P

https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/Securing_your_wallet#Restore

Let your new intalation of bitcoin-qt download the block chain.

Put your old wallet.dat back in the same folder you took it from, this will replace the one that is already there. This will not be a problem as the one you are replacing should be empty.

Restart bitoin-qt.

Oh God, are you not scared of keeping your wallet in an USB? Have you never lost a USB stick? I have many, I'd crap myself if I had any meaningful amount on it!  :D

Also, this is a good place to remind everyone to never use same wallet.dat on multiple machines. Move, don't copy (unless the copy is just for backup purposes).

Be sure to save your wallet anywhere else than only on one USB stick.

You might handle your Stick with dry air, wearing some nike shoes and getting a 2kV shock on your stick...

aaaand it's gone.

There is a option to print out your wallet or to create a paper wallet which might be the safest way.

Also ensure not to delete your file, but write many zeroes or random into it before deleting.

Deleting on File system does not mean your data is deleted - it is only no more addressed in your fs and might be recovered using forensic tools.

but please do backup!  also put wallet in an encrypted partition.

Make an extra copy or 10 of your wallet file - sod's law pretty much guarantees you'll lose the USB or something if you don't.

Wallet itself is presumably encrypted by the user in the bitcoin-qt client. No need to use encrypted partition.

I'm putting it in a safe deposit box. I feel like 007.

Nobody's going to spend $10,000-$20,000 using forensic tools to recover my wallet -_-

Important question


In bitcoin-qt, when you FILE >> BACKUP WALLET, that's the same as copying your wallet.dat file, correct?

bump ^

Yes. But.. please heed the warnings above.  A USB stick is not the best place to store your wallent long term. Make a paper wallet, I wont give you a full guide here because there are plenty around but basically to be supersure;

1) Make an ubuntu boot USB stick
2) get a second stick, goto www.bitaddress.org and save the page on it
3) disconnect your internet
4) boot pc with USB stick
5) use the www.bitaddress.org page to generate an address and print out the wallet details tab - make a note of the BTC address and put this in your safe/deposit box whatever..

Send BTC from your wallet to the address you generated offline, just dont loose your bit of paper or it is lost forever.

Getting them back is a matter of importing the private key on your paper into a fresh BTC wallet.