Bitcoin Core 0.11.1 error: Cannot obtain a lock on data directory

[ByGenSa]

Hi,
I am running Bitcoin Core (64 bit)v. 0.11.1 on win 7 and it suddenly stopped loading a wallet. I tried to restart but every time I open the software, it loads from 1% to 100% and then an error pops up:

    Cannot obtain a lock on data directory C:/Users/Kompas/AppData/Roaming/Bitcoin. Bitcoin Core is probably already running.

Then the program disappears to the task bar and I can't open it from the task bar. I have my wallet.dat saved. Should I start with clean install?
Please? Thank you.

[Buziss]

Do you still have Bitcoin Core running in the background or not shutdown completely?  Do you see a "bitcoin-qt.exe" in your windows task manager (press CTRL+ALT+DEL once to open it)?

[ByGenSa]

Do you still have Bitcoin Core running in the background or not shutdown completely?  Do you see a "bitcoin-qt.exe" in your windows task manager (press CTRL+ALT+DEL once to open it)?

Yes it's still running but just stuck on a task bar, it won't load a wallet. I can shut it down but when I start, it just verifies blocks and freezes.

[lama-hunter]

Do you still have Bitcoin Core running in the background or not shutdown completely?  Do you see a "bitcoin-qt.exe" in your windows task manager (press CTRL+ALT+DEL once to open it)?

Yes it's still running but just stuck on a task bar, it won't load a wallet. I can shut it down but when I start, it just verifies blocks and freezes.

Maybe u should try to reinstall it. So first deinstall it and after this clearly reinstall it new. Otherwise there can only be the Problem that BTCcore is still open in the BAckground. Therefore just open like  he sad your Task-Manager and cut the process.

Otherwise i got some Problems within now wioth Core 0.11.0 - therefore you should upgrade to 0.11.1, because of the transaction Speed. There where several PRoblems by not getting Confirmed.

Hope i could help.

regards
lama-hunter

[ByGenSa]

I tried to reinstall, doesn't change a thing. Right now I am downloading Bitcoin Core on different computer and will try to import wallet.dat there.
Btw, I am using version 0.11.1. Thanks.

[achow101]

Do you still have Bitcoin Core running in the background or not shutdown completely?  Do you see a "bitcoin-qt.exe" in your windows task manager (press CTRL+ALT+DEL once to open it)?

Yes it's still running but just stuck on a task bar, it won't load a wallet. I can shut it down but when I start, it just verifies blocks and freezes.

How long have you waited after it freezes? Bitcoin core is known to sometimes take a very long time to start up.

[ByGenSa]

It freezes right away after it's done verifying blocks, just before it is suppose to load a wallet.

I'm using Bitcoin Core since June and never had any issues, just now...

I still can open debug window but I don't know what to look for.

[Small]

Do you still have Bitcoin Core running in the background or not shutdown completely?  Do you see a "bitcoin-qt.exe" in your windows task manager (press CTRL+ALT+DEL once to open it)?

Yes it's still running but just stuck on a task bar, it won't load a wallet. I can shut it down but when I start, it just verifies blocks and freezes.

-snipTherefore just open like  he sad your Task-Manager and cut the process.
-snip-

Do not shut it down without closing it completely, if not, it could result in a corrupted database, you have to reindex if that happens.

Backup your wallet first. You can delete its %appdata% folder, registry key and reinstall it. What is the specs of your computer?

[ByGenSa]

Since I was able to open Console, I just dumped private keys and swiped them to blockchain.info.

 It might be that my internet provider is somehow blocking Bitcoin Core, because it crashed on the other computer too. Anyway, will wait for more stable version or a new computer. Thanks.

[Small]

Since I was able to open Console, I just dumped private keys and swiped them to blockchain.info.

 It might be that my internet provider is somehow blocking Bitcoin Core, because it crashed on the other computer too. Anyway, will wait for more stable version or a new computer. Thanks.

Unlikely so. If your internet service provider was blocking Bitcoin nodes, the blocks would still be verified and it would load but would not show any connections to network. I would be against using blockchain.info for large sum of money though, try using other wallets.

[julian071]

Since switching to Windows 10, I have a similar problem. Every time I start the wallet, I get this error. Deleting the lock-file doesn't help, but re-installing the wallet does. I now have to re-install the wallet every time I want to use it. I can even leave the .lock file (or delete it, no difference). Very strange. My guess is there's some rights issue for the wallet to delete the lock file and probably some registry entry somewhere that goes awry.

I wanted to run the core wallet to help by running a full node. However, I've been annoyed with the poor UI of this wallet for a long time, and this silly problem is the last drop. Any recommendations for other wallets are very welcome. Of course I am also quite willing to do some tests or look into logfiles and whatnot to help remedy this problem, but I'm done with this wallet for everyday use.

Edit: running 0.11.2 on a clean install of Windows 10 Pro 64 bits. The blockchain is on another disk, not my C:-drive (a 64 GB SSD).