Bitcoin Forum

So I generated a couple of paper wallets on bitaddress.org, I loaded them with 0.1 BTC each, and then I cannot import their private keys anywhere! Even on bitaddress.org if I try to import them I get: "The text you entered is not a valid Private Key".
WTF!
Thanks to g-d i loaded just 0.2 btc.
Any explanation welcome.

Does your private key start with a 5?

Is it possible that you accidentally truncated the number (assuming you copied and pasted it)?

Double check every character with your source, and hope that you didn't copy the private key down wrong.

Yes, both keys start with a 5. I printed paper notes with them (in .pdf first), and then I just copied and pasted the private keys to import them (copied from the pdf to electrum first and a blockchain.info wallet later. Both failing to import them), so no chance of copying errors, even because I tried several times with both.

edit: I just found that the QR code of the private keys works. strange

It would be good to know what the problem is. Did the QR code decode to a different private key than was printed? If so, we would want to provide feedback to the maintainer of the bitcaddress code so it doesn't happen again.

The first and last letters of the private keys generated by the QR code and printed on the notes seem to be the same. So for the moment I have just 2 suspects:
1. When i copy a private key from the pdf note some extraneous character get inserted or whatever (maybe a space in the middle that i did not notice)
2. The fact that I generated the paper wallets on an operating miner puter (with undervolted and overclocked radeons at work) could have messed some thing up (?)

If anyone had similar weird experiences with bitaddress he's invited to share them here.

Almost certainly this is the problem.