Help with lost transaction - Electrum wallet offline/lost funds!

[DJMacP2020]

Hi,

I hope someone can help, i've lost 150USD due to stupidity on my part, i'm looking for some help to see if I can get it back.

I created a Electrum wallet on my old machine (did not realise it was on v2.6) and transferred BTC to it from exchange. I did not realise at the time the wallet was not actually connected to servers. So the address I created and sent it to was never 'registered/published/requested' from blockchain I guess.

I've not been able to get v2.6.4 to connect to any servers, and since realised the version it too old. I've had to install electrum on a newer PC, so I can install Electrum 4.0.4 which connects immediately.

But how can I re-create the receiving address in my new electrum wallet, and will i be able to retrieve the money I sent to that address?? Or is it lost?

The wallet was not online at time of creating receive address, but I have all details of 2.6.4 wallet - keys, history, seed, password. Although it never connected to network/blockchain - can i transfer these details so I can receive the funds in my new 4.0.4 wallet on new machine!

Really appreciate some help, really could do without losing that money!

Thank you in advance,
djmacp

[1715295057]

1715295057

[1715295057]

1715295057

[1715295057]

1715295057

[NeuroticFish]

Hi

First of all I think that you didn't lose a penny, so calm down.

I think that you have installed the correct Electrum, still it would be best to make sure it's so. This will make sure you don't lose money to hackers. For that you should verify the signature for that 4.0.4 installer if you still have it. More details here: https://bitcoinelectrum.com/how-to-verify-your-electrum-download/

If you're good, go to the old wallet (2.6.4), start it and get the seed from there.



Write down the seed onto paper, don't let it go onto internet. Keep it safe.

Now go to the PC with Electrum 4.0.4, create a new wallet and use the seed you wrote onto paper. It should be a "clone" of the initial wallet, hence it should have the funds.


PS. An address doesn't need to be 'registered/published/requested' from blockchain. There's no such thing.
PS2. You should move this thread to Wallet software/Electrum board: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?board=98.0 ; see bottom-left, move topic.

[nc50lc]

An alternative way is to copy the wallet file from the data directory [%appdata%/electrum/wallets (for Windows)] and transfer it to the "newer PC"
same directory.
It's usually named 'default_wallet' or 'wallet1' but you can rename into any name you prefer.
After that, open it using "File->Open" of newer PC's Electrum if you already created a wallet, just select it if you still haven't.

Electrum's data directory differs per OS: electrum.readthedocs.io: where-is-the-electrum-datadir-located

[bob123]

I created a Electrum wallet on my old machine (did not realise it was on v2.6) and transferred BTC to it from exchange. I did not realise at the time the wallet was not actually connected to servers. So the address I created and sent it to was never 'registered/published/requested' from blockchain I guess.

That's not a problem at all.
A transaction just assigns BTC to a new address (technically not correct, but easier to understand this way).
Your address is derived from your public key which is derived from your private key. And the private keys of your wallet are derived from the mnemonic code (the 12 words).

So, as long as you have your mnemonic code, you are fine. An address does not need to be registered. In fact, there wouldn't be any central instance where you even could register it.

I've not been able to get v2.6.4 to connect to any servers, and since realised the version it too old. I've had to install electrum on a newer PC, so I can install Electrum 4.0.4 which connects immediately.

But how can I re-create the receiving address in my new electrum wallet, and will i be able to retrieve the money I sent to that address?? Or is it lost?

Just use the restore functionality with your seed/mnemonic code.

[DJMacP2020]

Hi, really appreciate that feedback, thank you for the sympathetic education!!
Most appreciated, will try the steps you suggest.
D