Help! Bitcoin wallet wont open

[shelldrake]

Morning guys.  Woke up this morning to check my wallet and it wont open.

Can't copy and past from the error but i'll type it out.

Assertion Failed
Programd *****\bitcoin-qt.exe
File:table/table_builder.cc
Expression:r->options.comparator->Compare(key, Slice(r->last_key))>0

than it has the usual C++ "retry to debug) info.


what is it? and how do I fix it?

[phiz]

I'd suggest replacing your wallet.dat with a recent backup. You do have a backup, right?

[shelldrake]

I had only just finished downloading the 7+gig client about 2 days ago.  Didn't have any BTC yet. 

A: I really don't want to spend a couple days downloading the client again, so would like to see if I could fix it.
B: how do you prevent that happening, other than backup?

[Miner_Willy]

I had only just finished downloading the 7+gig client about 2 days ago.  Didn't have any BTC yet. 

A: I really don't want to spend a couple days downloading the client again, so would like to see if I could fix it.

The client is not 7+gig, the blockchain is. If you uninstall the client it will leave the 7+gig blockchain behind. (I'd then reboot.) If you then download and reinstall the client, it'll see the blockchain left behind, and start using it instead of redownloading it. Hopefully that would be enough!

[shelldrake]

sweet! thanks.  I'll do that.  Scary thing, I understood your comment.

[Miner_Willy]

sweet! thanks.  I'll do that.  Scary thing, I understood your comment.

You'll need to register as an expert now!

[Douglas1949]

2013 08 29; 16h42 GMT
I had a similar problem - Assertion failed! windo when tried to open Bitcoin Wallet.  Your solution worked Willie - and I am very, very grateful to you for the advice.  What I did exactly:  1) I had a backup copy of all the data (folders and files) under C:\Documents and Settings\My User Name\Application data\Bitcoin  (Windows XP).   2) Uninstalled Bitcoin  3) copied all the backup data from my external hard disk to the Bitcoin folder indicated above;   4) Downloaded Bitcoin and ran it;   5) All fixed!
Thanks once again - people like you are invaluable - I had just over £10,000 that I thought I had lost - have not slept for two days and nights.