Bitcoin Forum

Other => Beginners & Help => Topic started by: BinoX on December 16, 2011, 12:02:42 AM



Title: Wallet Backups
Post by: BinoX on December 16, 2011, 12:02:42 AM
Is all that's needed to backup a wallet a copy of the wallet.dat file? And to restore it to a new machine do you just install bitcoin again and copy the wallet.dat back?

Also, what would happen if you put the same wallet.dat on 2 machines at once?

(Those questions were probably answered elsewhere but I never have any luck finding answers)


Title: Re: Wallet Backups
Post by: ovidiusoft on December 16, 2011, 12:32:17 AM
Is all that's needed to backup a wallet a copy of the wallet.dat file? And to restore it to a new machine do you just install bitcoin again and copy the wallet.dat back?

Yes.

Quote
Also, what would happen if you put the same wallet.dat on 2 machines at once?
(Those questions were probably answered elsewhere but I never have any luck finding answers)

I didn't try to do it. I think it's most likely the client (and you) will get confused because the history and balance will change if the other copy spends some coins. After the first outgoing transaction, there will also be new private keys for that copy of the wallet, so the two wallets will no longer be identical and it will be difficult to merge them again. Better to avoid doing it.


Title: Re: Wallet Backups
Post by: BinoX on December 16, 2011, 12:41:38 AM
Thanks for the quick answers.

I had a feeling that behaviour for "duplicate" wallets running at once would be "undefined". Wasn't planning to try it, I was just curious.

Thanks again.