Bitcoin Forum

Hoping anyone can help me.  Im fairly simple, got into bitcoin when they were $20, cashed out along the way.  I previously used QT then core.  I was wanting to access my bitcoins ( i have 5.02) and was updating the block chain about 3 weeks ago. I updated core from 0.13 to 0.15. Before i updated my balance showed 5 btc which is what i know i had. I started to download blockchain again. My old laptop could not handle this. I tried my wifes, also didnt work. I then bought a brand new laptop that downloaded the entire chain in 5 hours. I moved my wallet over to new laptop and it says i have like 0.03. 

So i went thru my entire transaction history did the math and came out with what i know i should have 5.02btc. So the transaction log confirms what i know i have.

Someone suggested looking at the address on block chain. I had 3 in there. 2 of which has zero history. 1 has alot of history but a balance of 0.002 and that last transaction was 1-26-16. I've had a solid 10 transactions since then.

So im really not sure what has happened. Everything was good until i updated to 0.15.

Any ideas of suggestions, would be happy for any help!

Your story seems familiar, did you post it before?

I suggest you make first a backup of your wallet.dat (actually, I hope you already did this before upgrading).
Then, start Bitcoin Core again with this commandline option:
If your wallet holds the private keys to addresses with balance, they should for sure show up after this.

I posted it on reddit and didnt get much help other then check the blockchain.
I didnt do a back up on the wallet, because i guess i incorrectly assumed the wallet.dat was the only backup i needed. Also im doing the rescan now on new laptop.  Should i be doing this on the old laptop that had the correct balance prior to the core upgrade?

Carry on rescan on new machine, LEAVE the old machine for the time being until result or not.

Did you check the blockchain.info for actual balance, as you said done some calculations?

three things! Just for my own knowledge, can you tell me what the rescan actually does. 2. can you recommened a wallet for myself that doesnt require me to have this 150gb download on my laptop (only have 256gb) 3. can u send me your bitcoin address :)

"rescan" basically looks through every block in the blockchain looking for transactions that relate to addresses in your wallet. It then puts these transactions into your wallet transaction history.

Also, it's possible you have coins in "change" addresses, these will not show in your list of addresses (ie. file -> receiving addresses)... as they are "hidden" in Bitcoin Core. However, the rescan should pick them up and find all the appropriate transactions and display your correct balance once it has finished.

1. HCP answered this already.
2. Electrum (https://electrum.org/#home) is in general the most recommended desktop wallet if you don't want to download the full blockchain.
3. I'm not sure if you're talking to me, as "tokexchain" got in between the quote, but if you are: my addy is in my profile (click my name).

I agree that usually Electrum is the best and easiest option for wallet, still, I want to add something.
Since @sharpma already has the core wallet and may be using it for quite a while, another possibly good option is to keep the core wallet, but in pruned mode. This way it will keep a lot less data on HDD. https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=1599458.0