Issues recovering funds from a watch only address

[2k1]

Hi all,

Just started in the btc community around June and usually figure problems out over time by reading up on things, hense I don't post much.
This issue gives me brain freeze for some reason though.

The Issue.

I was mining to a btc core address since around June and all was well but had to reinstall the core client and update the blockchain twice since then.
I can remember the passphrase I used on both occasions to encrypt the wallet and also have 2 saved wallet.dat files from the previous reinstalls.
In the latest wallet I created (This is the 3rd in total) I have imported both previous addresses and the 1st one shows up in the wallet as 'watch only' and has $40 in it while the 2nd does not show up, it has no transactions at the moment but is due to receive around $40-$45 this Friday 15/9 so I suspect will be watch only also.

I have tried using the debug console to recover both previous wallet with importwallet - importaddress - walletpassphrase commands but this is where the brain freeze kicks in and I can do no more reading atm as I seem to be going in circles with importing and rescanning (can take a little time on each scan) with the end result being the same in the current wallet of a watch only address from the 1st wallet with some transactions.

I don't have a generated pass phrase or list of words that I was told to write down and keep, just the passphrase I created to encrypt the wallets and 2 wallet.dat files.

Can I consolidate these 3 wallets into one and recover the watched funds before I end up with a bunch of addresses and several wallets?

Thanks
2k1

[DannyHamilton]

Question:  What version of Bitcoin Core are you running?

As for your watching only addresses...

That is because you imported the address without importing the private key. Actually, if you import the private key, then you don't need to import the address, the wallet will generate the address from the private key.

Use dumpprivkey with the old wallet files to extract the private key
Use importprivkey with the new wallet file to import the private key.

[2k1]

Im using the current 0.14.2 btccore (btc-q)

If I use dumpprivkey it comes back with 'Private key for address xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx is not known (code -4)'
If I use the importprivkey it comes back with 'Invalid private key encoding (code -5)' this is where I am stumped.

One other thing, I installed core to a separate drive, not the main C: drive as I wanted the blockchain on a spare unused drive to save drive space on C:

Im unsure where to place the 2 previous wallet.dat files and how to gain access to them, currently I have them in the same folder as the btc-q client on the spare drive but not confident they are in the right place.

[DannyHamilton]

What operating system?

Windows? Version?

Apple? Version?

Linux?

The location where you need to put the wallet.dat file depends on what operating system you are using.

What directory did you get the wallet.dat files from?

[2k1]

I'm on Windows 10 anniversary (1607) on the main C: drive
When I installed core I directed the install to a spare save drive (Z:) with no operating system and the blockchain data downloaded to the Z:Bitcoin folder also.
When I encrypted and saved the wallet.dat files, I originally saved them to my C:Desktop.

[jackg]

I'm on Windows 10 anniversary on the main C: drive
When I installed core I directed the install to a spare save drive (Z:) with no operating system and the blockchain data downloaded to the Z:Bitcoin folder also.
When I encrypted and saved the wallet.dat files, I originally saved them to my C:Desktop.

You want to put the wallet file in the folder that contains the "blocks" and "chainstate" folders.

The client may need to reindex after this, which may take some time...

[2k1]

http://i66.tinypic.com/2rf9g8x.jpg

I have 2 files highlighted yellow that I assume are the 2 imported addresses (1H   ---   P9M which is the original watch only address I am seeing on core and 1H ---  Kn being the wallet due payment on friday)

The 2 red highlighted files.
BTC Wallet Backup 290717.dat again being the watch only I can see on core
and the wallet.dat I believe is the wallet waiting payment

I have not encrypted the current wallet Im using to work things out so no backup for that.

Im unsure if its safe to post addresses so Ive blanked them out  

[jackg]

I have 2 files highlighted yellow that I assume are the 2 imported addresses (1H   ---   P9M which is the original watch only address I am seeing on core and 1H ---  Kn being the wallet due payment on friday)

The 2 red highlighted files.
BTC Wallet Backup 290717.dat again being the watch only I can see on core
and the wallet.dat I believe is the wallet waiting payment

I have not encrypted the current wallet Im using to work things out so no backup for that.

Im unsure if its safe to post addresses so Ive blanked them out 

No it's safe to post addresses.
I've an address loaded with 1BTC in my profile and that's not gone.
It's just the private keys to those addresses you need to keep secure.


Move the wallet.dat first.
Just cut/paste it to your desktop temporarily.

[2k1]

Moved wallet.dat to desktop but still same error codes

[jackg]

Moved wallet.dat to desktop but still same error codes


19:57:30

dumpprivkey 1Hs2N7T8uPiEqTeJrmZvhXiVsLPa511P9M


19:57:30

Private key for address 1Hs2N7T8uPiEqTeJrmZvhXiVsLPa511P9M is not known (code -4)


20:01:10

importprivkey 1Hs2N7T8uPiEqTeJrmZvhXiVsLPa511P9M


20:01:10

Invalid private key encoding (code -5)

Ah, sorry.
Change the name of the wallet backup to wallet (it'll keep the .dat extensaion).

[2k1]

Great job

Much appreciated, but I may be back sooner rather than later