Bitcoin Forum

Created coinbase and blockchain account.  Was told best to not use blockchain because it could be hacked and use a desktop client like electrum.


first off, which link am i suppose to download electrum from?

https://electrum.org/download.html


I downloaded first link for windows Standalone Executable.  Should it be that or windows installer?  Because when i downloaded it, there was no icon on my desktop.  So i went to start, typed electrum then put add to desktop and now it shows electrum 1.9.8-shortcut.  First off is that fine or did i do it wrong?  i checked a video on youtube on how to do it and they already have the file on the desktop then it just had electrum on it..


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mxO1uKDe1dI



Also im confused but when you backup electrum, does all that mean is open a notepad file and copy/paste the 12 word phrase on it and save that text file to a usb and another thing like dropbox?  Thus the backup in case something happens to computer is that 12 word phrase?


Another thing that confuses me is why everytime i click on electrum shortcut icon on my desktop, it doesn't ask me for my password?  Is there a reason for that?  Seems strange as shouldn't it ask for password log everytime?

okay from the video it tells me im suppose to click in windows installer and not the one i clicked on.  So how do i fix this?  Do i have to delete electrum and install it again?  If so, how am i supose to do it b/c i read you not supose to just go to programs and uninstall? 

confused at this because i dont even see electrum under programs... is it b/c i downloaded the execuatable file?

If you are running Windows use the Windows standalone installer.


Get a pen and paper and write down that seed on the paper and keep it safe. It is an emergency backup. Do NOT store it on your computer at all!

If you want to store a backup on dropbox (I would recommend this) first you should password protect your wallet. Then go to file > Save Copy and save it somewhere. Then you can upload this file.


Electrum only asks you for a password when you are sending funds. You can check your balance without a password.


If your shortcut works, then you are OK.

yes using windows but i didn't click on that link for windows standalone installer...


Wouldn't it be fine putting that 12 word phrase on keepass though?


How do i password protect my wallet?  Is that why when i open electrum each time, they don't ask for password?  Strange b/c i thought it has to ask me for password each time i open client.  Is password protect meaning when you open the client, it requires a password?  If so... wouldn't almost everyone password protect it then?  Makes no sense for someone not to.


Shortcut does work... but i don't like it.  Is there a way to erase this electrum and do it again where i download windows standalone installer?  I basically want to do it the same way as in the video and thus the correct way.


How do i delete electrum then install it again the right way?  The thing is if i delete it, then install it again, i assume i will get a new 12 word phrase and everything when i install it again?  Also... i dont see electrum in my programs or anywhere... only if i type in start electrum i see it but it shows electrum 1.9.8 shortcut.

of you downloaded standalone you only have 1 file and that is the whole thing, so for uninstalling you should delete that. the Windows Installer will install the program and necessary packages on windows
and for reinstalling or installing on another pc and restoring your old wallet you just need your "seed"

hi can you tell me step by step how do i delete this electrum?  Im not sure how to do it...  Like go to start or whichever?  Because i would just click start, type search and type electrum... then right click it then delete... which im sure is not correct.


Also the seed etc... those words i do not understand...

1) Go to Start -> Run (or press WinKey+R) and run this:
For most users, this is the following locations:
C:\Documents and Settings\YourUserName\Application data\Electrum (XP)

C:\Users\YourUserName\Appdata\Roaming\Electrum (Vista and 7)

"AppData" and "Application data" are hidden by default.

2) Delete the 'Electrum' folder.

3) Re-install. I suggest to use standalone executable or windows installer.

Precautions:

• Empty your wallet before deleting, that is, sending it to a new address.
• Always make a backup of the 'Electrum' folder before deleting, if you have used any address in the wallet for receiving Bitcoins as someone might send something.

P.S. For your information(FYI): Seed is 12 phrases which you can use to recover your Bitcoins if something has happened to your computer and/or wallet. So backup that 12 phrases safely, better to write it into a paper and save it somewhere safe. :)

   -MZ

okay so i click start, type electrum,  i see Electrum -1.9.8-Shortcut, right click then delete?  That is what another user here tells me to do , just right click and delete and thats all.


It says are you sure you want to remove it


electrum- 1.9.8-Shortcut
location: electrum 1.9.8-Shortcut
C:Users/MyName/Download



And thats it?  Thus thats the file?  So when i redownload it using windows installer... i will be getting a new 12 word phrase and everything?


Im confused with your post.  I never sent or receive any btc with it so i assume i dont have to do any backup deleting right


Thank you

a shortcut is not the program, in order to delete/remove the source you have to go the place where it actually is
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File_shortcut

you can use the standalone too, no need to get windows installet if standalone works for you. and if you havent used the addresses in the wallet you can safely create another one and there is no need for remembering the old seed

i typed in %APPDATA%\Electrum


i see 2 yelllow folders, certs and wallets.

i see 2 white files blockchain headers and config


What am i suppose to delete specficially?  There are files when i click on certs and wallets.  When i click on wallets, shows default wallet...



I dont want to have the shortcut electrum.  i want to uninstall and install it correctly with windows installer...

okay got it to work thanks.


one other question.  So what security precautions should i take with electrum?  Should i put another password?  Do i need to do anything with labels or private key?


I basically saved my electrum password and the 12 word phrase on my keepass and on the keepass on my usb stick.  I saw the video where a person posted the 12 word phrase on a notebook text document and typed backup.txt.  I assume im not supose to leave that on the computer and delete it?  i did do that.  So i want to make sure what backup im suppose to do with electrum.  Do i need a notepad text document?


Or as long as i have my electrum password and 12 word phrase saved on keypass and also my usb stick im good?  Actually i do that for dropbox as well then im good?  Well dont i have to do it for dropbox since if i lose my computer or usb... then that would be huge problem?


Thank you.

That's weird. If you downloaded the electrum standalone, you just need to click the exe file similar like what you normally do for any windows installer. Once installation is completed, it will guide you through the process of setting up a new wallet. What makes electrum different is that you can use the 12-word seed to recover from anywhere. Make sure you write it down and keep it safe because anyone who gains access to the seed basically controls your fund as well.

As for password lock feature, it won't prompt you upon starting the program. It only does when you try to send your bitcoin.

It would be fine to write down the 12 word seed on keepass right?


So isn't this the same thing as blockchain since blockchain has a 12 word seed pass as well?

Yes, making a backup of the 12 phrases(aka seed) is fine and you can recover your wallet with it.

   -MZ

You should not store the seed in drop box or keepass or any other file on your computer or in the cloud. Doing that is asking for trouble. Take a pen and a paper and write it down. Then store that paper somewhere safe.

Set a password for your electrum wallet. You'll need it when you go to spend your bitcoins. If you forget your password you can restore your wallet using your seed. Anyone can restore your wallet with just the 12 words seed (no password required if you have the seed).

I find it odd that you know about keepass but don't know how to install an app in Windows or what shortcuts are.

Im a bit confused.  So all that person needs to know is the 12 word phrase and thats all?  Dont they need to know a least something else?  That seems a bit ridiculous as they dont even need to know the name or username or anything at all?

Yes, a person only needs to know the seed(12 words) to recover the addresses. It's not ridiculous, it's cryptography. You may want to read https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/Deterministic_wallet.

   -MZ

Those 12 words represent a random 128bit number. It is not possible to guess them.

https://electrum.orain.org/wiki/Frequently_Asked_Questions#What_is_the_Seed.3F

When people get hacked it creates quite a sensation. But most people who loose bitcoins do so because they didn't make backups or they forgot their wallet password. Deterministic wallets allow you to make a one time backup that's good for life. The key thing to remember is that you store that backup offline on paper. If you store it online your just setting yourself up for a loss.

hey all so just want to make sure.  I checked my electrum account and i see 5 different addresses.  So now i want to request bitcoin from a site.  So just give them 1 of these 5 addresses then correct?


Another question.  What happens if you accidentally delete one of these addresses when it has bitcoins in it?

Yes. Give that person 1 address. It's better to use different addresses for different people/sites.


AFAIK you can't delete an address except imported addresses but you can freeze it. Freezing an address makes the electrum application not to check anything about that address.

   -MZ

Is there a reason theres no 2FA for electrum?  I did this for coinbase and blockchain but dont recall electrum having this.  Isn't this kind of not good?

Coinbase and Blockchain are online wallets, so 2FA is important to prevent unauthorized access. But Electrum is desktop wallet, so there isn't any need for 2FA unless you are running this on a computer which others have access to^[1].

[1] This is depreciated. Don't store any BTC on a public computer.

   -MZ

Ok so based on that, which would you suggest me use? 



The thing is what if your computer is compromised/malware and you don't know and i'm sure lot of ppl have computers that are compromised/malware and they never know... i assume blockchain would be more safe since it requires 2FA whereas Electrum doesn't in that situation?

Desktop wallet. Electrum, Multibit etc...


Online wallets are bad idea. You will lose your Bitcoins if:
1) The website is down.
2) The website got hacked.
3) The people behind it ran away with the money.

Better to use desktop wallets and make sure you make a backup.

   -MZ

If your computer is compromised then no wallet will help you. 2FA doesn't protect against malware on your computer. It only protects against poor passwords and hackers succeeding at cracking those remotely. Since your electrum wallet never leaves your computer 2FA isn't as important.

In the next electrum version there is support for multisig wallets where you need to sign transactions with 2 devices. Your computer and your smartphone for example. If you are paranoid you could create such a wallet in future.

Answers to some beginner's questions about wallets:

https://bitcoinspakistan.com/blog/bitcoin-beginners-faqs/#whattogivesender

See questions 3-7.

Okay so basically on what i described, still better to use electrum then blockchain?

Yes, desktop wallets like Electrum, Multibit, Armory etc... are better. If you travel a lot, use Blockchain.info but store a very small amount in it.

   -MZ

What is the master public key on electrum?  I just noticed this.  Do i need to have this written down?

can someone answer the question about master key on electrum and do i need to write it down?

---

---

A useful post:

---

---

---

---

Please wait for an answer. It will take some time to getvthe answer as people who know the answer may not be online when you ask. Please be patient. Thanks!

   -MZ

you can restore your wallet from seed and it will have the addresses inside

May I know how to delete an address except imported ones? You can't! Please don't spread FUD. :)

You may want to read this too: http://bitzuma.com/posts/a-beginners-guide-to-the-electrum-bitcoin-wallet/

   -MZ

would like to know this soon.


thank you.

Haven't you read my post 2 posts above yours? :-\

   -MZ

Just give any one of the address will do. On the last part, I don't see option for you to delete address. You can decide to freeze it though, meaning that you can't send any coins or spend it from that address.