wallet.dat - need help to recover with pywallet

[anonbtcnoob23]

Hello people!

So, i have found wallet.dat files from my old hdd.

Im using command:
pywallet.py --dumpwallet --wallet=C:\blahblah\pywallet-master\pywallet-master\wallet.dat > C:\blahblah\pywallet-master\pywallet-master\walletDump-NoKeys.txt

The problem is command prompt is giving me messages:
1. Access denied
2. ERROR:root:Couldn't open wallet.dat/main. Try quitting Bitcoin and running this again.

Please advise, what to do, am I doing something wrong ?

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[nc50lc]

Please advise, what to do, am I doing something wrong ?

Backup your wallet.dat first before attempting anything with it.

The problem is command prompt is giving me messages:
1. Access denied
2. ERROR:root:Couldn't open wallet.dat/main. Try quitting Bitcoin and running this again.

In contrary with the error message, having Bitcoin Core running rarely causes that error and I guess it's not loaded because of the wallet's directory.
Sometimes it's permission issue but I haven't experience that in Windows.

Anyways, I often see that error in corrupted wallet.dat files.
So, try salvage and see if Bitcoin Core can fix your wallet file before attempting to dump it with Pywallet.
To do that, you need Bitcoin Core and its "bitcoin-wallet" tool, then follow these instructions: http://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=5380489.msg58965353#msg58965353

[SamReomo]

Backup your wallet.dat first before attempting anything with it.

Like @nc50lc said you should backup the wallet.dat to first to avoid any issues.

In order to solve the problem you should run the command as administrator if you are using windows as such errors are sometimes caused due to less privileges of a user account. If you are using a Linux based operating system then you should use

Code:

 sudo 

That will grant the command root access.

It seems that you aren't running it on Linux but on the windows operating system. So running it as administrator might solve your issue. On the command app you should left click on it and select run as administrator that will give complete permissions to pywallet. And, if things go well it should work without any issue.

If it still gives that error then try to quit Bitcoin core client and other bitcoin services, and restart those to see if it works or not. Sometimes due to the running services the permissions become limited and might not work properly. That's why quitting those first and restarting them again can help to solve the issues.

[anonbtcnoob23]

Please advise, what to do, am I doing something wrong ?

Backup your wallet.dat first before attempting anything with it.

The problem is command prompt is giving me messages:
1. Access denied
2. ERROR:root:Couldn't open wallet.dat/main. Try quitting Bitcoin and running this again.

In contrary with the error message, having Bitcoin Core running rarely causes that error and I guess it's not loaded because of the wallet's directory.
Sometimes it's permission issue but I haven't experience that in Windows.

Anyways, I often see that error in corrupted wallet.dat files.
So, try salvage and see if Bitcoin Core can fix your wallet file before attempting to dump it with Pywallet.
To do that, you need Bitcoin Core and its "bitcoin-wallet" tool, then follow these instructions: http://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=5380489.msg58965353#msg58965353

So where do I need to save this wallet, to bitcoin store app data file also?
Im big noob, maybe i missed a step.
Because right now i have pywallet in another file and wallet.dat in the same file.

[paid2]

So where do I need to save this wallet, to bitcoin store app data file also?

You need to do a backup of your wallet.dat file. You should store this backup on a offline safe storage devise, please avoid cloud solutions!

Because right now i have pywallet in another file and wallet.dat in the same file.

What you mean exactly ? You mean you did a copy already ?

Otherwise, did you tried with sudo or with being logged as root ?

[anonbtcnoob23]

So where do I need to save this wallet, to bitcoin store app data file also?

You need to do a backup of your wallet.dat file. You should store this backup on a offline safe storage devise, please avoid cloud solutions!

Because right now i have pywallet in another file and wallet.dat in the same file.

What you mean exactly ? You mean you did a copy already ?

Otherwise, did you tried with sudo or with being logged as root ?

What I did so far is:
- waiting for bitcoin core to download, almost done
- pywallet is in program files
- wallet.dat is copy pasted and I saved it into pywallet file
- when i get in pywallet file i "search" cmd into file explorer to open it in this window
- after this I enter pywallet.py --dumpwallet --wallet=C:\blahblah\pywallet-master\pywallet-master\wallet.dat > C:\blahblah\pywallet-master\pywallet-master\walletDump-NoKeys.txt

I'm getting access denied error. My best guess is my wallet.dat is not located into right file or something like that.
Since everyone here think we noobs know what to do, I would need step by step guide and nobody wrote it here, everybody miss some steps so I'm trying to learn and catch and still not there yet.
I literally never used cmd or python or anything so definitely I need step by step, every single one what to do after I recovered wallet.dat file.
I know how to install python and how to download pywallet but where to place files, where to open cmd, what commands should I use - no clue

[nc50lc]

I'm getting access denied error. My best guess is my wallet.dat is not located into right file or something like that.

If pywallet can't find it in your specified directory, it'll return with this message instead:
"ERROR: wallet file 'T:\\wallet.dat' can't be found"

-snip-

So where do I need to save this wallet, to bitcoin store app data file also?
Im big noob, maybe i missed a step.
Because right now i have pywallet in another file and wallet.dat in the same file.

Save it anywhere but take note of its absolute path,
for example, if you saved it in "D:\new folder", the wallet.dat's path is "D:\new folder\wallet.dat"
Use that as --wallet path when using bitcoin-wallet.exe tool.

If you didn't changed Bitcoin Core's install directory, bitcoin-wallet tool should be in your "C:\Program Files\Bitcoin\bin" folder.
To use it, open command prompt, "change directory" (cd) to the folder above, type: cd C:\Program Files\Bitcoin\bin
Then to salvage, type: bitcoin-wallet --wallet="D:\new folder\wallet.dat" salvage
Of course, change the wallet's path to your wallet.dat's location.

The rest of the info should in the link on my previous reply.

[anonbtcnoob23]

I'm getting access denied error. My best guess is my wallet.dat is not located into right file or something like that.

If pywallet can't find it in your specified directory, it'll return with this message instead:
"ERROR: wallet file 'T:\\wallet.dat' can't be found"

-snip-

So where do I need to save this wallet, to bitcoin store app data file also?
Im big noob, maybe i missed a step.
Because right now i have pywallet in another file and wallet.dat in the same file.

Save it anywhere but take note of its absolute path,
for example, if you saved it in "D:\new folder", the wallet.dat's path is "D:\new folder\wallet.dat"
Use that as --wallet path when using bitcoin-wallet.exe tool.

If you didn't changed Bitcoin Core's install directory, bitcoin-wallet tool should be in your "C:\Program Files\Bitcoin\bin" folder.
To use it, open command prompt, "change directory" (cd) to the folder above, type: cd C:\Program Files\Bitcoin\bin
Then to salvage, type: bitcoin-wallet --wallet="D:\new folder\wallet.dat" salvage
Of course, change the wallet's path to your wallet.dat's location.

The rest of the info should in the link on my previous reply.

It's on D.
Anyway, when I try this i get the message: Failed to load database path 'D:\Bitcoindata\wallet.dat'. Data is not in recognized format.

[nc50lc]

Anyway, when I try this i get the message: Failed to load database path 'D:\Bitcoindata\wallet.dat'. Data is not in recognized format.

bitcoin-wallet tool usually returns with that error if the wallet.dat is corrupted beyond repair.
This is supported by my guess in pywallet's error which is also caused by a severely corrupted wallet.dat file.
I'm afraid that the data is too corrupted for salvage or pywallet.

The only option that I know that may still work is --recover which is designed to look for deleted data similar private keys from a directory.
But you wont be searching for deleted data, it's the data inside your corrupted wallet.dat.

Here's the "general" steps: http://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=5408068.msg60653031#msg60653031
If you need more info, read the next few replies since the OP in that thread asked for further instructions as well.

Basically, you'll need to paste it in that drive, preferably empty;
Then using the provided command, let pywallet look for private keys in that drive which the corrupted wallet.dat might still have.

[anonbtcnoob23]

Yes, when i try to do the salvage it just says "Data is not in recognized format"

Since these files are from old hard drive, is there a way to recover them in better "condition"?
I used hartman partition recovery tool
Is there a better option?

[anonbtcnoob23]

Update: I've managed to recover 1 wallet file with pywallet but I'm getting error that file is corrupt. After this altough i have a backup command -salvage is not working, my recoveredwallet.dat disappeared after I did this again.
What to do now ?!

[nc50lc]

Update: I've managed to recover 1 wallet file with pywallet but I'm getting error that file is corrupt.

AFAIK, --recover will restore a "recovered_wallet.dat" regardless if it successfully found any private key.
The difference is if it's empty, it'll result with a non-useable recovered_wallet.dat file without any keys in it.

Recover command should tell you if it found any keys or encrypted keys (plus if those are successfully decrypted)
from the drive you've selected.

I used hartman partition recovery tool
Is there a better option?

Okay so the wallet.dat files are recovered from an old drive (deleted/wiped?)
Getting corrupted wallet.dat files are common in this scenario specially if the drive has been continuously used after the data you're trying to recover was deleted.
This is because those files may be overwritten by the operating system's normal operation or other data that you're writing on it.

Unfortunately, data recovery isn't my expertise and you might need an expert to recover your files intact.
The best suggestion that I can give is to leave that drive unplugged until you found someone qualified for the job or until you've researched enough about data recovery.

[BitMaxz]

Yes, when i try to do the salvage it just says "Data is not in recognized format"

Since these files are from old hard drive, is there a way to recover them in better "condition"?
I used hartman partition recovery tool
Is there a better option?

If the wallet.dat file is not recognized with Bitcoin core possible the wallet.dat file you are trying to make work on Bitcoin core is not actually generated from this wallet.
There is a big possibility it was generated from other altcoins.

Are you sure that the wallet.dat is Bitcoin or maybe you don't remember that you have an altcoin wallet.dat file?

[anonbtcnoob23]

Yes, when i try to do the salvage it just says "Data is not in recognized format"

Since these files are from old hard drive, is there a way to recover them in better "condition"?
I used hartman partition recovery tool
Is there a better option?

If the wallet.dat file is not recognized with Bitcoin core possible the wallet.dat file you are trying to make work on Bitcoin core is not actually generated from this wallet.
There is a big possibility it was generated from other altcoins.

Are you sure that the wallet.dat is Bitcoin or maybe you don't remember that you have an altcoin wallet.dat file?

well the last one is recognized by bitcoin core wallet but it says corrupt
Idk what to do with the file now or how to find out any info about wallet address at least

I have another 3 files called wallet.dat, size is 96kb and no idea what's that from, could be altcoin

[BitMaxz]

well the last one is recognized by bitcoin core wallet but it says corrupt
Idk what to do with the file now or how to find out any info about wallet address at least

I have another 3 files called wallet.dat, size is 96kb and no idea what's that from, could be altcoin

I'm not expert to know what coin is used on the wallet.dat file but maybe this topic below will help you to know or get an idea what coin is your wallet.dat file.

- unknown wallet.dat format
There is someone mentioned Walletlib might help to figure out which altcoin is your wallet.dat.

[anonbtcnoob23]

well the last one is recognized by bitcoin core wallet but it says corrupt
Idk what to do with the file now or how to find out any info about wallet address at least

I have another 3 files called wallet.dat, size is 96kb and no idea what's that from, could be altcoin

I'm not expert to know what coin is used on the wallet.dat file but maybe this topic below will help you to know or get an idea what coin is your wallet.dat file.

- unknown wallet.dat format
There is someone mentioned Walletlib might help to figure out which altcoin is your wallet.dat.

Okay it could be dogecoin core wallet because this wallet says: wallet data corrupt, salvage failed
Do I have any option to salvage this wallet ?

[anonbtcnoob23]

UPDATE:

I have tried to salvage or use a backup folder but with both of them it says "wallet is corrupt"
Is there any solution now?

Other files I cannot even mount or add so wallet can recognize so they are maybe not even bitcoin wallet, not doge also (i think)

[nc50lc]

-snip-

Okay it could be dogecoin core wallet because this wallet says: wallet data corrupt, salvage failed
Do I have any option to salvage this wallet ?

That loading error isn't related to being an altcoin wallet.dat, it simply means that the wallet is corrupted and cannot be remedied by Bitcoin Core's salvage attempt.
Additionally, even altcoin wallets could be loaded to Bitcoin Core but or course, altcoin transactions wont be scanned.

[anonbtcnoob23]

Update:
I've managed to dumpwallet from bitcoin core and now i have master private key together with wallet list and private keys file.
How do I check balance quickly without checking 1000 adresses and without sync of btc core? that will take days

[BitMaxz]

Update:
I've managed to dumpwallet from bitcoin core and now i have master private key together with wallet list and private keys file.
How do I check balance quickly without checking 1000 adresses and without sync of btc core? that will take days

If you also have the list of public of your wallet then you can paste it on this tool below to check all balances of these addresses.

- https://bitcoindata.science/bitcoin-balance-check.html

Or you can follow this one "Bitcoin address mass balance checker [Tutorial and code]"