Bitcoin Forum

I'm not completely sure how bitcoins are stored on wallet files. I would really appreciate it if somebody can verify a few things for me.

     If I do the following steps in order, I will receive bitcoins and they will be stored on the wallet.dat file on the flash drive, correct? Also, the next time I open the wallet that was stored on the flash drive using Bitcoin Core on an Online computer, will I be able to view and send the bitcoins?

1). Create a wallet while disconnected from internet using Bitcoin Core on temporary operating system booted from CD.

2). Transfer wallet.dat file to a flash drive.

3). Shut off computer.

4). Send coins to address of the wallet that was stored on the flash drive.

Basically, yes. If you are only using the first address generated, then you don't need to worry about making additional backups. (If you regularly use new addresses, make transactions, etc., you need to make regular back-ups, otherwise new private keys generated may not be included in your original back-up.)

Your wallet.dat contains the private key to that address, so once you open it and sync the blockchain, your coins should be available to send.

As noted above, as long as you're not sending payments from that wallet you don't need to create further backups.  It might be a good idea to export the keys though since digital media can fail relatively easy compared to paper which we have been archiving for thousands of years.