Importing private key....i dont get it.

[Numerous64]

So im trying to import a private key to my electrum. Sorry for making a new topic on this, but i figured it would be less chaotic than for people reading through an old one with all of its other stuff.

So, picking something from this topic:

https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=1019809.0

I received these instructions:

"Do the following:

Backup seed and wallet file.
Copy and paste receive address of Electrum wallet into notepad and save it.
File>New>Enter name>Restore>Enter compressed private key>Next
See if any btc at address from private key.
Send funds from the gold bar to the address you saved in new Electrum wallet.
Load original file and then have btc in Electrum wallet.
Never use private key or associated address from gold bar again.

Enjoy your new found btc if you found some."

--------

My problem is this: right after entering the private key and pressing next nothing has happened, no new addresses in my wallet or anything. Of course with "import private key" like in this topic:

http://www.thecleverest.com/importing-bitcoin-from-a-paper-wallet-into-electrum/

There is just an error saying the private key cannot be imported.

[Abdussamad]

Is this a genuine request for help or spam? If this is a genuine request then tell us what version of electrum you are using?

For pre 2.0 versions you can import by going to wallet > private keys> import. For 2.x its wallet > private keys> sweep.

[Numerous64]

Why do you think this is spam? Im just trying to use my bitcoins, been trying for so long im starting to feel pretty stupid.

The version is 1.9.8, the version that comes with tails.

When i go to wallet>private keys>import and i enter the private key, it says error and that it could not be imported.

EDIT:

Further clarification: In the FAQ it says (about version 2.0, though) that you cannot import private keys to a seed wallet, the same thing was said in the previous topic where i asked for help. It was said instead that i should do as it is in the FAQ as well, creating a new wallet by restoring a wallet from seed, with the private key typed in as the seed. However, it simply disappears after pressing next and no new addresses have appeared in my electrum client, as if i did not do the whole process at all.

[Abdussamad]

Why do you think this is spam? Im just trying to use my bitcoins, been trying for so long im starting to feel pretty stupid.

The version is 1.9.8, the version that comes with tails.

When i go to wallet>private keys>import and i enter the private key, it says error and that it could not be imported.

Private keys in WIF begin with 5, L or K. More details about what they look like:

https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/Private_key#Base58_Wallet_Import_format

Is this what you are referring to as the private key?

[Abdussamad]

Further clarification: In the FAQ it says (about version 2.0, though) that you cannot import private keys to a seed wallet, the same thing was said in the previous topic where i asked for help. It was said instead that i should do as it is in the FAQ as well, creating a new wallet by restoring a wallet from seed, with the private key typed in as the seed. However, it simply disappears after pressing next and no new addresses have appeared in my electrum client, as if i did not do the whole process at all.

Seed is not the same as private key. Restore is done using seed not a private key.

Please answer my question above about what you are referring to as a private key. Is it really a private key or something else?

[Numerous64]

Oh yes i forgot to note that its a mini private key actually. So is it so that it cannot be imported to electrum as it is? Do i need to decrypt it or something? If so then i didnt realize that.

So simply put, everything i said + its a mini key, the kind that begins with an S, just like in that link it is described. Do i do something with that?

[Abdussamad]

Oh yes i forgot to note that its a mini private key actually. So is it so that it cannot be imported to electrum as it is? Do i need to decrypt it or something? If so then i didnt realize that.

So simply put, everything i said + its a mini key, the kind that begins with an S, just like in that link it is described. Do i do something with that?

You can only import private keys in Wallet Import Format (WIF). You can convert to WIF using the wallet details tab of https://www.bitaddress.org . You can download this page and run it offline. It uses client side javascript for everything.

[Numerous64]

Ok thanks

One more question (until the next time, when i screw something up and look like a troll again ) , how do i download the page?

Plus if i download that page to tails persistent volume, would that be a document? Like, should i configure it to save personal data or something else?


https://tails.boum.org/doc/first_steps/persistence/configure/index.en.html

[Abdussamad]

how do i download the page?

You can save it using your browser or use git clone:

https://github.com/pointbiz/bitaddress.org/tree/v2.9.8

It's all self-contained in one html page.

Plus if i download that page to tails persistent volume, would that be a document? Like, should i configure it to save personal data or something else?

https://tails.boum.org/doc/first_steps/persistence/configure/index.en.html

You could save it if you like but if you are going online using tails anyway then might as well visit bitaddress.org to load the page and then disconnect from the net.

[Numerous64]

Omg it worked, unbelievable.

Thanks man