Cannot click "Next" when move Multibit to Electrum

[LK2017]

Hi,

I tried to move multibit classical to electrum with private key protected by password, exported around 2 years ago.

While when I paste the key information in file [walletname.key], the “Next” button is grey, i.e. cannot go to next step…

I’m wondering whether I should export key without password as shown in official tutorial… but how about security….
(even I can withdraw all bitcoin immediately, how about BCH? I didn't claim it yet)


Or I overlooked anything?  The key begins with a U now.

Anybody can help me on this?

Thanks a lot!


L

 

[1713574255]

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[1713574255]

1713574255

[1713574255]

1713574255

[HCP]

I tried to move multibit classical to electrum with private key protected by password, exported around 2 years ago.
....
Or I overlooked anything?  The key begins with a U now.

That isn't a private key at all... it is encrypted text that probably looks something like:


Electrum cannot import this.


As per the tutorial (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LaijbTcxsv8), you MUST export the private key without password protection. Otherwise you cannot open the export file to read the keys... you just get the big lot of "random" encrypted characters.

The private key needs to be in WIF format and show start with a "5", an "L" or a "K"... your export file needs to looks like this:


You then just copy/paste the Keys ONLY... do NOT just copy/paste the whole file... and do NOT copy the "date/timestamps" at the end of each line...

[LK2017]

OIC .  Thx u so much

It seems no other choice but export without password.
It seems need to be online and synchronize again to re-export key without password, but it is so slow now .  Is there any deadline /cut off date for move to electrum?

For sake of security, will move BTC to keep key wallet, but about BCH?
If there is no password, anyone obtains this key can claim BCH based on it?

Thanks again! Appreciate it.

[HCP]

It seems no other choice but export without password.
It seems need to be online and synchronize again to re-export key without password, but it is so slow now .  Is there any deadline /cut off date for move to electrum?

No, you don't need to be online or synchronised... you can be completely offline and use "tools -> export private keys". In fact, I recommend doing it this way.

- Get offline
- Export keys from MBC with NO password
- import keys into Electrum (File -> New\Restore -> Import Bitcoin addresses or private keys -> copy/paste private keys, one per line -> Set a strong password on the wallet file)
- (Optional) write you private keys down on paper, so you have an offline copy.
- Delete the exported key file.
- Go online and sync Electrum.

For added security, you could consider doing a lot of that with a Linux Live CD/USB boot disk that has networking disabled and no persistent storage. That would help minimise possible exposure of your private keys.

Also, there is no "deadline"... the BCH (and BTG) will sit on those keys until it is moved by someone with access to the keys.

For sake of security, will move BTC to keep key wallet, but about BCH?
If there is no password, anyone obtains this key can claim BCH based on it?

Yes, I would highly recommend moving the BTC as soon as you can... move them to a completely new wallet... and possibly your BCH too (you can use ElectronCash to get your BCH at the same time that you use Electrum)

Yes, if the file is in plaintext, anyone who gets access to that file will have access to your private keys and theoretically any BTC, BCH or BTG that has not been moved from the key.

NOTE: currently there are no decent wallets for BTG except the BitcoinGold Core wallet that requires a full blockchain download.

[LK2017]

It seems no other choice but export without password.
It seems need to be online and synchronize again to re-export key without password, but it is so slow now .  Is there any deadline /cut off date for move to electrum?

No, you don't need to be online or synchronised... you can be completely offline and use "tools -> export private keys". In fact, I recommend doing it this way.

- Get offline
- Export keys from MBC with NO password
- import keys into Electrum (File -> New\Restore -> Import Bitcoin addresses or private keys -> copy/paste private keys, one per line -> Set a strong password on the wallet file)
- (Optional) write you private keys down on paper, so you have an offline copy.
- Delete the exported key file.
- Go online and sync Electrum.

For added security, you could consider doing a lot of that with a Linux Live CD/USB boot disk that has networking disabled and no persistent storage. That would help minimise possible exposure of your private keys.

Also, there is no "deadline"... the BCH (and BTG) will sit on those keys until it is moved by someone with access to the keys.

For sake of security, will move BTC to keep key wallet, but about BCH?
If there is no password, anyone obtains this key can claim BCH based on it?

Yes, I would highly recommend moving the BTC as soon as you can... move them to a completely new wallet... and possibly your BCH too (you can use ElectronCash to get your BCH at the same time that you use Electrum)

Yes, if the file is in plaintext, anyone who gets access to that file will have access to your private keys and theoretically any BTC, BCH or BTG that has not been moved from the key.

NOTE: currently there are no decent wallets for BTG except the BitcoinGold Core wallet that requires a full blockchain download.

Thank u so much for detailed explanation.  It's extremely helpful to me.

I backup MBC wallet on separate offline disk in format of [name.wallet], so every time I need to reload to visit it and it's very very slow.

Thanks for the important reminder that after reload the wallet , I should be keep offline for export key / import key.   Will try .

Another question is, is there any tutorial on claim BCH with  ElectronCash, it looks very similar to Electrum.  I want do it at the same time, then no need to worry about any further risk on the old key(can discard it)

Or may I claim BCH with blockchain (import key to blockchain after move BTC to keepkey? Which one is better?

Thanks again.  Appreciate it.

[HCP]

Another question is, is there any tutorial on claim BCH with  ElectronCash, it looks very similar to Electrum.  I want do it at the same time, then no need to worry about any further risk on the old key(can discard it)

You basically do everything that same... but use ElectronCash instead of Electrum... ElectronCash was a "fork" of the Electrum codebase, so it is isn't identical, but works with BitcoinCash instead of Bitcoin.

Simply import the private keys  into ElectronCash they way you import them into Electrum (I'd do it at the same time)... then you have BTC in Electrum and BCH in ElectronCash... I'd recommend moving both your BTC and BCH to new wallets after importing.

[LK2017]

Another question is, is there any tutorial on claim BCH with  ElectronCash, it looks very similar to Electrum.  I want do it at the same time, then no need to worry about any further risk on the old key(can discard it)

You basically do everything that same... but use ElectronCash instead of Electrum... ElectronCash was a "fork" of the Electrum codebase, so it is isn't identical, but works with BitcoinCash instead of Bitcoin.

Simply import the private keys  into ElectronCash they way you import them into Electrum (I'd do it at the same time)... then you have BTC in Electrum and BCH in ElectronCash... I'd recommend moving both your BTC and BCH to new wallets after importing.

Got it!
Million thanks!  Really appreciate your help!