Classic Multibit 0.5.18 recovery with 16 words passphrase help please

[trigger1975]

NB. After a lot of searches, I found Jim Burton... Through Meetup.com website and I sent him a message. I hope he will respond to clarify the 16 words mystery (to me) and also let me know any recommendation or help if he can provide me. I explained about the dead laptop...

Holding my thumbs for you, that Jim Burton can finally help you to get your BTC back  Good luck.

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[NickyGH]

Hi Trigger 1975,

Thank you very much.

Jim Burton graciously responded to me.

He confirmed that mnemonic phrase was only for Multibit HD as previously suggested in several posts here by different members. Phrases length were 12, 18 and 24 words. So, that's not the case with me having 16 words only.

I made more searches and find that 16 words could be to old Bitcoin recovery password phrase. I tried to see if my words were there:
https://github.com/blockchain/unused-My-Wallet/blob/master/mnemonic_words_v3.html

And yes, they are!

It happens that along with my paper notes in the same notebook as my 16 words phrase, I have a login name and password for Blockchain, so at some point I had signed up and I guess this is where I got the 16 words phrase. So, it's not related to my Multibit wallet from which I therefore not have any mnemonic phrase to recover my bitcoin.

As previously stated, my Multibit classic wallet is in laptop that is dead / broken but I still have it.

I contacted Dave at https://walletrecoveryservices.com who responded to me, but he works on lost password / seed phrase etc. and not on broken laptop so I don't think he would be able to help. He asked me for my seed words, since there are not related to my wallet, this won't work.

So, I need to find a reliable and trustworthy bitcoin recovery service for broken laptop. I am not going to rush into that, I need to do extensive researches. If it happens that a member her knows somebody who can do that for me (I live in London, UK) please let me know.

Thank you all again for your kind time and helpful input.

Nicky

[BlackHatCoiner]

He asked me for my seed words, since there are not related to my wallet, this won't work.

You should never give to anyone your seed words, like never. Did you give them to him? Also, did you try the blockchain.com link we gave you?

[NickyGH]

Hi BlackHatCointer,

No, I didn't give him the 16 words.

I tried the link provided:
https://login.blockchain.com/wallet/forgot-password?guid=

I have entered there my 16 words, all checked in the link:
https://github.com/blockchain/unused-My-Wallet/blob/master/mnemonic_words_v3.html
And they are all there. So I wanted to be sure I didn't have any misspelled word or something/

So, when I entered all my 16 words in the blockchain mnemonic phrase in the box provided I have a message below:
Invalid checksum

Thank you very much again.

Nicky

[NickyGH]

Hello,

I wanted to give you an update regarding my BTC in Multibit Classic wallet in my dead / broken laptop.

As you know, this has been an headache for me. Multibit Classic does not have seed words recovery phrase, and it has been discontinued in addition to the fact that I have the wallet in a dead laptop and I am not a technical person at all.

I really wanted to give a big thanks any to all of technical people and BTC experts on this forum who tried to help me even if I didn't manage by myself.

After holding for few months, being stuck and not knowing what to do, I decided to contact a recovery company which specialised in recovering Bitcoin. I was extremely hesitant because of trust issue. It's always possible for a recovery service to tell you that they tried and couldn't managed (laptop dead and too damaged / no password etc...) and then keep the bitcoin for themselves...

So after doing some searches and queries with some of recovery companies in UK (where I live) I had some who never responded to my query, some that I wasn't sure about and one company who was very straightforward, explained the process and started to give me some hope.

I made more researches on that specific company and found out that they have helped police to recover data for example. I had more conversation with them. I found Chris was very professional, clearly explained what they would do and their commitment to preserve bitcoin ownership to their clients. I started to have my trust growing from also a good guts feeling.

I decided to go with them and they arranged for a courrier to pick up my dead computer. On reception, Chris confirmed it was with them and they would take good care of the work to carry on. I was fully informed at each step. Overall, it took about a week (I know they had quite a challenge with my case...) and finally they recovered my bitcoin!

I have then bought a hard wallet (Ledger Nano S) to which Chris transfer the BTC they recovered, so I have now my bitcoin back and it's now kept in a secure wallet.

If you happen to be in UK and in trouble with Bitcoin you need to have experts to recover for you, I would higher recommend that you are using their services. They are trustworthy and that's something that I do not say easily.

The company is called Dataclinic:
https://www.dataclinic.co.uk/cryptocurrency-wallet-recovery/

If they can't do this for you, I don't know who could. I am really impressed and forever grateful with them helping me. Especially since I have a chronic medical condition that the NHS is unable to treat and I had to go private for treatment, so having my BTC recovered, is going to help me greatly with the cost.

I hope this help.

Nicky

[NeuroticFish]

I have then bought a hard wallet (Ledger Nano S) to which Chris transfer the BTC they recovered, so I have now my bitcoin back and it's now kept in a secure wallet.

I'm glad it ended well. And very nice of you to come back with a feedback.
Now make sure you keep super safe some copies of the seed for that hardware wallet 

[BlackHatCoiner]

It's good to hear that. If I remember correctly, your problem was that you couldn't recover the wallet file from the broken laptop? Yeah, you stood lucky, selected a trustworthy service and everything went smooth.

Now, make sure you keep them safe this time. Buying a hardware wallet for a non-technical person like you, would be the first thing I'd recommend. I don't know what you've done with the seed phrase, but I suggest you to write it down twice so that you can have back ups.

Enjoy your bitcoin.

[NickyGH]

Hi BlackHatCoiner and Hi NeuroticFish,

Thank you so much for sharing my happiness with this good ending for me!
That's so kind of you and it's lovely to read your comments.

Yes, I have the hardware Ledger Nano S wallet. I watched several time youtube video for set up etc so when I received my Ledger Nano S wallet (bought directly from Ledger official website) it was a bit easier for me to go through the set up process and get to understand how it work.

Indeed, I've got my 24 words well written and I shall keep them safe. Really good suggestion to have TWICE. I will copy them in another paper and keep it in a separate safe place for double back up!

You guys on this website are really great and I have always welcome all you suggestions. So thank you again today.

Nicky

[Pmalek]

A very positive ending to a problem that lasted way too long. I am glad it worked out in the end, especially considering the health issues that you have. Since your Nano S was probably shipped with three cards to write down the seed, make one more copy to be ultra-safe.

If it's not a secret, how much did the company charge for their recovery services? I think it could benefit other users who are thinking about doing something similar if they knew how much such work costs.

[NickyGH]

Hi Pmalek,

Thank you very much for your post.

Yes, indeed it took so long. But, also for several month I was torn about what to do and who to turn to. I know by myself there was no way I would resolve it. I had to turn to some IT specialist who some expertise of BTC recovery. They are no many out there and there are many scams, 'experts' taking advantage of novice people like me, who get they BTC slolen being told that 'they tried all and nothing was possible to recover their bitcoin'.

My laptop was dead (wouldn't switch on), Multibit Classic discontinued, lost wallet password etc....

At first I was quoted around £1,146 VAT included to recover the file from the broken drive, the quote was detailing the process they would go through. Only apply if they are successful. which they did: they send me a email with an attached file showing me the list of the the BTC files and I could see what files was there. They offered me to have these file on USB stick if I wanted to carry on with my own means (I think many people in this forum are very proficient technically and would choose this option). But that's not my case at all. I needed them to do the whole thing without me being involved in technical process.

Because of the severity of the job, this was a challenge and they struggled to get the BTC from the file (to be extracted and sent in a wallet) they suggested a solution that is having a partner company they have a contract with to assist further. The fees for that is 30% of the wallet. Of course, I accepted it. So more specialists become involved, I know they spent 2 days on my case.... Until they recovered my BTC and when I was ready in my side (set up of my hard wallet Ledger Nano S) they send me my BTC into my wallet minus the 30% fees.

This may seem high fees for some, but I was not knowledgeable in any way to handle by myself recovery from the files as per the first quote.
And I really needed the whole job to be done for me and have the BTC sent into my new hard wallet. So, I was happy to have them get well deserve 30% of what they recovered for their job. I still have a very good amount returned to me, I could have none if those guys didn't help me.

Yes, this will help me enormously because of my health issues. I had to give up my job because it's so debilitating and the NHS after 3 years of invasive tests, exams and procedures never managed to find what I have got. Only a Professor I found which is private care has diagnosed my condition and I need to pay private costs. (he has treated many patients with same condition as me). So, I can now take care of myself and look forward to get in normal health as soon as possible and get back to work and have a normal life.

So, I would really recommend this recovery company, they are very competent, professional and trustworthy. In this business, this is priceless...
https://www.dataclinic.co.uk/cryptocurrency-wallet-recovery/

I hope this help.
Nicky

[HCP]

At first I was quoted around £1,146 VAT included to recover the file from the broken drive

That is probably a little on the high side, but not out of the realms of data recovery charges.

Because of the severity of the job, this was a challenge and they struggled to get the BTC from the file (to be extracted and sent in a wallet) they suggested a solution that is having a partner company they have a contract with to assist further. The fees for that is 30% of the wallet.

However, this is quite excessive in my opinion. 30%!!?!

Once the data files were recovered, if you knew your passwords (if any) then the recovery of the funds would have been a matter of minutes


Having said that, you appear to be happy with the outcome, which is the main thing. I'm glad to hear that you managed to recovery your coins. It's certainly nice to here of a positive outcome for a change! Best of luck for the future...

And make sure you've made some safe and secure backups of your 24 word Ledger recovery phrase!

[NickyGH]

Hi HCP,

Thank you for your message.

As you say:
Once the data files were recovered, if you knew your passwords (if any) then the recovery of the funds would have been a matter of minutes.


Actually, I had no clue what to do with the data files which were offered to me in the first place, if I know how to do, I would have been happy with that. Also, I had lost the password, so it had to be brute forced or something. Noway I could have managed by myself.

But for most people in this forum, I believe they would have been fine with getting the services of data files recovery and then recover the funds themselves.

I have no knowledge in IT, computing, coding etc... I am just a plain basic computer user (email, internet and shopping online) so yes, for me this was the best option and I am really happy. Problem sorted and really trustworthy data recovery company.

Nicky

PS. Yes I have my 24 word ledger recovery phrase in a safe place.... I have learnt so much from this forum and advice given to me... Thank you!

[HCP]

Also, I had lost the password, so it had to be brute forced or something. Noway I could have managed by myself.

That does indeed change the situation. Not having the password and requiring it to be brute forced is indeed more of a specialist task

But for most people in this forum, I believe they would have been fine with getting the services of data files recovery and then recover the funds themselves.

Not necessarily. While it isn't impossible to setup and run something like hashcast or btcrecover etc... the problem comes from the performance of "typical" hardware that most users have, or, more correctly, the lack thereof. The equipment necessary to bruteforce anything but relatively simple wallet passwords can be quite expensive to buy or even rent. Given the sorts of passwords I use, even my gaming rig with a relatively powerful GPU isn't going to cut it if I needed to bruteforce one of my passwords. So, don't feel like you're being judged for seeking professional assistance. Very happy you managed to find a reputable firm that didn't scam you.

I still think that the fee charged was excessive tho

PS. Yes I have my 24 word ledger recovery phrase in a safe place.... I have learnt so much from this forum and advice given to me... Thank you!

Truly a "good news"™ story all around.