Bitcoin Forum

Hi,
I am having problems with access to my cryptofunds.

This is how it started:
1. Created a paperwallet on bitaddress.org
2. Got address an a private key. Save and printed it.
3. Made a transaction from Bitstamp to my new wallet address which was successful.

Now I want to transfer those funds to another exchange but I cannot get them. I tried this:

Went to blockchain.info
tried to login with my address and private key with no success. The error I get  is:

Unknown wallet identifier. Click here if you need a reminder.
Find the login link in your email, e.g. blockchain.info/wallet/1111-222-333... The series of numbers and dashes at the end of the link is your Wallet ID

I never registered on a blockchain before so I don't have any wallet id etc.
Can you please advise me how to reach my funds?? Thanks a lot

You can't log in with a private key on Blockchain wallet, the login ID is specific only to Blockchain wallet account IDs. A private key is not your password, nor is your address a username (even if you choose to be identified by it).

What you want to do now is to create a new wallet and then import the private key, so you can spend your coins on the paper wallet. If Blockchain wallet is what you want to use (I recommend Electrum, but only because I think it's simpler yet more flexible!), create a new wallet from the login page. Once logged in, look for the Import option. Enter your private key, and if it works, you now can spend. Recommend you do so immediately after.

Looks like sth went wrong. When I ran Electrum Installer dialogue I did not create a new wallet but I chose to import private keys. I was never given any seed phrase so right now my wallet is watching-only :(
So funds are there but I cannot transfer them. Please help!

You imported the (public) address and not the private-key. When you paste and use the address, it will become a watch-only wallet. Check the bitaddress page you printed again and use the big string bellow "SHARE" (the one that doesn't start with a 1).

Thank you for replying.
The whole thing is driving me nuts.
I checked again and unfurtunately I used private key, but still the wallet is watch-only.
Can I open a new wallet via Electrum and import the old private key? Would that work?

The private key should start with 5, K, or L.

I entered the one that starts with L

Is this what you are doing?

"File" -> "New/Restore" -> "Import Bitcoin adresses or private keys" -> Pasted the string starting with "L" -> "Next".

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And do you see only "[imported]" or "[imported, watching only]" at the title of Electrum when you have the wallet open?

I am doing like this:
I have my wallet open then
->Wallet ->Private Keys -> Sweep

I see  "[imported, watching only]"

I tried it your way and it looks better - at least now i see a "Send" button when trying to transfer. Thanks for now.
I will update the situation if it clears up.

UPDATE: THANK YOU!!!