Total noob question

[DonnyBoy]

I'm looking to improve my computer skills to hopefully get myself out of the dead end job I'm trapped in. I thought learning about Bitcoin and programming would be a good way to do that. However I have noob issues already.

I am using Windows 10 and downloaded Bitcoin core. I was using bitcoin-qt to download the blockchain which is now complete. So in order to download the blockchain, bitcoind must have been running in the background.

However, I'm not sure what to do from here to use bitcoin-cli? For example when I try to run the command 'getblockchaininfo' I get the error below.

<sup>D:\Bitcoin\daemon>bitcoin-cli getblockchaininfo
error: Could not connect to the server 127.0.0.1:8332 (error code 1 - "EOF reached")

Make sure the bitcoind server is running and that you are connecting to the correct RPC port.</sup>

If I run 'bitcoind', I get the below:

^{D:\Bitcoin\daemon>bitcoind
'bitcoind' is not recognized as an internal or external command,
operable program or batch file.}

Is there something really simple and obvious I am missing here? Thanks in advance for your help.

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[ranochigo]

Bitcoin-cli requires authentication from the user. To set the username and password, you need to set up a configuration file. To simplify the process, you can use this site[1] to generate the parameters.

While using Bitcoin-cli, you need the following arguments: -rpcuser= - rpcpassword= and -rpcport=.
[1] https://jlopp.github.io/bitcoin-core-config-generator/

[nc50lc]

If I run 'bitcoind', I get the below:

^{D:\Bitcoin\daemon>bitcoind
'bitcoind' is not recognized as an internal or external command,
operable program or batch file.}

Is there something really simple and obvious I am missing here? Thanks in advance for your help.

That error means that you've given the wrong call, it must be bitcoind.exe for Windows(10) machine.
You can also just double-click the executable since you're on Windows 

But if the problem is in the RPC interface config:
Try ranochigo's post above, but if it didn't work, put server=1 instead or together with it.

You can read the config's description in the same resource link he provided under "RPC API" drop-down list.

[DonnyBoy]

Thanks for the replies, but I think I am in over my head a bit. Not sure how to configure this file and with what username and password to use?

Also I don't have an executable for 'bitcoind', only one for bitcoin-ci, bitcoin-wallet and bitcoin-tx.

Can anyone recommend any good books or guides on how I can get set up. Seem to be struggling a bit.

[A-Bolt]

bitcoin-qt executable requires bitcoind to run.

That's wrong. Bitcoin-qt is independent of bitcoind and can run without bitcoind.

Also I don't have an executable for 'bitcoind', only one for bitcoin-ci, bitcoin-wallet and bitcoin-tx.

It's strange, cause in Windows build (https://bitcoincore.org/bin/bitcoin-core-0.18.1/bitcoin-0.18.1-win64.zip) bitcoind is present.

[BitMaxz]

Are you sure about the installation directory?
If you install the bitcoin core to drive c:/ and your Windows 10 is 64bit you maybe install a 32bit version of bitcoin core

Look at this command sample below make sure you are in the right path.

Code:

cd C:\Program Files (x86)\Bitcoin\daemon>bitcoind

or

Code:

cd D:\Bitcoin\daemon>bitcoind

Don't forget to add the cd command at the beginning. If still doesn't work try the optional way to run bitcoind follow the guide from here https://bitcoin.org/en/full-node#windows-10

[nc50lc]

Thanks for the replies, but I think I am in over my head a bit. Not sure how to configure this file and with what username and password to use?
Also I don't have an executable for 'bitcoind', only one for bitcoin-ci, bitcoin-wallet and bitcoin-tx.

Your AV might have quarantined the executable(s)?

Just follow these simple steps (if you have an AV, put an exception for the bitcoin installation folder):

• 1. Download the v0.18.1 installer from https://bitcoin.org/en/download
• 2. Install it over the old version; don't worry about the data dir, it wont be deleted.
• 3. Double click bitcoind.exe or Go to the directory of the executable and Hold CTRL+ALT+Right Click on an empty space within the directory,
  select "Open command window here" then type bitcoind
• 4. Open another command window (using the same steps above) and type in your preferred bitcoin cli command.
  Ex. bitcoin-cli getblockchaininfo (it should work without '.exe' but if it didn't, add it)

Tried it, it worked for me and I've used the same OS  

BTW if it didn't work, you should add server=1 in your bitcoin.conf like I said above.
Go to (hold WIN+R; type %appdata%, open bitcoin folder) %appdata%/bitcoin, then create a new file named "bitcoin.conf" then edit it.
Or just download the default/configured sample from the 2nd post and paste it there.

bitcoin-qt executable requires bitcoind to run.

That's wrong. Bitcoin-qt is independent of bitcoind and can run without bitcoind.

Correct for bitcoin-qt,
but for bitcoin-cli, bitcoind should be running as well.

[HCP]

Also I don't have an executable for 'bitcoind', only one for bitcoin-ci, bitcoin-wallet and bitcoin-tx.

So, for some reason, OP is missing the bitcoind.exe file... Until that is rectified, they'll not be able to use bitcoin-cli.exe.

I would suggest that easiest solution is to simply try reinstalling the latest version of Bitcoin Core (refer: https://bitcoincore.org/en/download/)... and then once the installer has completed, verify that it extracted bitcoind.exe to the D:\Bitcoin\daemon directory properly.