Importing an old v0.3.0 wallet.dat - is my plan sound?

[LoyceV]

I have a Raspberry Pi 4 with 8gb ram which could do this, using a fresh Ubuntu install. Can I copy the blockchain files (not wallet!) from my offline installation of Bitcoin core to save me some time? That way it would only have a few days worth of blockhain to update.

This should work, but why use a full Bitcoin Core installation just to broadcast your transaction? You can get a Tor browser (for privacy) and use https://coinb.in/#broadcast (or many other websites) to broadcast the raw transaction.

Is there any point in doing an upgradewallet with my original wallet in the offline Bitcoin Core?

I can't answer this. If it's working, I wouldn't touch it, but it might be worth it if you currently don't have spare addresses in the keypool (which means you need to make new backups).

Finally, once Ledger set up, is there any risk/implications in transferring a test amount (like 1 to 10 mBTC) so I can get the hang of things?

Read this: Five Ways to Lose Money with Bitcoin Change Addresses, especially the part under "1. Backup Failure".
Modern wallets prevent this, your old wallet may still have this risk.

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[nc50lc]

I have a Raspberry Pi 4 with 8gb ram which could do this, using a fresh Ubuntu install. Can I copy the blockchain files (not wallet!) from my offline installation of Bitcoin core to save me some time? That way it would only have a few days worth of blockhain to update.

I have tried to copy the whole data directory before to circumvent another initial block download and it's indeed possible.
But that test included the wallet file, I haven't tried it without the wallets. (other users may have tested it)

If it didn't work out for you, try to -reindex and see if it can fix any issue that you might encounter.

Would I be wise to run this over Tor or is that overcomplicating it?

That's a good option for better privacy, setting it up isn't too complicated either: https://github.com/bitcoin/bitcoin/blob/master/doc/tor.md

Finally, once Ledger set up, is there any risk/implications in transferring a test amount (like 1 to 10 mBTC) so I can get the hang of things?

Aside from LoyceV's concern above about how your old wallet.dat will handle the change, I can't think of anything else.
But it's an issue if you're planning to back-it up now, use it for some time, delete it, then restore the backup; the keys that you have used may not be included to the backup.

If you're worried about it, you can set your own change address via "Custom change address" in the 'Send' tab.
Set your offline-wallet's receiving address that you've verified to be "ismine: true"  and "solvable: true" via getaddressinfo address command.

For the procedure in my previous post, it ensures that the unconfirmed transaction will be saved in your mempool and wallet.
So if you need to spend the change, Bitcoin Core can refer to it as long as the setting "Spend unconfirmed change" is enabled.

[ChapInRed]

Thanks again for the replies.

Ledger Nano arrived today but will tackle that tomorrow. Not wise to try it while tired and slightly drunk 

My plan is to move everything from old wallet in offline Bitcoin Core to Ledger, then once all that's confirmed on the blockchain I guess the old wallet becomes redundant?

getwalletinfo for my old wallet returns: walletversion=10500,  format=bdb,  txcount=6, keypoolsize=1000

I was not aware of the change address mechanism, so please help me clarify:
 - small (test amounts) outgoing transactions from my old wallet will use a change address from my keypool
 - Bitcoin Core is offline so won't know about change returned
 - I presume that once I sort my Ledger Wallet, the blockchain will link all change transactions to it?

I will make multiple backups as I go, but I suppose my anxiety is that because my old wallet is offline and I am try to move all to Ledger, that my change will disappear into the aether (as I don't fully understand change address mechanisms)...

[nc50lc]

I was not aware of the change address mechanism, so please help me clarify:
 - small (test amounts) outgoing transactions from my old wallet will use a change address from my keypool
 - Bitcoin Core is offline so won't know about change returned
 - I presume that once I sort my Ledger Wallet, the blockchain will link all change transactions to it?

• Bitcoin Core will select a suitable UTXO to spend for that transaction, then if there's an excess amount of BTC, it'll send it to one of your address (change address).
  All those are included in that single transaction. It's the reason why a common Bitcoin transaction has two outputs: the 'recipient' and 'change'.
  Here's some basic info about how Bitcoin transaction works: learnmeabitcoin.com/beginners/transactions#
  
  
• When you broadcast the transaction to your node's mempool, even offline, it'll be able to include that change to your available UTXO so you can spend it in your next transaction.
  The minor issue here is the time gap between the small test transaction and your next actual transaction because it has a default expiration of 14days;
  but even after expiration, you can always rebroadcast it to your offline node's mempool before sending the actual transaction.
  
  
• I don't get what you mean by "link" but all it has to do is to sync to the blockchain to see if any of its keys can spend your coins.

getwalletinfo for my old wallet returns: walletversion=10500,  format=bdb,  txcount=6, keypoolsize=1000

Oh, so Bitcoin Core updated your old wallet's keypool, "keypoolsize=1000" ensures that the concern about the change address wont happen.
Because your wallet already reserved 1000's of addresses.

Since it's not HD, it's a good decision to create a backup of your current wallet.dat to be on the safe side since the newly generated keys aren't included in your old backup.
Although those wont be used in the two transactions that you'll create.

[LoyceV]

My plan is to move everything from old wallet in offline Bitcoin Core to Ledger, then once all that's confirmed on the blockchain I guess the old wallet becomes redundant?

Keep your old wallet for 2 reasons: Forkcoins and to have a plausible story for taxes.

I was not aware of the change address mechanism, so please help me clarify:
 - small (test amounts) outgoing transactions from my old wallet will use a change address from my keypool

Correct. Large amounts use a change address too, unless you send everything.

- Bitcoin Core is offline so won't know about change returned

It knows, but won't know when it's confirmed.

- I presume that once I sort my Ledger Wallet, the blockchain will link all change transactions to it?

Correct.

I will make multiple backups as I go, but I suppose my anxiety is that because my old wallet is offline and I am try to move all to Ledger, that my change will disappear into the aether (as I don't fully understand change address mechanisms)...

Your 1000 key keypool is good, but it's probably created by your current wallet, not your old wallet. That means all your existing backups are useless for change, so create a new backup of your wallet.dat (or more than one) before sending anything.

[ChapInRed]

Hello, thanks for your replies once again.

I will keep making multiple dated wallet backups for disaster and tax/bank query purposes!

Ledger device received and set up. Recovery words secured on paper (though I may get a metal backup version).

Tor Browser set up as it looks like copying the raw transactions from my offline Bitcoin Core and broadcasting would be simple and secure enough.

I see Blockchair have an onion address for this (taken from the footer of their site): http://blkchairbknpn73cfjhevhla7rkp4ed5gg2knctvv7it4lioy22defid.onion/broadcast

I checked the getwalletinfo again, it's definitely my imported wallet that has keypool=1000, the empty wallet I created has keypool=0

So I now have to sleep then work, but next I plan to send say 10 mBTC to my Ledger wallet this way to test things out.

When I get to transferring the rest to Ledger, is there any point in keeping some BTC in my imported Bitcoin Core?

Thanks for reading, and for your patience. I don't want to mess anything up by not having a good enough grasp on things.

[nc50lc]

When I get to transferring the rest to Ledger, is there any point in keeping some BTC in my imported Bitcoin Core?

I can't see any reason of keeping some unless you're planning to use the wallet in the future.
Moreover, when claiming forks, it's best to send all of your Bitcoins from that wallet first, since you may have to expose it to unsecure clients as part of the fork-coin-claiming procedure.

[ChapInRed]

Thanks again nc50lc

I took the plunge and made a small transfer to Ledger via blockhair on Tor - received OK

Blockchair gave warnings on privacy re:
 - matched addresses identified
 - round value
 - output value x1000 (I guess Bitcoin Core had to use a large UTXO)
 - discrepancy: no output of the same type as inputs

Anything I need to be concerned about here?

[LoyceV]

Blockchair gave warnings on privacy re:
 - matched addresses identified
 - round value
 - output value x1000 (I guess Bitcoin Core had to use a large UTXO)
 - discrepancy: no output of the same type as inputs

Anything I need to be concerned about here?

I wouldn't worry about Blockchair's take on privacy

[nc50lc]

Blockchair gave warnings on privacy re:
 - matched addresses identified
 - round value
 - output value x1000 (I guess Bitcoin Core had to use a large UTXO)
 - discrepancy: no output of the same type as inputs

Those are just common heuristics on identifying the recipient from change.
Here's their official documentation about their "privacy-o-meter": https://github.com/Blockchair/Blockchair.Support/blob/master/API_DOCUMENTATION_EN.md#link_700

Since you're going to send all to your Ledger Nano anyways, it'll be inevitable that heuristics will see that the receiver and sender is the same user.
But it shouldn't cause a link to your identity.
It's Ledger Live's server and Exchanges where you'll end up using that you should worry about (your privacy), but that should be on a separate topic.

[ChapInRed]

OK, thanks both.

My test transaction has been confirmed >10x now, so I have more confidence in what I'm doing with this bit at least.

Planning to move the rest within 24h then get some specialist advice on tax, exchanging for fiat etc.

What is the forum policy / etiquette on tipping to say thanks?

[LoyceV]

My test transaction has been confirmed >10x now, so I have more confidence in what I'm doing with this bit at least.

For peace of mind: see if you can send from your Ledger too.

Planning to move the rest within 24h then get some specialist advice on tax, exchanging for fiat etc.

The fiat-part really depends on where you're living, and it might be difficult to find a local expert. Once you find a trusted exchange (and jumped through their KYC-hoops): don't send them too much at once (not even after a few smaller tests).

What is the forum policy / etiquette on tipping to say thanks?

Forum rules state that begging isn't allowed, tipping isn't mentioned (and thus allowed).

[ChapInRed]

OK, good point on testing send from Ledger - did so and it worked fine.

Should I send the rest in one go or divide into say 5-10 transactions? I know that will be more hassle and a bit more transaction cost but is it worth it in case of some unforeseen problem?

And should I leave 'Deduct fee from transaction amount' unchecked when sending from Bitcoin Core?

Have a specialist advisor company in mind that have many good reviews in my country (but will do more research on them),

Thank you!

[Cricktor]

Should I send the rest in one go or divide into say 5-10 transactions? I know that will be more hassle and a bit more transaction cost but is it worth it in case of some unforeseen problem?

I would probably do multiple transactions, though you can't really hide your stash that way. But I would prefer to have not so large UTXOs aka coins in my wallet. If you make a large transaction in one go you end up with one big UTXO in your new wallet. Any spend from this will usually reveal your wealth by spending your large change coin/UTXO.
(If the terms don't ring a bell in your head: brush up your Bitcoin knowledge at https://learnmeabitcoin.com)

And should I leave 'Deduct fee from transaction amount' unchecked when sending from Bitcoin Core?

As you are transfering from your original wallet to another one of your own, it doesn't much matter. Say you decide to transfer 1 BTC with 'Deduct fee from transaction amount' checked, i.e. your source wallet amount is reduced by exactly 1 BTC by the transaction. The transfered amount to your destination wallet is less than 1 BTC as the fee is taken from the 1 BTC away.
If 'Deduct fee from transaction amount' is unchecked, your destination wallet will receive exactly 1 BTC and your source wallet amount is reduced by 1 BTC plus transaction fees.

To see what's currently necessary for transfer fees, you can have a look at https://mempool.space as at the moment there's quite some transactions congestion and fees are rather high.

Be careful when you copy/paste transfer destination addresses. Always check if destination address is correct and unaltered (by clipboard malware or similar nasty things).

[LoyceV]

Should I send the rest in one go or divide into say 5-10 transactions? I know that will be more hassle and a bit more transaction cost but is it worth it in case of some unforeseen problem?

I'd send everything from the same address at once. For privacy, it doesn't hurt not to combine inputs from different addresses. In Bitcoin Core, enable "Settings > Options > Wallet > Enable coin control features". After this, on the Send tab, you can click Inputs. If you have different addresses there, you can select one at a time to keep them separate (and send funds to a new address on your Ledger). Then click "Use available balance" to empty that entire input.
I wouldn't send smaller chunks if you're planning to send everything. The risks (such as losing your seed phrase) are the same whether you send large or small amounts.
When selling (some of) your Bitcoin, it does make sense to send and sell smaller amounts at once.

Just to be sure: when sending to a new address on your Ledger, you should verify that address on the Ledger's screen (and not just on your computer).

And should I leave 'Deduct fee from transaction amount' unchecked when sending from Bitcoin Core?

That tickbox is mainly useful when you're sending all funds at once.

[ChapInRed]

Thanks LoyceV - so in coin control I have 3 sizeable inputs and 3 tiny ones (I think dust from a few years ago).

So I should do a transaction for each of the three main inputs to a different Ledger receive address (ignore the dust)?

I have been checking the receive addresses in the Ledger device as you advise.

Thanks again!

[LoyceV]

So I should do a transaction for each of the three main inputs to a different Ledger receive address (ignore the dust)?

That's what I would do
The dust (0.00000546 BTC by any chance?) might have been part of a dust/spam-attack. If it's that small, it's not worth the transaction fee so don't add it. If it's more, you could add it together with the balance from the same address.

[btctaipei]

Hello all,

I have found an old Windows disk backup, on which there is the 0.3.0 version of the bitcoin client which I <SNIP>
If the old wallet contains anything of value, what should I do next? I gather a cold wallet like Ledger would be sensible, including carefully stored handwritten keyword backups.
<SNIP>

I had similar situation and it turned out some coin generated were not moved for quite sometime.

It is very important to go offline with once you synced to current block height on a new bitcoin core install.

for security and anonymity I would recommend dumpwallet and manually export those address to another machine (because address =public key due to P2PK).  Query those bitcoin address using another machine via tor with blockstream or mempool.space to maintain anonymity as these days communication lines are rspan tapped by nation state actors.

 If my memory served me correctly dumpprivkey won't work in those early version clients there is a separate process that is required to extract private key value, which I believe someone on this forum will be able to cite earlier bitcointalk threads to better help you with this.

[ChapInRed]

So I should do a transaction for each of the three main inputs to a different Ledger receive address (ignore the dust)?

That's what I would do
The dust (0.00000546 BTC by any chance?) might have been part of a dust/spam-attack. If it's that small, it's not worth the transaction fee so don't add it. If it's more, you could add it together with the balance from the same address.

Done! Thank you!

That was quite scary awaiting confirmations and for balance to be reflected on Ledger Live, but all done.

I left the dust (a few of 0.00000547 BTC) in old wallet.

Will do more backups now.

Will sort thank you tips at some point - am working right now!

btctaipei - per previous suggestions, I loaded old wallet in offline Bitcoin Core, got a receive address from Ledger (on another online PC), copied via USB stick to offline PC, sent this in offline Bitcoin Core, copied raw transaction string back to the online PC, broadcast it via blockhair's Tor address. Repeated for each UTXO.

[LoyceV]

Will do more backups now.

That's a little.... late Your old wallet.dat's backups are now only useful for Forkcoins, and your Ledger backup words should have been very safe already.
To think about: are your seed words still safe if your house burns down? And can a burglar find them?

am working right now!

Good, keeping a low profile instead of instantly quitting and buying a Lambo

One more thing to think about: never sell everything! You've ("accidentally"?) been hodling Bitcoin for 13 years and it got you your riches, but who knows what another 13 years will bring for Bitcoin. So my advice (after years on this forum): sell some, but keep some