Bitcoin Forum

I downloaded the standard 'Bitcoin Core' wallet onto my laptop however due to the size of the file containing all the block i stored all the data on my PORTABLE hard drive. Once it completed downloading I noticed all the files spread across the hard drive directory. I like keeping things clean so i cut the files and pasted it in a folder named bitcoin in my hard drive.

Next time I loaded bitcoin the files were 'missing' as I'd moved their location but I saw it generated a new bunch of files and thought nothing of it as I saw the wallet.dat was there, again I idiotically placed it in a bitcoin2 folder.

Now the third it did it I came to realise that each wallet.dat is essentially new wallet, so only my first wallet contains the bitcoin I own. However, I have no idea how to make it read the original wallet.dat file, I have tried researching either everyone prompting it to rescan in the cmd, however, these methods are based on windows 7 and now windows 10 doesn't have a cmd option for the software at that location

Can anyone tell me how I can retrieve and rescan the wallet.dat I originally had.

Regards, a clear amateur.

When it says 'missing' you can link to a directory which stores the blocks, in this case on your external HD. Dont just continue otherwise yes, its going to build the blocks from the beginning on you HD with a new wallet.dat. I'm a bit worried you have overwritten the original wallet.dat 2x now "again I idiotically placed it in a bitcoin2 folder" if that folder is your external HD block directory. Hope you made a backup.

You can't just move the files without telling Bitcoin Core where they are. Use this as a startup option:

Use this option:
I don't use Windows 10, but I assume you can still add startup options to any shortcut on your desktop.