BitcoinQT 0.8.1 addresses

[movellan]

Any way to remove old no-longer-used address and private keys from BitcoinQT 0.8.1 with out screwing up previous transactions? How about emptying your wallet by transferring your coins elsewhere, then clearing addresses? Better to clear wallet, uninstall QT then start over with a new install? Thanks.

[ReAzem]

If consolidating all your coins in one address is what you're looking to do, all you have to do is make a new wallet and send your coins from the old wallet to the new one. The new one will only have one address and all your coins will be on it.

I don't really see the point tho...

[Dabs]

You could try using pywallet or any of those wallet tools to selectively delete keys. Make a backup first of course. But I'd rather do that new wallet procedure as it's all "natural". Send all your coins to your new wallet. Keep your old wallet for a couple of years before you delete it, someone might send you coins there. (I mean, to the addresses that are in the old wallet.)

[movellan]

You could try using pywallet or any of those wallet tools to selectively delete keys. Make a backup first of course. But I'd rather do that new wallet procedure as it's all "natural". Send all your coins to your new wallet. Keep your old wallet for a couple of years before you delete it, someone might send you coins there. (I mean, to the addresses that are in the old wallet.)

Thanks again, Dabs. If I do the new wallet, does that mean when transfering coins from the old wallet to the new, I must have two instances of QT running on the same machine, or have to use 2 machines?

[Dabs]

Nope. Quit Qt. Just backup your old wallet, then rename it or delete it. Run Qt, it will create a new wallet for you. Optionally encrypt it. Use the first address. Quit Qt. Backup your new wallet. Restore the old wallet. Run Qt. Transfer all your coins to the new address in the new wallet. Quit Qt. Restore your new wallet backup. Run Qt.

You should see your coins in your new wallet now.

[whiskers75]

Import your wallet into blockchain.info/wallet and use that - it gives you control over addresses.

[movellan]

Nope. Quit Qt. Just backup your old wallet, then rename it or delete it. Run Qt, it will create a new wallet for you. Optionally encrypt it. Use the first address. Quit Qt. Backup your new wallet. Restore the old wallet. Run Qt. Transfer all your coins to the new address in the new wallet. Quit Qt. Restore your new wallet backup. Run Qt.

You should see your coins in your new wallet now.

Thanks again, Dabs. I will give that a try when my wallet has fewer coin and I'm feeling brave.

[movellan]

Import your wallet into blockchain.info/wallet and use that - it gives you control over addresses.

whiskers75,

I've fooled around with that a little but have noticed that even though you delete both the empty address and private key, it doesn't go away from the blockchain. Changing IP addresses helps, but it will probably still be traceable.