Computer No Longer Works, Restoring Electrum?

[viking02]

I use electrum 2.6.  My laptop that i use went bad and cannot turn on.  Went to a repair shop and they could no fix it and thus it doesn't turn on and thus i have to buy new laptop.


I have a copy of my electrum 2.6 on my usb.  I also have the 12 word phrase which is called the seed right?


The thing is i put the usb into my desktop computer which has close to nothing on it in terms or programs of any sort and i click on electrum 2.6 in the usb file and i get this message.




Electrum could not find an existing wallet.


What do you want to do?

Create a new wallet

Restore a wallet or import keys




Wallet kind


standard wallet

wallet with two- factor authentication

multi-signature wallet

hardware wallet



Here's the thing.  I do not plan on using this desktop at all for bitcoin transactions.  The desktop is a temporary computer that im using because i have no laptop.  So for now, i want to access my electrum wallet and send my bitcoins to a betting site.  Then later on when i get a new computer, then i either use this same wallet or create a new wallet?  


Can someone tell me which of these options im suppose to choose for the 1st two questions?  I'm guessing its option 2 restore a wallet or import keys as oppose to create a new wallet?  For the 2nd question, which is wallet type?  I did have a password in electrum where if i send bitcoin, i have to put in a password.  I'm guessing its still standard wallet?


And can someone tell me exactly what will show up in my screen after i pick the 2 choices?  Because i dont want to put in restore a wallet or import keys and standard wallet, then im not sure exactly what to press etc.  First time my laptop ever went bad on me but i do have a copy of electrum on my usb.  Can someone tell me step by step instructions here?  I had thought me having the electrum saved on the usb is much better than having the 12 word phrase right?  Do most of you restore your electrum with the backup on your usb or the 12 word phrase?


Thanks guys.

[ranochigo]

If you have the 12 word seed then you are pretty safe, as long as you remember the password if there is any. You should just install the latest version of Electrum. However, the process would be slightly different than when you first installed it.

After installation, click on Restore a wallet or Import keys. If the wallet that you chose was the standard wallet then select that option. Enter the password if you have it when it prompts you. You should have the addresses back in your wallet.

[viking02]

Hi there.  Which password are you talking about?  Do you mean when sending bitcoin?  Because whenever i send bitcoin, i had to type in the password.  I do have this.  Or you mean something else?


Okay so you want me to manually download electrum from the website or select option 1?  Im very hesistant on doing this as quick as possible as i want to make sure i do it right so want to have 100 percent clear directions on this.


I like to hear from others who restored electrum.  Did you do it on another computer?  Well i guess another computer or same computer would be the same if your main computer you couldn't use it anymore or had to do a restallation?  And most importantly, if you have a copy of it on the usb, do it that way or just do the 12 word phrase?   I want do reinstall electrum the most safe way that is possible and the way most people do it.  Thanks.

[ranochigo]

Hi there.  Which password are you talking about?  Do you mean when sending bitcoin?  Because whenever i send bitcoin, i had to type in the password.  I do have this.  Or you mean something else?

I haven't restored Electrum wallet in quite a while but yes, that is if they prompt. However, if my memory doesn't fail me, they won't request this when they are restoring the wallet.

Okay so you want me to manually download electrum from the website or select option 1?  Im very hesistant on doing this as quick as possible as i want to make sure i do it right so want to have 100 percent clear directions on this.

Since you said the Electrum client does not detect your wallet, you most likely didn't copy the data file (Electrum_data) or (%appdata%/Electrum). You are 100% fine as long as you have the seed.

[Jhanzo]

Hi there.  Which password are you talking about?  Do you mean when sending bitcoin?  Because whenever i send bitcoin, i had to type in the password.  I do have this.  Or you mean something else?

I haven't restored Electrum wallet in quite a while but yes, that is if they prompt. However, if my memory doesn't fail me, they won't request this when they are restoring the wallet.

The password will be reset once you restore from seed.  The prompt is for a new password.

[viking02]

okay thanks.  Can anyone here who restored electrum recently tell me the exact directions on this?  And such as did you restore it on new computer, same computer, same computer when reinstalled?


I basically just dragged the electrum 2.6 file into my usb.  Does that mean i did it the wrong way?  I had assumed that was right?  Or its wrong?


I don't mind restoring my electrum with the file or the usb or the 12 word phrase.  

[viking02]

okay guys can someone here list the steps for me?  So use the 12 word phrase as oppose to the electrum in my usb?  Or did i backed it up into usb wrong?  All i did was drag electrum 2.6 from laptop to the usb. 

[Jhanzo]

okay thanks.  Can anyone here who restored electrum recently tell me the exact directions on this?  And such as did you restore it on new computer, same computer, same computer when reinstalled?


I basically just dragged the electrum 2.6 file into my usb.  Does that mean i did it the wrong way?  I had assumed that was right?  Or its wrong?


I don't mind restoring my electrum with the file or the usb or the 12 word phrase.  

Don't worry, it will work unless you got the wrong seed.  I wipe out my memory quite frequently and never got a problem restoring from seed.
If your downloaded the stand alone executable then moving it anywhere won't be a problem.  Same goes for the installer too but the installer will actually install electrum in a specified location.

okay guys can someone here list the steps for me?  So use the 12 word phrase as oppose to the electrum in my usb?  Or did i backed it up into usb wrong?  All i did was drag electrum 2.6 from laptop to the usb.  

Now you're going backward.  You can restore from anywhere, the wallet file will be generated in the same place no matter where you open the executable from.  There are no steps left once you enter the seed.

[viking02]

I will put it this way.  When i start electrum on my laptop, i would type electrum on the start key then see it then i click on it.  this is the exact electrum that is in my downloads folder.  Well it SHOULD be... because theres only one 2.6 electrum.  I have a old electrum as well but upgraded to 2.6 later on.


My 12 word phrase im positive is correct.  So you want me to click on Restore a wallet or import keys and then standard wallet?   Or you want me to download electrum 2.6 from the electrum site.  Then input the 12 word phrase etc?  Since the popup i got is because i am opening electrum 2.6 from my usb file.  Again i have no idea if i made a copy of electrum correctly on my usb because i just dragged it.

[Jhanzo]

I will put it this way.  When i start electrum on my laptop, i would type electrum on the start key then see it then i click on it.  this is the exact electrum that is in my downloads folder.  Well it SHOULD be... because theres only one 2.6 electrum.  I have a old electrum as well but upgraded to 2.6 later on.


My 12 word phrase im positive is correct.  So you want me to click on Restore a wallet or import keys and then standard wallet?   Or you want me to download electrum 2.6 from the electrum site.  Then input the 12 word phrase etc?  Since the popup i got is because i am opening electrum 2.6 from my usb file.  Again i have no idea if i made a copy of electrum correctly on my usb because i just dragged it.

Both.  Download electrum 2.6 from the site if you haven't already then restore it by choosing "Restore a wallet or import keys" and "Standard wallet".  If you already have downloaded the latest version from https://electrum.org/#download there's no need to download it again.

[Abdussamad]

Select:

- Restore a wallet or import keys

- Standard wallet type

Then it'll ask you to enter your seed. So type those 12 words in. If they are correct the next button at the bottom of the window will be clickable ( i.e NOT grayed out). Click on that and it'll generate addresses and ask you to set a password for your restored wallet. This password has nothing to do with your previous password. It's a new password and if you like it can be the same as your old one or a different one. You will be asked for it when spending your bitcoins.

You can always restore from the 12 words only. The 12 words alone are a sufficient backup.

[viking02]

Select:

- Restore a wallet or import keys

- Standard wallet type

Then it'll ask you to enter your seed. So type those 12 words in. If they are correct the next button at the bottom of the window will be clickable ( i.e NOT grayed out). Click on that and it'll generate addresses and ask you to set a password for your restored wallet. This password has nothing to do with your previous password. It's a new password and if you like it can be the same as your old one or a different one. You will be asked for it when spending your bitcoins.

You can always restore from the 12 words only. The 12 words alone are a sufficient backup.

hey there.  So you mean don't download electrum from the site and just open it up from the file in my usb right?  Then do this?  Or you suggest downloading electrum from site.  Don't open the electrum 2.6 from my usb and then do that?


I just don't want to make any silly mistakes here and going to do it now.

[viking02]

okay i put the 12 word phrase and then put in a new password.  So just to confirm this is the password that is used to send bitcoins right?  Because in my laptop, i had to put a password to put in my password before sending the bitcoin.


So you are telling me i were to forget the password, that isn't an issue since i have the 12 word phrase is that correct?  And thus when i reinstall electrum, well it won't ask for that password of mine and thus i have the option to put password or not?  Thus having the 12 word phrase is enough for everything?  Also does anyone here not put a password?  I think that would be very bad idea because anyone that has access to your computer could send the bitcoin easily right if they search your computer?  I haven't sent any password yet but i am happy that i was able to restore it on another computer.


The thing is i will not use this computer anymore soon.  Its basically a computer im using to access my electrum because my laptop went down on me and i have to buy a new laptop.  So how would you suggest i go with this?  Just do the same thing right now on the new laptop when i get one... then erase electrum on this desktop?  Thus add/remove programs and delete the program? 

[Jhanzo]

okay i put the 12 word phrase and then put in a new password.  So just to confirm this is the password that is used to send bitcoins right?

Right.

So you are telling me i were to forget the password, that isn't an issue since i have the 12 word phrase is that correct?
And thus when i reinstall electrum, well it won't ask for that password of mine and thus i have the option to put password or not? Thus having the 12 word phrase is enough for everything?

Correct.

Also does anyone here not put a password?  I think that would be very bad idea because anyone that has access to your computer could send the bitcoin easily right if they search your computer?

Yes.  If someone get your wallet file and it's not password protected, they'll be able to spend any bitcoins stored in it.

The thing is i will not use this computer anymore soon.  Its basically a computer im using to access my electrum because my laptop went down on me and i have to buy a new laptop.  So how would you suggest i go with this?  Just do the same thing right now on the new laptop when i get one... then erase electrum on this desktop?  Thus add/remove programs and delete the program? 

Just uninstalling won't be enough to remove your wallet.  If you're using windows you'll have to go to C:\Users\[Username]\AppData\Roaming\Electrum\wallets and delete everything inside the folder (ofc you should back them up first if you haven't).
Appdata is usually hidden but you can go there by pressing Win+R and enter "appdata" without quotes.

[Abdussamad]

okay i put the 12 word phrase and then put in a new password.  So just to confirm this is the password that is used to send bitcoins right?  Because in my laptop, i had to put a password to put in my password before sending the bitcoin.


So you are telling me i were to forget the password, that isn't an issue since i have the 12 word phrase is that correct?  And thus when i reinstall electrum, well it won't ask for that password of mine and thus i have the option to put password or not?  Thus having the 12 word phrase is enough for everything? 

Electrum stores the wallet in your user directory. When you uninstall electrum the wallet is not removed. If you reinstall it it will detect that an old wallet is still there and open it up by default. To get it to create and/or restore another wallet you have to use the file -> new/restore option and later the file >open option to open a specific wallet file.

The 12 word phrase lets electrum recreate all your private keys and corresponding addresses. The wallet file stores transaction and address labels that cannot be recovered with just the 12 word seed. So you can access your bitcoins but the labels will not be there unless you keep a copy of the wallet file too.

The password encrypts the 12 word phrase before it is written to your hard disk. The idea is that if someone malicious gets their hands on your computer, either locally or remotely, they can't spend your bitcoin until and unless they enter the password.

I think that would be very bad idea because anyone that has access to your computer could send the bitcoin easily right if they search your computer?  I haven't sent any password yet but i am happy that i was able to restore it on another computer.

Exactly. Setting a password is good.

The thing is i will not use this computer anymore soon.  Its basically a computer im using to access my electrum because my laptop went down on me and i have to buy a new laptop.  So how would you suggest i go with this?  Just do the same thing right now on the new laptop when i get one... then erase electrum on this desktop?  Thus add/remove programs and delete the program? 

After uninstalling electrum from add/remove you should remove the wallet file too. You will find this in the data dir:

http://docs.electrum.org/en/latest/faq.html#where-is-my-wallet-file-located

[viking02]

okay i will install electrum on my new wallet when i get one.


about the password thing, so you are telling me if someone has access to your electrum but don't know your password, they can or cannot access your bitcoins?  I heard many cases where people bitcoins got hacked but i think a few of them were them clinking on a link.  So if someone does have your electrum wallet or access to your computer, couldn't they click on a virus link and then hack your bitcoin wallet?


thanks all.

[Coding Enthusiast]

when someone has access to your computer with Electrum wallet installed on it but he doesn't have access to your private keys if you have set a password so he doesn't have access to your coins (can not spend them),
he has access to the following :
- your bitcoin addresses and how much bitcoin you have
- your wallet.dat file which is encrypted with your password
- your computer so he can install a key logger to steal your password next time you type it in and then de-crypt your wallet with your password and gain access.

- also if your password is week it can be brute forced and it would be as if you never had any password.

[NorrisK]

Is the hard drive broken? Or maybe only the motherboard?
If the hard drive is fine, you should be able to put it in a different laptop and transfer the coins by normal sending to a new wallet.

The seed should also work and would be very safe if the laptop is new and basically hasn't touched the internet yet.

[viking02]

hey guys looking for advice on this.  The hard drive is fine.  I have the hard drive and actually connected it to my desktop and i can see everything that is on it.  Here is my issue.  I am going to a repair shop because i bought a new laptop but the hard drive is a very slow hard drive.  I want to use this ssd in the broken computer put into the new computer.  First off, i already copied the files from it to an external.  When i look through this ssd hard drive via an enclosure, i see all my other programs there including electrum wallet.


The thing that i want to do is wipe everything on the ssd hard drive clean to be used on the new laptop.  So do you guys say i should just delete electrum on it even though i will not have an issue?  Someone here mentioned if someone has access to your hard drive and you have electrum there, they could see the amount of bitcoin you have but cannot do anything if you have a password which i do.


Is there a way to delete the electrum off this ssd hard drive?  Should i bother this or not necessary?  I also assume it not as simple as just delete it and send recycle bin?  I believe someone mentioned there was another way to do this.  Im also curious about this because the desktop that i restored my electrum in, im using this desktop temporarily and will be using another computer soon.  But i should delete it before i bring it to repair shop?


My old computers broke.  Hard drive is fine.

Can someone tell me this?  I have to go there later.

[viking02]

hey guys.  Im going to install electrum on a new computer.  The current computer that i installed electrum on recently, i will not use anymore and will want electrum deleted here.


Do you guys suggest i download electrum on the new computer first and restore it with the 12 word phrase?  Then i go and delete electrum on the other computer that i no longer will use?  Or it doesn't matter which one first?  Probably better to restore electrum on new computer first in case right?  Does that mean you can have electrum opened on 2 different computers at once?  Or i should x electrum on the old computer first?


And can someone confirm how to delete electrum fully on my old computer that i no longer will use?  Do i have to remove programs electrum?  Or can i just delete it off of my desktop.  I assume the first one right since removing just the desktop, the desktop icon is nothing more than a shortcut?  Thus if i type electrum on the search bar, then its still there?  Thanks.