Transferring Wallet From One Machine To Another (Is Not That Easy?)

[SilverVigilante]

I have been reading the forums about transferring QT from one machine to another, but it doesn't seem like anyone really has come up with the way to do this in a way that I as a reader can understand. I want to give this a try just to see how it works, but I don't know what to do after reading multiple forums on the topic.

Maybe it is just easiest to export wallet to BlockChain.Info, but what does that entail? When a machine re-downloads the block chain, does the entire history pop up of transactions?

I was thinking of putting the block chain on a .dmg file, uploading this to the new machine, and then just, what, dragging and dropping???

Best,
Justin

[Abdussamad]

You just copy the wallet.dat file from your bitcoin folder to the same folder on the new machine. If you want to save time downloading the blockchain on the new machine you can just copy the entire bitcoin folder. The folder's location depends on your operating system:

https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/Data_directory

Do shutdown bitcoind/bitcoin-qt before you do the copy.

[SilverVigilante]

Thank you! All right giving this a try now...

[SilverVigilante]

SO i tried this with a small fraction of BTC, and I reindexed the whole Block Chain but now I have 0 BTC? I dragged and dropped the Bitcoin data directory into the hidden file it is usually on in MAC, and then opened the client and downloaded, but 0 BTC is the problem.

Why?

The data was on a DMG file when I dragged on dropped.

[grue]

SO i tried this with a small fraction of BTC, and I reindexed the whole Block Chain but now I have 0 BTC? I dragged and dropped the Bitcoin data directory into the hidden file it is usually on in MAC, and then opened the client and downloaded, but 0 BTC is the problem.

Why?

The data was on a DMG file when I dragged on dropped.

What operating system were you transferring from, and what operating system were you transferring to?

[BitCoiner2012]

I have been reading the forums about transferring QT from one machine to another, but it doesn't seem like anyone really has come up with the way to do this in a way that I as a reader can understand. I want to give this a try just to see how it works, but I don't know what to do after reading multiple forums on the topic.

Maybe it is just easiest to export wallet to BlockChain.Info, but what does that entail? When a machine re-downloads the block chain, does the entire history pop up of transactions?

I was thinking of putting the block chain on a .dmg file, uploading this to the new machine, and then just, what, dragging and dropping???

Best,
Justin

If you can't figure it out from the thread, PM me and I will walk you through it in a bit. It's exceedingly easy.

[SilverVigilante]

Thank you everyone for responding! This is Mac to mac, same operating systems: 10.8.4.  I am just trying to do this to better understand the system and write up an article so others can understand. If I can't figure this out I will personally IM you. But again, from 10.8.4 MAC, to a DMG file, which basically is like an external, and then two drag and drops (bitcoin folder and bitcoin client). Reindexed block, but now i am down BTC (again, just a fraction, but still...)

Gracias to all! 

[justmyname]

Why not just download a new wallet to the new computer and send the coins as a transaction? 

[icey]

Why not just download a new wallet to the new computer and send the coins as a transaction? 

Personally I'd do this, can't really go wrong

[grue]

Why not just download a new wallet to the new computer and send the coins as a transaction? 

Why not just download a new wallet to the new computer and send the coins as a transaction? 

Personally I'd do this, can't really go wrong

see:

[...]I am just trying to do this to better understand the system and write up an article so others can understand. [...]

[icey]

Sorry only read the OP