Electrum always showing 'synchronising'?

[sherlyn]

Hi.. I am running electrum version 2.8.2, which is password protected.

But recently, I am not able to perform any transactions from it, and it is always showing 'synchronising'.

This is how it looks like- http://prntscr.com/l9kgu4

Please help.

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[TryNinja]

Update your Electrum to the latest version.

AFAIK there are synchronization issues for versions below 2.9.3;

[sherlyn]

Update your Electrum to the latest version.

AFAIK there are synchronization issues for versions below 2.9.3;

Thanks for your reply. Can you please tell me how to update it without losing any money?

Last time I upgraded from multibit to electrum, and people told me that you need to import private keys to the new wallet, but now I have heard that there are HD wallets being made, and importing private keys is not possible anymore.

Can you please address these issues and clarify them for me?

Thanks in advance.

[pooya87]

is it really "always" or is it just taking more time? what is happening in the background is that you are downloading a file that is more than 40 MB in size and it can take a while depending on your internet speed. you can find the file here on windows: %appdata%\Electrum it is called blockchain_headers

as for upgrade, you are not switching wallets from one implementation to another like what you did with Multibit to Electrum. you are just getting a new version of the same implementation which is from 2.8.2 to 3.2.3
the only thing you need to do in this case is to have your SEED backed up by writing it down on a piece of paper. sometimes it is best if you make a copy of your wallet file too before making the upgrade but SEED is more than enough.
the process is downloading the new version installer from the official website, then verifying its signature, and if it was valid then simply install the new version by double clicking on the installer (for windows, in Linux simply replace the old files with the new ones that you get by extracting the tarball).

~ I have heard that there are HD wallets being made, and importing private keys is not possible anymore.

you don't need to import private keys for upgrading but just so you know, it is possible to do it. it's just that Electrum is preventing you from importing a private key in an HD wallet (a wallet that has seed) to prevent you from having 1 key among other keys that can not be recovered from seed while the rest can! so it forces you to create a separate new wallet and import that 1 key there so it is obvious that this key is not recovered by your HD wallet seed.

[sherlyn]

is it really "always" or is it just taking more time? what is happening in the background is that you are downloading a file that is more than 40 MB in size and it can take a while depending on your internet speed. you can find the file here on windows: %appdata%\Electrum it is called blockchain_headers

as for upgrade, you are not switching wallets from one implementation to another like what you did with Multibit to Electrum. you are just getting a new version of the same implementation which is from 2.8.2 to 3.2.3
the only thing you need to do in this case is to have your SEED backed up by writing it down on a piece of paper. sometimes it is best if you make a copy of your wallet file too before making the upgrade but SEED is more than enough.
the process is downloading the new version installer from the official website, then verifying its signature, and if it was valid then simply install the new version by double clicking on the installer (for windows, in Linux simply replace the old files with the new ones that you get by extracting the tarball).

~ I have heard that there are HD wallets being made, and importing private keys is not possible anymore.

you don't need to import private keys for upgrading but just so you know, it is possible to do it. it's just that Electrum is preventing you from importing a private key in an HD wallet (a wallet that has seed) to prevent you from having 1 key among other keys that can not be recovered from seed while the rest can! so it forces you to create a separate new wallet and import that 1 key there so it is obvious that this key is not recovered by your HD wallet seed.

Thanks for your explanation.
Actually the wallet I'm running does not have a SEED, I made it using private key only. So, do I need to create a seed first and then upgrade?

Or should I import the private keys again into the version 3.2.3 without creating a seed?

[pooya87]

~
Thanks for your explanation.
Actually the wallet I'm running does not have a SEED, I made it using private key only. So, do I need to create a seed first and then upgrade?

Or should I import the private keys again into the version 3.2.3 without creating a seed?

no, you just upgrade and the new version will open the old wallet and you will be good to go.

but as i said it is a good idea to keep a backup just in case something went wrong. in your case make a copy of your wallet file and write down your private key(s) on a paper (eg. printing them in which case make sure your printer is not storing them in its memory).
your wallet file is here: %appdata%\Electrum\wallets
and your private key can be found either by right clicking on each address in your "Addresses" tab and selecting private key then entering your password. or you can go to "Wallet > Private keys > export" from the menu and export all your keys.

[bob123]

Actually the wallet I'm running does not have a SEED, I made it using private key only. So, do I need to create a seed first and then upgrade?

Or should I import the private keys again into the version 3.2.3 without creating a seed?

Do yourself a favor and create a new (HD) wallet. This will make backups, further imports/exports, recoveries and handling MUCH easier.
However, this means that you need to send a transaction to the new wallet and that your old addresses won't be under control of your new wallet anymore (still keeping a backup).

I'd suggest you do the following:

• Backup your wallet file and rename it to something like 'backup-2018-10-24'
• Download and install the latest version of electrum
• Open the new version and create a new wallet. Backup the new seed (non-digital, e.g. on a piece of paper, do NOT copy&paste it), and read everything carefully.
• Now copy (not move) your backup into the electrum wallet directory:  press WIN-key and R, then enter %appdata%\Electrum\wallets, copy your backup into this directory
• Inside of electrum, press: File -> Open
• Choose your backup wallet. You should have 2 instances of electrum open now. One with your new wallet and one with your old wallet
• Make sure you have a backup of your new seed! Do not proceed further without having a proper (non-digital) backup.
  
• Now get a new address from your new wallet via the 'receive'-tab, copy it
• Create a new transaction from your old wallet to your new one, using the full amount.
• Double check everything.

You will still be able to receive BTC to your old addresses, you can simply access them by using the old wallet file in electrum's wallet directory.
A full transition to your new wallet is still desirable.

[sherlyn]

~
Thanks for your explanation.
Actually the wallet I'm running does not have a SEED, I made it using private key only. So, do I need to create a seed first and then upgrade?

Or should I import the private keys again into the version 3.2.3 without creating a seed?

no, you just upgrade and the new version will open the old wallet and you will be good to go.

but as i said it is a good idea to keep a backup just in case something went wrong. in your case make a copy of your wallet file and write down your private key(s) on a paper (eg. printing them in which case make sure your printer is not storing them in its memory).
your wallet file is here: %appdata%\Electrum\wallets
and your private key can be found either by right clicking on each address in your "Addresses" tab and selecting private key then entering your password. or you can go to "Wallet > Private keys > export" from the menu and export all your keys.

Thanks. I want to ask one more question, how to make a backup?
Sorry but I am not that good with computers. I am using windows 7.
Thanks in advance.

[bob123]

[...]
but as i said it is a good idea to keep a backup just in case something went wrong. in your case make a copy of your wallet file and write down your private key(s) on a paper (eg. printing them in which case make sure your printer is not storing them in its memory).
your wallet file is here: %appdata%\Electrum\wallets
and your private key can be found either by right clicking on each address in your "Addresses" tab and selecting private key then entering your password. or you can go to "Wallet > Private keys > export" from the menu and export all your keys.

Thanks. I want to ask one more question, how to make a backup?

Did you even read the post you have quoted ?

It is pretty hard to explain it even more detailed. I guess you can figure out yourself how to copy a file on windows.. If not, take a look here.


Note, that your wallet format is deprecated. It is recommended to use (modern) HD-wallets.
This will save you a lot of time in case of something going wrong at any time in the future.

[Lucius]

Thanks. I want to ask one more question, how to make a backup?
Sorry but I am not that good with computers. I am using windows 7.
Thanks in advance.

Your private key/s are actually all what you need, so take pooya87 advice and export your private keys first. But in that case be sure that you have clean PC without any virus/malware because private keys are very sensitive information which should not be saved in text format on device which have access to the internet.

Regarding backup of Electrum files on Windows 7 follow these steps :

Click on My Computer - Select Local Disc C - Users - Your User Name (Home) - Tab Organize/Folder and search option/Under View Tab click Show Hidden Files - Then click folder App Data - Roaming - Electrum - Wallets. Copy/Paste wallet folder anywhere you think is safe - maybe USB stick.

When you have backup of private keys and your wallet/s file then just upgrade Electrum by visit https://electrum.org/#download and select Windows - Windows Installer. After install you should have latest version of Electrum with your coins and no problem with sync.

[pooya87]

Click on My Computer - Select Local Disc C - Users - Your User Name (Home) - Tab Organize/Folder and search option/Under View Tab click Show Hidden Files - Then click folder App Data - Roaming - Electrum - Wallets. Copy/Paste wallet folder anywhere you think is safe - maybe USB stick.

the directory address i posted above with the percentage signs does this faster and easier, plus you go past the hidden files so you don't need to enable them.

Code:

%appdata%\Electrum\wallets

you just have to paste this in your explorer window (open my computer and past in address field).
not to mention that if the user has changed the location of "appdata" this will bring him there since it may be located in D:\ for example.

[Lucius]

Click on My Computer - Select Local Disc C - Users - Your User Name (Home) - Tab Organize/Folder and search option/Under View Tab click Show Hidden Files - Then click folder App Data - Roaming - Electrum - Wallets. Copy/Paste wallet folder anywhere you think is safe - maybe USB stick.

the directory address i posted above with the percentage signs does this faster and easier, plus you go past the hidden files so you don't need to enable them.

Code:

%appdata%\Electrum\wallets

you just have to paste this in your explorer window (open my computer and past in address field).
not to mention that if the user has changed the location of "appdata" this will bring him there since it may be located in D:\ for example.

This is true, much faster then step by step as I wrote it - but since sherlyn wrote "Sorry but I am not that good with computers" even your advice may be problematic because you did not write where to paste that address. For some it may seem strange that someone does not know such basic things, but they need to start learn from somewhere. Detailed description of the procedure seems unnecessary, but maybe in this case it makes sense.

[bob123]

Click on My Computer - Select Local Disc C - Users - Your User Name (Home) - Tab Organize/Folder and search option/Under View Tab click Show Hidden Files - Then click folder App Data - Roaming - Electrum - Wallets. Copy/Paste wallet folder anywhere you think is safe - maybe USB stick.

the directory address i posted above with the percentage signs does this faster and easier, plus you go past the hidden files so you don't need to enable them.

Code:

%appdata%\Electrum\wallets

you just have to paste this in your explorer window (open my computer and past in address field).
not to mention that if the user has changed the location of "appdata" this will bring him there since it may be located in D:\ for example.

This is true, much faster then step by step as I wrote it - but since sherlyn wrote "Sorry but I am not that good with computers" even your advice may be problematic because you did not write where to paste that address. For some it may seem strange that someone does not know such basic things, but they need to start learn from somewhere. Detailed description of the procedure seems unnecessary, but maybe in this case it makes sense.

It is not only much faster, but also doesn't change settings inside of windows.
There is absolutely no reason for a regular user to show the 'hidden files' inside of his explorer. This would just confuse people not that familiar with computer/windows.

The fastest, easiest and most elegant way has been mentioned by pooya87.

"%appdata%\Electrum\wallets" (or any other path, either absolute or via PATH-variable) can be entered in the file explorer and also in the 'Run Command' window (to be opened with WIN-key + R).


I'd always recommend to not change any settings if not necessary.

[HCP]

Sorry but I am not that good with computers. I am using windows 7.

That could make upgrading to the latest Electrum somewhat problematic.

The newer versions of Electrum don't play particularly nicely with older versions of Windows. If you get an error regarding python35.dll after you attempt to upgrade, then you will need to do as advised on the Electrum download page:

Note: Some old versions of Windows might need to install the KB2999226 Windows update.

NOTE: This update can be downloaded here: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=49077