Armory 0.93.3 dowloading Blockchain since days!

[Frankie_71]

Hi Folks!

I have set up two Armory wallets.
One on my stationary system, no problems there. After some hours I was good to go and use it actively to send and receive funds.

The installation on my laptop is problematic however. The setup is busy since this weekend with dowloading the blockchain.

The dowload started this Saturday, the 16'th of July 2016.
That was three day ago.

Since then my laptop is running non stop and reached 78% so far.
The increase slowed down to currently 2-3% a day.
It seems to be an decrease in download rate and I am afraid the laptop will not be finished dowloading even one month later because of the asymptotic decrase of the download progress.


The internet connection for both systems is the same. I am using it for other stuff too without any problems. So the connection is OK.
I even connected the Laptop by cable to exclude that maybe WIFI is the problem, to no avail.

Can I maybe copy the blockchain from my stationary system?

Where should I look for the problem?

Thanks!

PS: Me -> Newbie

[achow101]

First of all, use Armory 0.94.1, not 0.93.3. You can download it from https://github.com/goatpig/BitcoinArmory/releases/tag/v0.94.1. Next, go to File > Settings and uncheck "Let Armory run Bitcoin-Core run in the background". Shutdown Armory. Then start Bitcoin Core and let it finish syncing. Then start Armory.

[Holliday]

Can I maybe copy the blockchain from my stationary system?

Yes.

[Frankie_71]

Hi Andrew,

thanks for your feedback.
I deinstalled Armory and Bitcoin Core yesterday from the Laptop.

Installed Armory 0.94.1 and did uncheck "Let Armory run Bitcoin-Core run in the background" and exit.
Downloaded Bitcoin Core and let it run.

It runs now sice around 20 hours and is still one year and 12 weeks back.

I hope it will be finished until tomorrow.

@Holliday: I assume it is enough to copy the %appdata%/bitcoin directory?

What about my stationary system?
Can I simply update from 0.93.3 to 0.94.1?
Can't find Info on the Homepage or GitHub about that.

[achow101]

What about my stationary system?
Can I simply update from 0.93.3 to 0.94.1?
Can't find Info on the Homepage or GitHub about that.

Yes you can update from 0.93.3 to 0.94.1 without uninstalling anything. Just download 0.94.1 and install. Since 0.94.1 uses a different database than 0.93.3, you will be able to save a lot of space by deleting the old databases. Go to %appdata%/Armory and delete the folder there named "databases". Then run Armory again and it will rebuild them. The new database is much faster to rebuild, so it should be done in a few minutes.

[Holliday]

@Holliday: I assume it is enough to copy the %appdata%/bitcoin directory?

That should work. Shut down the Core client before copying the folder. It's been a while since I moved a block chain so I'm rusty on the procedure I typically use.

If you have any bitcoins on the Core client (which you wouldn't if you only used Armory as a wallet) make sure you back up any wallet.dat files before deleting/overwriting them.

[goatpig]

You can copy the /blocks folder across system. Not sure the you can move the chainstate folder from one file system to another (say from NTFS to Ext). At any rate, copy the whole bitcoin folder and start BitcoinQt. You will know right away if the chainstate is usable.

[Frankie_71]

OK - Thank you all for your input!

The Bitcoin Core software, which I assume is a Interface to Bitcoin QT, ran for over 34 hours and was still over one year back when I headed to bed yesterday night.

This morning an innocent login screen greetet me - the system had restarted without my conscent!
I guess I have to send my gratitude for this to Redmond.

Well, after I started the BC software again, of course it said that the Blockchain is corrupted and if I would like to rescan.
I liked.

Currently it is reindexing the blocks on disk and is 3 years and 45 weeks behind.

This leaves me with three options:

• As a community service, I let the problem go on and start a new thread in a more appropriate section of this board, because the problem seems to be with Bitcoin Core and not with Armory.
• I simply copy the Blockchain from my stationary system to my laptop and see if that works.
• I use an entirely different wallet software on my laptop. Condition should be that all elements of a full node should be included. As far as me NOOB is concerned that is the blockchain and the wallet. OS: Windows 10 - Suggestions?
• I go for an OS independent hardware solution like the Ledger Wallet for my mobile life.

@goatpig: Shouldn't be a problem the FS are both NTFS.
@Holliday: I have no funds on the Core client.
@knightdk: OK, I will consider updating after I have moved my funds from the stationary wallet somewhere else.

[Holliday]

This morning an innocent login screen greetet me - the system had restarted without my conscent!

Well, after I started the BC software again, of course it said that the Blockchain is corrupted and if I would like to rescan.

It sounds to me like Core crashed your system. Bitcoin Core is a fairly decent "stress test" for hardware and it looks like it found something on your laptop that isn't quite stable.

Since it's taking you so long to sync the block chain, I would also guess that your laptop is fairly weak as far as hardware goes. Most of my PCs will sync the chain in around 24 hours (last I checked).

If I were you, I would run Memtest for at least 12 hours, then run something like Intel Burn Test and see if your laptop is error free / doesn't crash with either of those programs. After you've verified that your system is stable, I would copy the Core block data over from a more capable PC and install the latest version of Armory. You'll want to keep the chain updated on a regular basis (daily) so that you don't fall so far behind that your laptop is struggling to catch up.

As a community service, I let the problem go on and start a new thread in a more appropriate section of this board, because the problem seems to be with Bitcoin Core and not with Armory.

I'd bet money (if I were a gambler) that the issue is unstable hardware on the laptop.

I simply copy the Blockchain from my stationary system to my laptop and see if that works.

Definitely. I would take the steps I suggested above first.

I use an entirely different wallet software on my laptop. Condition should be that all elements of a full node should be included. As far as me NOOB is concerned that is the blockchain and the wallet. OS: Windows 10 - Suggestions?

Windows 10 works well for all my block chain needs. Flawlessly basically.

I also use Ubuntu, although I always seem to have far more issues with that setup.

I go for an OS independent hardware solution like the Ledger Wallet for my mobile life.

If I am interpreting "mobile life" correctly (I'm thinking daily spending here), I would simply use an android client (I've had luck with Mycelium in the past). Only put enough on that device which you are OK with losing. Top it off from your "savings wallet" Armory install at home when needed.

[achow101]

• I simply copy the Blockchain from my stationary system to my laptop and see if that works.

Just do that. It should work. The entire Bitcoin data directory can be copied from system to system. Whether it will be faster than the reindex is a whole different story.

[Frankie_71]

It is done!

I was a good box and followed your advices, thank you all very much!

So what have I chosen to do is:

• Abort the Bitcoin client on my laptop loading the blockchain since days.
• Starting memtest86 v4.3.7, let it run for nearly twelve hours. All OK!
• Booting Windows 10, installing the Intel Processor Diagnostic Tool, let it run over night. All OK!
• Deleting everything from %APPDATA%/bitcoin
• Copy everything from my stationary computer's %APPDATA%/bitcoin
• Starting the Bitcoin Classic Client. Syncing the 'transplanted' blockchain was done in three to four hours.
• Starting the previously installed Armory Wallet. Building its databases took another one to two hours.
• Sent funds to my Laptop's Wallet. All OK!

For this special occasion I have added some pictures.

memtest86 v4.3.7 Screenshot:
http://i66.tinypic.com/inu4uc.jpg

Intel Processor Diagnostic Tool 64Bit 3.0.0.25.W.MP:
http://i65.tinypic.com/64idyw.jpg

Armory 0.94.1 OK now
http://i66.tinypic.com/nbyn2w.jpg


Ah, feeling like in my geeky student times again!
 

[Holliday]

You used the wrong test to stress the CPU. I suggested Intel Burn Test, not Intel Processor Diagnostic Tool.

http://files.extremeoverclocking.com/file.php?f=213

But, since everything is working, if it ain't broke, don't fix it!

Glad you were able to get your block chain synced up on your laptop.

[Frankie_71]

Thanks Holliday!

I downloaded and ran the Intel Burn Test today.
Only for 2 hours in standard mode.
No promlems there.

[Holliday]

Thanks Holliday!

I downloaded and ran the Intel Burn Test today.
Only for 2 hours in standard mode.
No promlems there.

Cool, sounds good!

I'm just curious why Bitcoin Core crashed while trying to sync the chain. I guess it will remain a mystery for now!

[Frankie_71]

@knightdk:

I updated Armory on my stationary machine now, the database sizes really are different!

Old Database:
72,9 GB (78.318.149.632 Bytes)

New Database:
140 MB (147.558.400 Bytes)

Rebuild really took only some minutes, between 10 to 15 minutes.

@Holliday:
The crash is one X File.
The other one is why the Laptop could not finish downloading and syncing the blockchain and had this asymptotic decrease in completion progress.

But yes. I am happy all works now and don't want to waste more time.