Thank you, I was able to do this successfully. Massive thanks!

I'm trying to claim BCH from Bitcoin Core, where I used to have BTC (which I have successfully moved into a hardware wallet). I checked the public keys and they definitely hold BCH, the problem I have is how to move them.
I have followed this article: https://medium.com/@itsjameswhite/how-to-claim-bitcoin-cash-from-bitcoin-core-to-an-spv-wallet-d0316d6b6216 - but unfortunately the information isn't correct. I got stuck at Panel 5 - where I was meant to paste my private keys into the keystore input field on Electron Cash and click Next. However, it didn't work. The Next button never highlighted. I then realised that the article incorrectly says copy your private keys and paste them, whereas what I needed was the master private key (which is completely different).
It literally says: To create a watching-only wallet, please enter your master public key (xpub/ypub/zpub). To create a spending wallet, please enter a master private key (xprv/yprv/zprv).
I have tried to get this master private key from Bitcoin Core by the command dumpwallet, but I have no idea where to find the master private key. It was meant to create some kind of text file, but where? I can't find it anywhere, I went to Bitcoin directory and nothing's there.
Is there an easier way to claim BCH? I wouldn't like to do it by downloading a full node wallet like Bitcoin ABC as it would take too long.
Any other ways?
Thank you.

There is no way to import the "extraneous" private key into Trezor. Its keys are subject to SEED you have chosen .  If you want to transfer bitcoins from wallet.dat to Trezor (and avoid downloading the whole blockchain), the only way to do that is to extract the priv key following what NeuroticFish said, import that key to another software wallet (SPV like Electrum is a good option) and send BTC from that wallet to Trezor.

Thank you for your reply xenon131. If I understood well, if I want to import the private keys from wallet.dat, I need to download another software?
But what if I just want to send the coins to Trezor in the easiest way possible with the least hassle possible? Can I do it just by downloading the whole blockchain, wait til it syncs up, load the wallet.dat file with the coin in it, restart BC and send the coin from BC to my Trezor wallet address plus the associated transaction fee? In which case I won't even need to get the private keys? Wouldn't that be the easiest way? Thank you.

Hi all,

I should have some bitcoin from years ago on Bitcoin Core that I'm currently downloading (it's taking weeks). I bought a Trezor T hardware wallet and once I sync up Bitcoin Core, I would like to transfer over to Trezor. Also, my wallet.dat file with that bitcoin is currently offline on a USB and I will load it only once it's fully synced and will try to do it offline.
I came across this thread from years ago and it seems like this guy was trying to do the same thing as me and he got this answer. Is this still correct? Can anyone please confirm? Thank you.




Ok... so at this point I would probably do something like the following:

1. Setup TREZOR as required (if you want to use Electrum, go for it) and generate a receiving address.
2. Install and Setup Bitcoin Core. DO NOT use your old wallet.dat at the moment, just create a "dummy" wallet. At this stage I'd also recommend setting the Display Units to "BTC" just to avoid any confusion later (Settings -> Options -> Display -> Units to show amounts in)
3. Run Bitcoin Core and let it sync up to at least when you stopped using your wallet (ie. Let it sync until say 2012 or 2013 just to be safe if you think you stopped 6 years ago). This actually shouldn't take very long.
4. Shut down Bitcoin Core
5. Disconnect from ALL networks
6. Make a copy of your wallet.dat from the USB and put it in the Bitcoin Core datadir (By default, on windows this should be %appdata%\Bitcoin unless you changed it during install/setup), overwriting the default wallet.dat that would have been created during install/setup.
7. Start Bitcoin Core. It will likely need to spend a few minutes rescanning (but not redownloading) the blockchain for the transactions for your wallet. Once complete, you should be able to see all your coins, addresses and transaction history etc.
8. Once you can see all your coins, you can create a "test" transaction that sends a small amount of coins to your new TREZOR. Be mindful not to send "dust" Wink
9. Re-connect to the internet to broadcast the transaction and then disconnect again. (see notes below for alternatives)
10. Once you are satisfied that the TREZOR is working as it should be with your "test" transaction, you can then create a transaction that sends ALL your coins to your TREZOR (either the address from Step #1 or create a new TREZOR address). (see below)
11. Re-connect to the internet and send the transaction. (see below)


NOTES:
- Please note that the above is just what I would do, if I was in your situation. I don't necessarily recommend that you follow the same procedure.

- Step 7, If you don't see your coins or any transaction history, you'll need to check the wallet addresses and see if they still hold coins. ("File -> Receiving Addresses") and check some of the addresses on a block explorer like blockchain.info. Once you find the addresses with coins, make sure that you have sync'd Core up to the last date that these addresses have transactions listed for them.

- Step 8, I would recommend that you send at least 0.001 BTC as a test and don't send anything smaller.

- Step 9 and Step 11, if you'd rather not reconnect the computer with your wallet.dat on it to the internet, you can simply copy the "raw" transaction onto a USB, transfer it to another computer and broadcast using one the websites listed below. These websites can't do anything "bad" with your already signed transaction, it is no different to broadcasting the transaction to the network yourself. Smiley

To get the raw transaction, simply right-click on the new "unconfirmed" transaction in the "Transactions" tab, and select "copy raw transaction". Then paste that data into a text document (it will just be a big long "hex" string of numbers/characters), save the text file onto a USB and transfer to another computer.

Then on the online computer, copy the hex from the text document and paste into one of the following:
https://coinb.in/#broadcast
http://blockr.io/tx/push
https://live.blockcypher.com/btc/pushtx/
https://btc.com/tools/tx/publish

Several of these sites give you the option to "decode" or "verify" so you can double check the transaction details (output address, amount and fee etc) before broadcasting.


- Step 10, I would recommend that you switch on "Enable Coin Control Features" and "Spend unconfirmed Change" in Settings (Settings -> Options -> Wallet). Especially if you sent a test transaction, as you'll no doubt end up with "change" from that test and as your Core won't be sync'd, any change from the test won't be "confirmed" until you let Core sync all the way!

When you got to setup the transaction, on the "Send" tab, click the "Inputs" button and then the "Select All" button. You should be able to see the "bytes" value. This will also enable you to work out an appropriate fee. These websites will give you an idea of the fees currently in use:
https://btc.com/stats/unconfirmed-tx
https://bitcoinfees.21.co/

Please note that if you fail to use a "proper" fee, there is a good chance that your transaction (and all your coins) could get "stuck" in an unconfirmed state. I would highly recommend that you let Bitcoin Core calculate a fee for you (Use "Recommended" setting in the "Send" tab and use the slider to adjust to an amount/confirmation time that you are comfortable with)... unless you are 110% sure you know what you're doing setting a custom fee.

Thank you for your response. Regarding your question:

Could I ask, how exactly? As far as I know, even if you download the blockchain in the "pruned" method, still it downloads the whole blockchain, but saves the disk space by keeping only ~8GB instead of the 350GB when keeping the full blockchain. That is my understanding, and if I am wrong, someone can correct me there...

Researched it online, this is an example: https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/Transferring_coins_from_Bitcoin-Qt_to_Electrum#:~:text=down%20on%20paper.-,Obtain%20private%20key(s)%20from%20Bitcoin%2DQt,Qt%20click%20Window%20%2D%3E%20Console.&text=Use%20the%20dumpprivkey%20command%20to,as%20have%20money%20in%20them.&text=Do%20not%20send%20this%20private,to%20steal%20your%20bitcoins(!)
It specifically says: This guide is intended for users of Bitcoin-Qt who do not want to wait for their wallet to be synchronized with the network, which may take many hours or days depending on the hardware spec.
Or here: https://www.reddit.com/r/Bitcoin/comments/354tw5/i_need_help_deriving_a_private_key_from_bitcoin/
Again, it says: There's no need to have the blockchain synced to extract the balance.

Thank you, I will try that. But what do you mean by making sure it's done on a safe computer? I use my Mac frequently.. it should be safe.
But also, can I do all these steps if I go offline? Maybe that would be safer?

Hi guys

I've been trying to get the bitcoin off my wallet.dat file that's been saved on a USB stick and transfer it onto my Trezor hardware wallet that I recently bought, but so far I've been unsuccessful.
This is the chronology of what I've done so far:
- bought a bitcoin many years ago and left it on an old MacBook (that I didn't use) in a Bitcoin Core program
- when I realised this laptop is on it's last legs, I have managed to save the bitcoin by getting into the Bitcoin Core files by copying the wallet.dat file onto a USB stick
- to check I still had it, I have then downloaded the whole Bitcoin Core onto my desktop Mac last year, replaced the wallet.dat with the one on the USB and luckily seen on the screen that I do have a bitcoin available
- I wasn't worried about getting the private key then as I thought I'd just leave it on the USB for the years to come - I wanted to keep it offline and USB seemed fine for me, but husband persuaded me to save it on Trezor
- I have researched how to do it by avoiding to download the entire Bitcoin Core (it takes weeks to do) and did what I was meant to do, but I can't see my bitcoin
- I have replaced the wallet.dat file, then started to download the BC, then I went to the debug window and console part, put the phrase dumpprivkey and the public address of the bitcoin (when I check this address on blockchain.com, I can see that there is bitcoin on this address so I know for sure it's there), but all I'm getting is an error message that says: Private key for address .... is not known (code -4). What does it mean and what am I doing wrong? I have done this by going online and then did the same thing going offline too. In both cases, I got the same error.
- just to also say, when I initially saved the wallet.dat last year, I have encrypted it by creating a password on BC. But when I started downloading it again this year and even when I put the wallet.dat that was encrypted, BC was showing that there was no passphrase, so I'm a little confused. Did my wallet.dat not got encrypted properly? Do I need to put this passphrase when asking for the private key in the debug window?
- and my main question is, when trying to get the private key, can I do it completely offline? Can I close the wifi, start downloading Bitcoin Core and get everything I need by not going online at any stage? I just want to do it as safe as possible.

Sorry if this is a long reading, but hopefully someone could help me as to what I'm doing wrong and maybe tell me a step by step process.
Thank you