Bitcoin Forum

To backup my wallet file, can I just copy the file, wallet.dat, to a usb flash drive? 
Do I have to back up from the bitcoin-qt client, backup menu?

Also, are there any ways to send bitcoins to another address from wallet.dat file without going on the Internet.  I would like to send bitcoins from my qt client to Armory or Electrum, but i am afraid to go online with the bitcoin-qt client to send the coins.

Yes.  But you should make sure that you've shut down Bitcoin-Qt completely before you do so.  If you copy it while Bitcoin-Qt is attempting to upate it, you can end up with a damaged copy.


You don't have to, but if you are going to backup while it is running, then that's the safe way to do it.  Why do you not want to use the backup menu?


You could import the private key into offline Armory.

make sure to encrypt your wallet!

Searching through the forum, they are saying I can't import qt wallet.dat file to offline Armory.  Are there any new developments regarding this?

To send bitcoins you must broadcast a signed transaction so for that transaction to be included in a block. You can't do that offline.

Just importing private keys would work. use pywallet to get private keys from wallet.dat and import private keys to Armory or Electrum

Importing keys isn't sending bitcoin to another address...

You don't need to be online to sign the transaction.  You only need to be online to broadcast the transaction after it has been signed.

You can import the private key into Armory offline, then use Armory offline to sign the transaction.  Then you can transport the signed transaction (on USB flash drive) to the online computer to broadcast the transaction.  This way your private key is never on a computer that is online.

So you said exaclty what i have said. wtf  ???

I did?

Where did you mention that the transaction could be signed offline?

If you are want your bitcoins to stay offline u better use Multibit. Faster and better in my opinion :-).
Make sure you encrypt it also. If you do alot of transactions u better use the qt. I always store my %appdata%/Roaming/Multibit map.
https://multibit.org/

do encrypt your .dat

I use Truecrypt for that


another question would be where to keep the damm file... I don't really see anywhere safe for it: a pendrive at my house? what if it burns down...

bitcoin made me paranoid

If i were i would just not put it online.. To dangerous with the hackers chasing the bitcoin madness.
Many people make a backup on an usb. U can backup on an extern hard disc, some usb's,offline PC.. Every device that can hold a file.
Just make sure you add a password to the wallet and encrypt it.

Nowhere because signing a transaction offline without broadcasting the transaction is ... wait for it ... like DOING NOTHING.
You can sign and broadcast another transaction with the same inputs, one that will be included in a block eventually thus making the offline transaction invalid.

This is bitcoin 101 actually so if you google about bitcoin transactions you will get it eventually.

Certainly, signing a transaction offline without broadcasting it is like doing nothing.

However, signing a transaction offline is a great way to keep your private keys safe. This is why Armory is considered so secure.  You can broadcast a transaction online without signing it online.  You mentioned that broadcasting a transaction requires you to be online, and this I agree with.  The part you failed to mention (and that I added) was that you don't have to sign the transaction on an online computer.


No need to Google.  I'm pretty sure I understand the basics of bitcoin transactions at this point.