Bitcoin Forum

Bitcoin => Bitcoin Technical Support => Topic started by: elements on August 26, 2011, 01:45:13 PM



Title: Urgent: Where is the wallet.dat in XP?
Post by: elements on August 26, 2011, 01:45:13 PM
Hi folks,

yesterday my Mac crashed and now I am trying to recover my bitcoins
using my old windows XP computer.

Since my Mac is already being repaired in a service station, I wonder if you could help me with a few answers:

1.) where do I find the wallet.dat XP?
I tried c:\program files\bitcoin

There are only files called: wallet.h and wallet.cpp in the subdirectory "src"
I went through all directories within "bitcoin" and couldn't find a "wallet.dat"


2.) To avoid downloading the whole blockchain again  (which would take several days) I downloaded the "snapshots" at sourceforge.
BUT I also couldn't find the directory where I could put them into


My plan is this:
Finding the directory where I can switch the "empty" blockchain files with the ones from sourceforge.
Then downloading the rest of the blockchain.
Then exchanging the "empty" wallet with my backups and send my coins to a secure new address.


Help would be much appreciated!




Title: Re: Urgent: Where is the wallet.dat in XP?
Post by: EricJ2190 on August 26, 2011, 01:49:57 PM
Try C:\Documents and Settings\<User>\Application Data\Bitcoin. If that doesn't work, go to Start then Run and enter "%APPDATA%\Bitcoin". That should have the wallet and blockchain, just like .bitcoin on your Mac.


Title: Re: Urgent: Where is the wallet.dat in XP?
Post by: elements on August 26, 2011, 01:53:33 PM
Thanks for you help!

But there is no directory "application data" in my user directory.

Could it be somewhere else?


Title: Re: Urgent: Where is the wallet.dat in XP?
Post by: EricJ2190 on August 26, 2011, 01:57:34 PM
Do you have Explorer set to show hidden files (http://www.microsoft.com/resources/documentation/windows/xp/all/proddocs/en-us/win_fcab_show_file_extensions.mspx?mfr=true)?


Title: Re: Urgent: Where is the wallet.dat in XP?
Post by: ysoliman on August 26, 2011, 01:58:44 PM
Thanks for you help!

But there is no directory "application data" in my user directory.

Could it be somewhere else?

Sorry to interrupt, but just press the Windows Key and R at the same time and then enter %AppData%
Then double click on the Bitcoin folder.

You should see a wallet.dat file.

--
Did I help you?  :)
Please donate: 1Dt4oMfQvXMiyfi5t2HEN6kX2VBXFH7XDu


Title: Re: Urgent: Where is the wallet.dat in XP?
Post by: elements on August 26, 2011, 02:49:33 PM
Thanks, I found the directory containing the blockchain and the wallet dat.

Can someone tell me what the wallet.h and wallet.cpp files are - can one restore the wallet.dat with them?

Thanks again!


Title: Re: Urgent: Where is the wallet.dat in XP?
Post by: ysoliman on August 26, 2011, 03:06:41 PM
Thanks, I found the directory containing the blockchain and the wallet dat.

Can someone tell me what the wallet.h and wallet.cpp files are - can one restore the wallet.dat with them?

Thanks again!


I don't think the wallet.h and wallet.cpp files have any relevance to your actual coins, the file which contains your own Bitcoins is the wallet.dat file.


Title: Re: Urgent: Where is the wallet.dat in XP?
Post by: casascius on August 26, 2011, 03:11:49 PM

I don't think the wallet.h and wallet.cpp files have any relevance to your actual coins, the file which contains your own Bitcoins is the wallet.dat file.

Correct, wallet.cpp and wallet.h have nothing to do with your coins.  They are part of the Bitcoin program, not your personal data.


Title: Re: Urgent: Where is the wallet.dat in XP?
Post by: Sukrim on August 27, 2011, 06:14:02 PM
Actually they contain the source code for a part of the bitcoin program  (most likely realted to the wallet handling).

These are not used by the program, but can be inspected + if you feel the sudden need to compile the Bitcoin client yourself, you can do so.