Sorted.

disregard

I use bitcoin on a relatively powerful laptop, with an Internet connection that will max out at about 23Mbps. I have just made my second transfer to a party and 57 minutes later have just garnered my first confirmation.  I have noticed on a number of bitcoin sites (namely gambling and other solicitations) that one confirmation should only take about 30 minutes.

My questions are:

Is there an average confirmation time based on number of connections to the bitcoin network or network speed?

Is there a reasonable expectation I can place on the confirmation time. If so what factors can increase/decrease this expectation?

What can affect the variation time? Active connections? Personal hardware? Transfer amount?

Hi guys

Bitcoin newb had to emergency reimage PC and has lost his original wallt.dat file.  I still know the address, is there any way to collect these coins.  Only a pitiful amount, but everybit helps.