Electrum Wallet problem - won't sync, cant restore

[moolie15]

I'm running an electrum 2.7.9 on (an old version of) Tails and I'm getting some problems.  I've tried to create a new up to date Tails install but not having much success. 

---2.7.9 wallet won't complete sync.
I've tried manually choosing servers but it just sits on 'syncronizing'.  The last few transactions look "wrong" - the balance doesnt make sense

I've tried using the seed to create a new wallet
- on 2.7.9 i enter my seed and have to select 'BIP39' before it will let me proceed
A new wallet is created and syncs but shows with a zero balance

- on mac OS
When I select BIP39 i get a warning
"BIP39 seeds can be imported, but we do not generate....etc)"
it also shows that the BIP39 checksum fails? WTF?

In both cases i've left the BIP44 as default (is there something esle I can try here?)
Again, it syncs but shows a  zero balance

Have I been ripped off somehow? 

[TryNinja]

Update Electrum to the latest version (3.2.3).

The 2.x versions now have synchronization issues, apart from them being insecure and vulnerable to certain already fixed exploits.

[1] https://electrum.org/#download

[moolie15]

Update Electrum to the latest version.

That's effectively what I'm trying to do.  I can't update Electrum on the version of Tails i'm on so i need to restore from my seed on a new installation.

When i install from the seed the wallet shows as empty (see my first post).

[TryNinja]

That's effectively what I'm trying to do.  I can't update Electrum on the version of Tails i'm on so i need to restore from my seed on a new installation.

Why can’t you update it? Electrum won’t synchronization unless you update it to version ~3.x (latest version is better).

Try following these instructions: https://amp.reddit.com/r/Electrum/comments/7cjjpg/electrum_synchronizing_message_on_tails/dpqflmh/

[moolie15]

Thanks

I used https://www.reddit.com/r/Electrum/comments/7cjjpg/electrum_synchronizing_message_on_tails/dpqflmh/ and now have my wallet back in sync.

phew.

I also found the problem with my seed - i was misreading a lower case u as an a.  twat i think the word is.  writing down key info is all very well unless your handwriting is nearly unreadable.  maybe time to type and print some of this stuff.

Now to try again at creating a new tails instance.  my usb drives are now showing up on my mac but will not appear on windows (disk management will see them but not format)

[HCP]

Be careful typing your seed into a computer and then printing it... Any keyloggers might be able to capture it. Additionally, I know some folk are paranoid about modern printers as they have networking components and "memory" and often store documents locally, even after printing.

I'm not actually aware of any instances where this has happened, but if you're cautious enough to be using Tails, it's probably something to consider.

Maybe just take your time and rewrite it very carefully?

[moolie15]

Maybe just take your time and rewrite it very carefully?

 

[adaseb]

Be careful typing your seed into a computer and then printing it... Any keyloggers might be able to capture it. Additionally, I know some folk are paranoid about modern printers as they have networking components and "memory" and often store documents locally, even after printing.

I'm not actually aware of any instances where this has happened, but if you're cautious enough to be using Tails, it's probably something to consider.

Maybe just take your time and rewrite it very carefully?

Well the purpose of cold storage is that even if there is a keylogger, the computer will never be connected to the internet so it won't be an issue.

The printer might have it in the memory but if you print 5-10 pages afterwards, it should be gone forever. Most people use cheap <$100 printers these days which behave this way. Only the $3000 office printers can retain documents for several GBs, which makes reprints more convenient.

[pooya87]

Well the purpose of cold storage is that even if there is a keylogger, the computer will never be connected to the internet so it won't be an issue.

cold storage is a clean environment that is also cut off from the rest of the world. so keylogger is not the only concern that you should have. the OS may be infected with a malware that changes the seed/wallet file that you create to the attacker's wallet!
that is why you always use a brand new OS install or a live linux for these things.