Bitcoin Forum

I want to move my bitcoin client (version v0.80-beta) from a old ailing computer to my newer one. I downloaded the bootstrap.dat (blockchain as of an hour or two ago) and I copied the entire src file from my old install on my ailing computer. What do I put where so everything will work again?
Thanks in advance!

I'm going to assume your using Windows 7 since no OS was given.

If you don't have a backup of your wallet, now is a good time to make one.  It's in the data directory given below and you just need the wallet.dat file.

Install the latest version of Bitcoin Core on your good computer.  Run it once then shut it down (no need to let it sync).  Copy everything in your C:\Users\"Your_Username"\AppData\Roaming\Bitcoin\ directory from your old computer to your good computer.  

That's it ;D, you'll have all your coins on your good computer and won't have to resync the blockchain or deal with a bootstrap file.

I forgot to put operating system down!

It's windows XP. I don't have the same directory as you mentioned. The closest thing that I have is C:/Documents and Settings/My name/Application Data/Bitcoin/ and  then I have 4 folders ('blocks', 'database', 'chainstate', and 'Wallet default config'. The other items in the bitcoin directory are '.lock', 'debug.log', 'wallet.dat', ''db.log', and 'peers.dat'.( For a total of 9 things) Will the new install know to query the old file names or do I need to change them or what?

Local Disk (C:)/Documents and Settings/My Name/Application Data/Bitcoin                     XP directory

Should  I copy the bitcoin directory, with it's 4 folders and 5 other things into the bitcoin directory? The Windows 7, 64 bit operating system put the new bitcoin installation thus-'local disk (C:)', 'Program Files', 'Bitcoin' and that bitcoin directory contains a 'daemon, and 'doc' folder, and 4 other things, 'bitcoin-qt' (an application)  COPYING and readme text files, and a uninstall file.

Local Disk(C:)/Program Files/Bitcoin                   Windows 7 directory

Thanks for the help. I'd mess with it myself, (usually no harm done) but I've made serious errors regarding Truecrypt and (scarily) with Bitcoin when I thought I lost everything (but I didn't)

The first thing I did was back up Bitcoin using the menu, it saved a file.dat (with my name for file). As long as I don't lose this .dat file, it's just inconvenience, correct?

Yes the filenames are the same.


Dont put the files there, take the path given above, you might have to enable "view hidden files" (might be called similar) so you can see the directories.


As long as this file is fine, your coins are fine. Everything else is just downloading that stupid long blockchain again ;)

I'm sorry to keep bothering (or whoever answers) but I don't completely understand. I'm going to leave the new install alone, except to stick some files into a folder (don't replace them, just leave the old files alone?) The folder in the new install, is it

Computer>Local Disk>Program Files>Bitcoin

Thats just where the .exe File is, because windows is like that.

The blockchain, the wallet, everything but the .exe file is in -well and some other "tiny" files- %APPDATA%\Bitcoin.

Just hit WIN + R and type %APPDATA%\Bitcoin hit enter and you are there.

The folder in "programm files" should be ~30 MB in size
The one in appdata ~20 GB

Putting the 20 Gigs of data and your wallet in the wrong folder will do nothing but fill your harddrive.

If all this gets to complicated just

- start the new install and let it sync
- close bitcoin core
- go to %APPDATA%\Bitcoin
- if there is a wallet.dat rename it to wallet.dat.backup (just in case)
- copy your "old" wallet.dat there
- start bitcoin core