Bitcoin Forum

Bitcoin => Development & Technical Discussion => Topic started by: hashkey on May 22, 2013, 11:46:40 AM



Title: Making a Backup Copy of the Blockchain created by Bitcoin-QT Client
Post by: hashkey on May 22, 2013, 11:46:40 AM
Hello, I would like to know the proper way of making a backup copy of the blockchain as I need to reformat my Win7 OS.

In the previous Bitcoin-QT client (0.7.something) that I have used, I just make a copy of the blkindex.dat and all of the blk000n.dat files in order to make a copy of the blockchain.

But now in Bitcoin-QT client 0.8.1, I'm not sure anymore what exact files are needed to be copied.

If there's already a thread that has answered this question, I'd be happy to check that out.

Thanks in advance :)


Title: Re: Making a Backup Copy of the Blockchain created by Bitcoin-QT Client
Post by: Remember remember the 5th of November on May 22, 2013, 11:56:43 AM
I'd say you need to backup wallet.dat first before anything else. But essentially, I see no problem in backing up the whole Bitcoin directory in C:\Users\<user>\AppData\Roaming. Just make sure bitcoind/Bitcoin-Qt isn't running before you do this.


Title: Re: Making a Backup Copy of the Blockchain created by Bitcoin-QT Client
Post by: Pieter Wuille on May 23, 2013, 03:46:09 AM
But now in Bitcoin-QT client 0.8.1, I'm not sure anymore what exact files are needed to be copied.

The "blocks" and "chainstate" directories. You can copy them independently, but the chainstate (which represents up to where you have blocks verified) must not be newer than the blocks.

Obviously, backup your wallet too- but that is independent from the block data.


Title: Re: Making a Backup Copy of the Blockchain created by Bitcoin-QT Client
Post by: hashkey on May 24, 2013, 08:41:23 AM
Thanks Remember remember the 5th of November and Pieter Wuille :)