is it possible to get private keys using the Armory wallet Root Key?

[mikoslav]

Question:

I have a back up seed  (Root Key) for my armory wallet, there is no BTC in it, but there is some Bitcoin Cash there. (prefork wallet, and I moved my BTC away from this wallet last december).
I have not updated bitcoin core nor my armory wallet since there.
Now armory doesnt event start.

so my question is, since I want to get my BCH from that prefork address, and I dont want to be forced to synchronize bitcoin core, -
- can I use the Root Key (from my Paper Backup for Armory Wallet that I printed out initially)
in some application/program to recover my private key?

Or I do HAVE to install armory wallet and recover it there?

thanks in advance.

[bob123]

The 'root key' is not compatible with other wallets.

But you can install the latest version of armory (from https://btcarmory.com/) and export the private keys of the addresses which contained BTC prior to the fork.
AFAIK, you don't need core to be synced to simply open armory and export the private keys.

The private keys can then be imported into any wallet supporting your forked coins.

[HCP]

bob123 is correct on all counts...

- An Armory "Root Key" is proprietary to Armory and incompatible with other wallets
- Armory DOES NOT require Bitcoin Core to be installed (or synced) to simply open the application
- You will still be able to restore your wallet from Root Key and export WIF format private keys without Bitcoin Core

[mikoslav]

Thank you for the answers, will do that.

[mikoslav]

So...
the latest version of Armory didnt want to open for me so

I installed an earlier release available - 0.96.1, and I was able to open it.
I restored my wallet from the root key.
BUT - I dont see any option to make it show/export the private key.

only thing I can do is "back up" the wallet, which is useless.

How can I see the private key to my wallet?
anyone?

[HCP]

I installed an earlier release available - 0.96.1, and I was able to open it.
I restored my wallet from the root key.
BUT - I dont see any option to make it show/export the private key.

only thing I can do is "back up" the wallet, which is useless.

How can I see the private key to my wallet?
anyone?

"Backup wallet" is exactly the option you need... it's just that the private key export is a little bit hidden. Try this old post of mine: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=4746784.msg43255691#msg43255691

If you can manage to get it running... you can export your keys and then import them into another wallet like Electrum... If you just want to get it open, and 0.96.4 still won't run for you, you can try the older version and do the key export without worrying about syncing with Core etc.

NOTE: exporting keys should not be taken lightly. There is a chance your keys may get compromised if your computer is not secured and you could suffer coin loss as a result.


To export your keys, you can use the following menu options in Armory:
- Wallet Properties
- Backup This Wallet


- Select "Export Keys List" (top left box)
- Click "Export Keys List" (bottom box)


- Select the following options: "Address String", "Private Key (Plain Base58)","Include Unused (Address Pool)"... and make sure "Omit spaces in key data" is checked


You'll end up with a list of all the addresses and private keys displayed in the text box. The private keys will be labelled as "Plain Base58"

You can then "import" or "sweep" those private keys using the wallet of your choice (like Electrum or Bitcoin Core). I would highly recommend "sweeping" (as opposed to "importing") as the private keys could potentially be compromised/exposed during the export/import process.