I made a big Mistake

[GrampaRLee]

I'm not just a noobie, but a real beginner. I keep hearing about this new thing called Bitcoin. So last night, I downloaded the bitcoin core software and install it. My BIG mistake was in not knowing which of the two partitions on my computer was big enough to hold the 250 odd gigs of data that was going to download to my computer. I did read the warning that said my c: drive wasn't big enough but I kinda glossed over it.

Today, I received an error message saying, again, that the data had filled my c: drive to capacity but there was around 2 years worth of data that still needed to download to be up to date.

So, after checking my drives, there are two, c: and d: I found where I had screwed up and tried to fix it. I uninstalled bitcoin core from my c: drive and installed instead on my d: drive.

Now, the problem; when the blockchains restarted downloading it restarted at the place where it left off.

I don't know where the blockchains are on my c: drive and I don't know how to find them. I also think it's likely that another set of blockchains might have been downloaded to my d: drive. My c: drive is now full to overflowing with data I can't find.

Am just the dumbest sumbtch or is there anybody that can help me untangle this twisted up ball of twine?

[1714056329]

1714056329

[FruitsBasket]

I'm not just a noobie, but a real beginner. I keep hearing about this new thing called Bitcoin. So last night, I downloaded the bitcoin core software and install it. My BIG mistake was in not knowing which of the two partitions on my computer was big enough to hold the 250 odd gigs of data that was going to download to my computer. I did read the warning that said my c: drive wasn't big enough but I kinda glossed over it.

Today, I received an error message saying, again, that the data had filled my c: drive to capacity but there was around 2 years worth of data that still needed to download to be up to date.

So, after checking my drives, there are two, c: and d: I found where I had screwed up and tried to fix it. I uninstalled bitcoin core from my c: drive and installed instead on my d: drive.

Now, the problem; when the blockchains restarted downloading it restarted at the place where it left off.

I don't know where the blockchains are on my c: drive and I don't know how to find them. I also think it's likely that another set of blockchains might have been downloaded to my d: drive. My c: drive is now full to overflowing with data I can't find.

Am just the dumbest sumbtch or is there anybody that can help me untangle this twisted up ball of twine?

Do you really need a fully synched blockchain local wallet as a beginner? If you are planning on investing alot of money in btc, I would recommend a trezor wallet instead of bitcoin core. If you are just trying out and going to invest pocket change, I recommend easy to use mobile wallets which allow u to see private key and/or memonic phrase.

Now to answer ur question, u can just locate to local Appdata folder, open bitcoin folder and drag and drop the downloaded blocks into the other bitcoin wallet in the drive. But again, I don’t understand why u would run such software as a beginner/small starter.

[dkbit98]

If you have private key or seed you can import them in hardware wallet (to avoid similar drive issues)
or just use Electrum desktop wallet:
https://bitcoin.org/en/wallets/desktop/linux/electrum/

Like @FruitBasket wrote, you don't really need a full bitcoin blockchain.

[BitMaxz]

FruitBasket is right the correct path is this below:

C:\Documents and Settings\YourUserName\Application data\Bitcoin (XP)

C:\Users\YourUserName\Appdata\Roaming\Bitcoin (Vista and 7)

Linux:
~/.bitcoin/

Mac
~/Library/Application Support/Bitcoin/

I just want to add this guide below if you need.

- How to move Bitcoin Core Data directory

Since you are a beginner I suggest you use other wallets instead because it takes days or weeks before your wallet fully synced.

You can try Electrum wallet here's the correct website https://electrum.org and learn how to verify the Electrum wallet before you install.
Electrum wallet is a lightweight version of Bitcoin core wallet and it doesn't need to download the whole blockchain.

For the mobile wallet, you can try Mycelium or Electrum mobile you can download them at Playstore.

[harizen]

That's not a mistake, it's an experience.

Anyways, if the goal is simply testing how to set up a wallet, then as a newbie, you don't literally need to undergo the full synchronization and downloading the whole data with Bitcoin Core.

You can consider using other wallets instead:

Desktop: Electrum (since you are using a desktop, this is recommended for you - take note that always download at the official site https://electrum.org and always keep updated for notices and announcements)
Mobile: Mycelium, Coinomi
Hardware: Ledger Nano, Trezor (might be complicated to you so stick with Electrum for now)

[bitmover]

Bitcoin core really isn't the best wallet for beginners. Stick to the wallets suggested by harizen, probably the mobiles ones are the easiest.

Just buy some amount of Bitcoin in any exchange, like a few bucks, and make some tests.

If you are willing to invest more than a few hundred dollars, buy a hardware wallet, ledger nano or trezor.

[Murat]

As a beginner, you don't need to use the bitcoin core. You can use the simple and easy wallet as many-one suggest to you in the above. For desktop, the Electrum wallet is what I preferred most.

And for mobile, I stick with the Coinbase wallet for the last 3-4 years. I don't think as a beginner you need another wallet than these two. But someday, you would learn gradually how to use Cryptic wallets also you can get help from the youtube tutorials also.

[TheUltraElite]

I know it sucks to have to download the entire blockchain for the purpose of running a desktop wallet but it is written in several sources in the internet about the fact that you should be ready to download the entire blockchain if you wish to run the core wallet.
For now you should delete the appdata to clear the downloads like the users above suggested.

As an alternative you can go with lightweight wallets like Electrum. However using them poses certain security risks which can be prevented by being alert and being up to date with the news on these products.

I would not suggest you a web wallet because you are not having control of your private keys if you use a web wallet.

[hugeblack]

The first time I used BitcoinCore, I didn't know that I needed to download the entire Blockchain. In the morning I discovered that my internet capacity was over and when I contacted ISP they told me that I downloaded 30 GB last night.
In short, you can use that wallet without having to download the entire Blockchain by activating pruning (remove already verified blocks).

Code:

/bitcoind --prune=550
dbcache=1000 (if you have more than 2 GB RAM)

you can read more from here ----> https://github.com/bitcoin/bitcoin/blob/a6a860796a44a2805a58391a009ba22752f64e32/doc/release-notes/release-notes-0.11.0.md#block-file-pruning


You can also store the blockchain in a separate hard drive and make sure that it is available every time you run the program. Read more ----> https://bitcoin.stackexchange.com/questions/43636/how-do-i-relocate-my-bitcoin-data-in-bitcoin-qt-to-save-space/43637#43637

[NeuroticFish]

In short, you can use that wallet without having to download the entire Blockchain by activating pruning (remove already verified blocks).

From what I know, with pruning you do save disk space, but you'll still have to download everything (everything you didn't download).
And there are also other things to know, for example if for some reason you need a rescan, that will need downloading data again.
I've also found an interesting reading on pruning here: https://coinguides.org/bitcoin-blockchain-pruning/

[togoshigekata]

https://bitcoin.org/en/full-node#what-is-a-full-node

To reduce space you can run it in prune mode
https://bitcoin.org/en/full-node#reduce-storage

But I recommend running a full node
https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/Full_node

Why should you use a full node wallet
https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/Full_node#Why_should_you_use_a_full_node_wallet

[LTU_btc]

When I read title of topic, I thought that you really made huge mistake and lost your Bitcoins or something. But things that you wrote - I can't call it as big mistake. You just learned that Bitcoin Core isn't a best option for beginner. Just move one and install lightweight wallet like Electrum - it's simple and easy to use. I'm in crypto for world for 4 or 5 years already and I still haven't used Bitcoin Core. Probably it would take whole day to download it with whole blockchain and I don't want to keep so much data on my pc.

[squatter]

Why does everyone always tell beginners not to run a full node? The main deterrent is initial sync time, which doesn't seem to be the OP's problem.

To reduce space you can run it in prune mode
https://bitcoin.org/en/full-node#reduce-storage

He still needs to download and verify the entire blockchain before it can be pruned. So he first needs to move the Bitcoin Core directory to a partition with enough space.

Why should you use a full node wallet
https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/Full_node#Why_should_you_use_a_full_node_wallet

^^^ Worth reading.

[nc50lc]

To reduce space you can run it in prune mode
https://bitcoin.org/en/full-node#reduce-storage

He still needs to download and verify the entire blockchain before it can be pruned. So he first needs to move the Bitcoin Core directory to a partition with enough space.

Yes but No.
Yes, he need to download and verify the entire blockchain;
No, because if the selected size was reached, core will start to delete the older blocks even during the sync process.

I'm not just a noobie, but a real beginner.

Newbie (noobie) and beginner means the same

PS. You can go higher than 550 (MiB), say 1024 or more.

[Jet Cash]

I think that all people who are serious about Bitcoin should run a full node for a while. It helps you to understand the Bitcoin system,and you have control of your coins. Were I in your position, I would purchase an external drive of at least one or two terrabytes, and copy your current blockchain onto it - this is if you don't want to start the download again. Thus is fairly easy, and you can find the old directory by searching for the directory containing the blocks. Of course it would be easier to start again if you don't mind the download time.

Once you have downloaded the blockchain, you can create a pruned directory, and then move that onto your main computer. Then you can keep the external HDD to backup your wallet and the blockchain in the future. There are several guide threads here on Bitcoin Talk that will help you to move your directories ( you need to copy more than just the blockchain ), and many members who are more experienced and knowledgeable than I am about such actions.

[noormcs5]

I'm not just a noobie, but a real beginner. I keep hearing about this new thing called Bitcoin. So last night, I downloaded the bitcoin core software and install it. My BIG mistake was in not knowing which of the two partitions on my computer was big enough to hold the 250 odd gigs of data that was going to download to my computer. I did read the warning that said my c: drive wasn't big enough but I kinda glossed over it.

Today, I received an error message saying, again, that the data had filled my c: drive to capacity but there was around 2 years worth of data that still needed to download to be up to date.

So, after checking my drives, there are two, c: and d: I found where I had screwed up and tried to fix it. I uninstalled bitcoin core from my c: drive and installed instead on my d: drive.

Now, the problem; when the blockchains restarted downloading it restarted at the place where it left off.

I don't know where the blockchains are on my c: drive and I don't know how to find them. I also think it's likely that another set of blockchains might have been downloaded to my d: drive. My c: drive is now full to overflowing with data I can't find.

Am just the dumbest sumbtch or is there anybody that can help me untangle this twisted up ball of twine?

You do not need the whole blockchain on your computer. The whole blockchain size is around 157 GB and it will take a lot of space on your system. Also it will consume a lot of your time to download this high amount of data.

You can use any desktop wallet and it will serve the purpose.  There are very few people who download the full blockchain as there is no need for it.

[nakamura12]

If you decide to use smaller file size wallet for bitcoin if you want to invest and don't want to download again the botcoin core and you can't seem to see where the file is located but if you are not able to see all the data then you'll have to reformat your computer but first you must copy everything that is important or create a back up. It's okay to have mistake because you can learn from it.

[vm1990]

there isnt really an advantage to downloading a full node these days as they take up a not so small amount of space. id honestly stick to using lightweight or even online wallets... suprised no one has metions one of the oldest and most trusted online wallent https://www.blockchain.com/ (AKA blockchain.info) id just use them, remeber a good password for both your email address and wallet are esential and dont use the same for both. enable 2FA so any login needs an email conformation too... you pretty much sorte then and can have a neat little moble app if you want to take it with you.

[Stedsm]

there isnt really an advantage to downloading a full node these days as they take up a not so small amount of space. id honestly stick to using lightweight or even online wallets... suprised no one has metions one of the oldest and most trusted online wallent https://www.blockchain.com/ (AKA blockchain.info) id just use them, remeber a good password for both your email address and wallet are esential and dont use the same for both. enable 2FA so any login needs an email conformation too... you pretty much sorte then and can have a neat little moble app if you want to take it with you.

Blockchain.com is an online wallet which is prone to many vulnerabilities like the hacker can even get access to your wallet if they can hack your mobile number if you've set your 2fa through receiving SMS on your mobile. They can also do the punycode attack where they'd just simply show you the exact same page where, without checking the URL, if you input all the info needed to login and even your code and if the hacker is aware of it, say Sayonara to all your coins. I'd personally not use Blockchain these days as they don't show you the privkeys of the addresses you use because they're mostly one-time use sort of addresses being presented there and there's something you should know that you only own your Bitcoins if you own your private keys.

[Husna QA]

-snip- I don't know where the blockchains are on my c: drive and I don't know how to find them. I also think it's likely that another set of blockchains might have been downloaded to my d: drive. My c: drive is now full to overflowing with data I can't find. -snip-

Maybe the following steps can help solve your problem.

On Windows 7, begin by clicking on the Windows menu. Then click your username from the right-hand menu. Windows Explorer should show a folder containing other folders such as Contacts and Desktop. Another folder, AppData is hidden by default. It can be shown by selecting the Organize -> Folder and Search options menu. From the View tab, click the “Show hidden files, folder, and drives” option, then click “OK”.
Windows Explorer should now display an AppData folder. Double click it. Then enter the Roaming folder, where the Bitcoin folder is contained. -snip-
Having found the default data directory, we can now copy it. Be sure that Bitcoin Core has been shut down and is no longer running. -snip-
Next copy the renamed bitcoin data directory to a destination of your choice. This can be the same hard drive, an external hard drive, or a removable medium -snip-
At this point your system contains two more or less identical copies of the data directory. Assuming there were no issues with the move, the original can now be deleted. -snip-
Windows users can create a shortcut that uses the command line option datadir. Doing so directs Bitcoin Core to use, not the default data directory, but the one given as a parameter.

Begin by right-clicking on the desktop and selecting New -> Shortcut. Browse to the location of the Bitcoin Core executable (C:\Program Files\Bitcoin\bitcoin-qt.exe) and click the OK button. Next, add the command line option datadir, using the path to your data directory.

Double clicking the newly-created shortcut will direct Bitcoin Core to use the new data directory.