Missing wallet after update from 3.0.3 to 3.3.6

[jaapdeventer]

Hi, I just updated to Electrum 3.3.6 and now I can't find my wallet.

Just before updating I had Electrum 3.0.3 on screen. I wanted to sell bitcoin. At that moment I was informed I needed to update before I could pay the bitcoin.

Last time I bought bitcoin was august 2018. At that time I updated from multibit wallet to Electrum.

Where should I look for my Electrum Wallet?

Thanks!

https://imgur.com/vpdHTgB

[mocacinno]

close electrum immedately, don't touch it again untill you've read the updated version of this post (look back in <5 minutes)

updated version: if you had version 3.0.3, you were running a version that was vulnerable to a phising attack. Since you say you were prompted to download a newer version, you HAVE to make sure you didn't download a malware version... Please, remove the "upgraded" version and download a 100% clean version from https://electrum.org/#home, then check if ThomasV's signature matches BEFORE you install the new version...

If there was *ANY* chance you were running the malware version, I'd urge you to install a clean electrum version on a clean pc, recover your old wallet from the seed, generate a new wallet on the clean pc and empty out your old wallet into the new wallet ASAP... unless you're 100% sure you didn't run a malware version, in this case you can just recover your wallet from seed right away or look for the wallet file in: C:\Users\[your username]\AppData\Roaming\Electrum\wallets.
If you open and decrypt your wallet from the malware version of electrum, your funds will be gone in a heartbeat.

[jaapdeventer]

Thanks for your response. But the folder C:\Users\[your username]\AppData\Roaming\Electrum\wallets is empty. Also searched on alternative locations.

What is the wallet format I should look for? Is it "electrum.wallet" or something else?

In the header of Electrum 3.0.3 is says "Wallet Jaap [imported]" (made a printscreen so I know).

Also I don't remember getting or making a seed.

[NeuroticFish]

What is the wallet format I should look for? Is it "electrum.wallet" or something else?

In the header of Electrum 3.0.3 is says "Wallet Jaap [imported]" (made a printscreen so I know).

I'd expect to be a file Wallet Jaap without any extension.

Edit: can you confirm that you downloaded by hand the new Electrum from electrum.org instead of downloading from the place the Electrum "upgrade" popup sent you to?

[mocacinno]

If you still have version 3.0.3 somewhere, you can probably open it, and go to "File" => "open" and see which default folder is opened... You could also use your OS's search functionality (depends on your os tough).

Last option, you can try to open C:\Users\[your username]\AppData\Roaming\Electrum\config with a text editor (like gedit or notepad++) and look for gui_last_wallet and recently_open

However, and i cannot stretch the importance of this enough: do not underestimate the odds of you running a malware version if you were prompted to install a "patch" or an "upgrade". If you are running a malware version, your virusscanner probably won't pick it up, and if you open your wallet with the malware version even once, or even for 1 second, you'll lose your funds straight away.

[jaapdeventer]

The pop-up mentioned Electrum 4.0 (I think). I am sure I closed this pop up. I used the electrum program menu to go to the Electrum site. Downloaded the Windows installer version.

I installed the Electrum 3.3.6 in the same directory as Electrum 3.0.3 was installed. Could it be the original wallet has been deleted in this action?

[mocacinno]

The pop-up mentioned Electrum 4.0 (I think). I am sure I closed this pop up. I used the electrum program menu to go to the Electrum site. Downloaded the Windows installer version.

I installed the Electrum 3.6.6 in the same directory as Electrum 3.0.3 was installed. Could it be the original wallet has been deleted in this action?

The popup was the phising attempt (there is no version 4), but you did have the correct reaction by visiting the original electrum.org site and downloading the newest version (i'd still urge you to look in your browser history and do double check if you really visited electrum.org AND check the signature of the file you downloaded... better safe than sorry )

As for the installation: AFAIK, old wallets shouldn't be removed by upgrading your wallet... However, wallets can be saved anywhere on your system, the path i gave in an earlyer post was just the default path offered by electrum when generating new wallets... I'd still recommand checking out the config file and using your OS's search functionality. If you think the wallet might have been deleted, and you had a lot of funds, it might be a good idear to turn off your computer and clone your disk so you have a backup copy, then use a file recovery tool and hope the wallet can be recovered.

[jackg]

Open the location you "installed" the new electrum version and see if there's an electrum_data folder. It's likely your wallet is there if one exists and it's not in the default directory.

You probably got the portable version like I do...

[jaapdeventer]

The pop-up mentioned Electrum 4.0 (I think). I am sure I closed this pop up. I used the electrum program menu to go to the Electrum site. Downloaded the Windows installer version.

I installed the Electrum 3.6.6 in the same directory as Electrum 3.0.3 was installed. Could it be the original wallet has been deleted in this action?

The popup was the phising attempt (there is no version 4), but you did have the correct reaction by visiting the original electrum.org site and downloading the newest version (i'd still urge you to look in your browser history and do double check if you really visited electrum.org AND check the signature of the file you downloaded... better safe than sorry )

As for the installation: AFAIK, old wallets shouldn't be removed by upgrading your wallet... However, wallets can be saved anywhere on your system, the path i gave in an earlyer post was just the default path offered by electrum when generating new wallets... I'd still recommand checking out the config file and using your OS's search functionality. If you think the wallet might have been deleted, and you had a lot of funds, it might be a good idear to turn off your computer and clone your disk so you have a backup copy, then use a file recovery tool and hope the wallet can be recovered.

I checked my browser history. Fortunately I did indeed visit electrum.org. Following the rest of your advise will take some time.

Thanks for the help.

[jaapdeventer]

I'd still recommand checking out the config file and using your OS's search functionality.

This is the relevant part of the config:

"gui_last_wallet": "D:/AppDataLocal/Electrum\\Wallet Jaap",
    "is_maximized": false,
    "recently_open": [
        "D:/AppDataLocal/Electrum\\Wallet Jaap",
        "D:/AppDataLocal/Electrum/Wallet Jaap",
        "C:\\Users\\Asus Jaap\\AppData\\Roaming\\Electrum\\wallets\\Wallet Jaap"
    ],

It seems I had a wallet called "Wallet Jaap" until I updated to Electrum 3.3.6. Now the refered to locations are empty.

[BitMaxz]

I updated to Electrum 3.6.6. Now the refered to locations are empty.

There's no Electrum 3.6.6 on electrum.org are you sure that you download it from electrum.org check the url.

Also, verify the signature of this 3.6.6 if this is real electrum wallet follow this guide from here https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=5105901.0

Weird I can't access the electrum.org it seems their site is under attack.

Anyway, just check their github and it seems they are still not releasing 3.6.6  the current Electrum version is 3.3.6 so beware on 3.6.6 version.

Edit: Electrum website is now back to normal and there's is no 3.6.6 version of Electrum so I'm sure this is the reason why your wallet is gone because you install a fake electrum wallet.

I suggest you download "Everything" software where you can search your wallet fast just put the name of your wallet or term "electrum" it will shows all of your electrum folder in seconds.

What I think is that the 3.6.6 hide your 3.0.3 wallet and you can find them if you change the folder settings to show hidden files and system files.

[Abdussamad]

so look under D drive like it says in the config file. Note you can use file > open or click on the browse button on the startup screen of electrum to open a different wallet. you can also do file > save copy to save a copy of the wallet file. this is easier than digging through the file system looking for it.

[Pmalek]

It seems I had a wallet called "Wallet Jaap" until I updated to Electrum 3.6.6. Now the refered to locations are empty.

Could it be that the location is empty because you have hidden system files and folders in your settings?
If you are using WIN 10 tick the Hidden Items option. So before going to D:/AppDataLocal/Electrum\\Wallet Jaap open your partition > Click on View and tick Hidden Items and see if that will change anything.

[jaapdeventer]

I updated to Electrum 3.6.6. Now the refered to locations are empty.

There's no Electrum 3.6.6 on electrum.org are you sure that you download it from electrum.org check the url.

Also, verify the signature of this 3.6.6 if this is real electrum wallet follow this guide from here https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=5105901.0

I suggest you download "Everything" software where you can search your wallet fast just put the name of your wallet or term "electrum" it will shows all of your electrum folder in seconds.

What I think is that the 3.6.6 hide your 3.0.3 wallet and you can find them if you change the folder settings to show hidden files and system files.

Your right I have installed Electrum 3.3.6 (not 3.6.6, my mistake). I have now changed this in the title.

However the Electrum wallet directory is really emty. Holds zero bytes. I have the settings set to show hidden files. No luck.

[Lucius]

jaapdeventer, you can save a lot of time if you try with a different approach in solving this problem. Do you have your seed words (backup)? If you have them just create new wallet in Electrum and select option "I already have a seed" and follow a few simple steps.

What could be a problem is a fact that you move from MultiBit to Electrum, question is did you use MultiBit Classic (private keys) or MultiBit HD (seed words)? Depending on this, there is a procedure for importing private keys, or importing seed form MultiBit HD (in Options after entering see you need select  - > BIP 39 and change change derivation path to: m/0' ).

[Abdussamad]

Use your operating system's search tool to look for files named "default_wallet" or "wallet.dat"

[jaapdeventer]

Hi, I did extensively search for "wallet" and "electrum" on my pc. I only find my older Multibit wallet.

Just did several Recuva deep searches on "D:/AppDataLocal/Electrum" and "C:\\Users\\Asus Jaap\\AppData\\Roaming".

Recuva did not find anything related to Electrum.

My bitcoin history:

05-01-2014 sold half using Multibit
17-01-2014 sold other half using Multibit (left 0,00008)
24-12-2017 bought using Electrum
19-08-2018 sold (as a test) using Electrum
21-08-2018 bought using Electrum
26-06-2019 tried to sell to Bitonic.nl. Went wrong at the moment of final confirmation of the order using Electrum 3.0.3
 
I've stille got the Multibit wallet with 0,00008 bitcoin.

The Electrum wallet was alright on 3.0.3. After installing Electrum 3.3.6 in the same directory as Electrum 3.0.3 was installed my Electrum wallet is gone.

I don't remember getting "seed words" when installen Electrum 3.0.3. When I opened Electrum 3.0.3 I used a password. That's all.

I tried al the tips I got above. So far no luck.

[Lucius]

I don't remember getting "seed words" when installen Electrum 3.0.3. When I opened Electrum 3.0.3 I used a password. That's all.

By history you post it is clear that you sold bitcoin from MultiBit and that you then start using Electrum. But how you create that 3.0.3 Electrum wallet? If wallet is created as Standard wallet you should get 12 seed words, and if you import private keys (maybe from MultiBit) then only way for wallet recovery is with that private keys.

It makes no sense that you only use pasword, you set that password when you create Electrum 3.0.3 or? Key question here is how you create Electrum wallet since you do not remember seed words, this is most important step when creating wallet.

[jaapdeventer]

I don't remember getting "seed words" when installen Electrum 3.0.3. When I opened Electrum 3.0.3 I used a password. That's all.

By history you post it is clear that you sold bitcoin from MultiBit and that you then start using Electrum. But how you create that 3.0.3 Electrum wallet? If wallet is created as Standard wallet you should get 12 seed words, and if you import private keys (maybe from MultiBit) then only way for wallet recovery is with that private keys.

It makes no sense that you only use pasword, you set that password when you create Electrum 3.0.3 or? Key question here is how you create Electrum wallet since you do not remember seed words, this is most important step when creating wallet.

Dear all,

I have found my wallet. Been looking for hours today. Found the file on my NAS. The NAS is not open from the internet, but still, never thought I would have placed my wallet on the NAS. Feeling a bit stupid.

Thanks for all the suggestions. Without I would have stopped looking much sooner. So glad I finaly found my wallet.

Thanks again!

[Lucius]

That's really good news for you, it was really strange that something could just disappear after you've made the update of Electrum. But there is still a question how this wallet is created since you say that there is no seed? Can you click on seed icon (left from green dot), enter your password and you should see your 12 seed words.

If for some reason you can not see your seed, I suggest you create a new wallet in same Electrum and that you send your coins to new wallet protected by seed. This is most important thing, you can always recover your wallet with those words.