Should I Let Bitcoin Core Finish Scanning My Old Wallet?

[teddyKapowski]

Hello everyone,

Recently, a friend and I were reminiscing about Bitcoin, recalling when we first stumbled upon it 13 years ago. Back then, we were both avid enthusiasts of the internet and computer technology but unfortunately didn't take things seriously. However, according to my friend, I was geeky enough to have bought some, perhaps around 20 or 30 bucks' worth. I have absolutely no recollection of purchasing any, but who knows, maybe I did. I might have bought some on a whim and forgotten about it; it's plausible.

So, I dug up the old laptop from that era. It no longer powers on. I removed its hard drive and headed to a store to find an enclosure with a USB connection. I plugged it into my PC. I sifted through various files like "My Documents" (there are some cheesy photos of me when I was young ). I found nothing related to Bitcoin. I initiated a search in File Explorer and simply typed "bitcoin". After a few seconds, it pointed me to a Bitcoin folder located in AppData  . I opened it and found plenty of files undoubtedly related to Bitcoin. They were created or modified between June 22 and June 25, 2011. Well, that doesn't mean much; I must have installed the stuff back then without delving further. One file piqued my curiosity more than the others: wallet.dat. I tried to open it directly (lol), of course, it didn't work. I searched its name on Google, and then it all made sense...

So, I went to the official website and downloaded Bitcoin Core client 25. I opened it and threw in my wallet.dat file. It accepted it gladly and began a search (synchronization with the network). The search started last night and still hasn't finished (it says it'll take another 2 days). No Bitcoin in sight. Bummer. The search is chronological, and it's currently at the year 2016, so it hasn't seen anything from 2011 yet. See the screenshot:

https://ibb.co/5TGmj8W

I have no idea about the public address, private key, or any passwords. I also searched for this information on the old PC.

So, I conclude that it's a lost cause. Oh well, I dreamt for a few hours

What do you think? Should I shut down Bitcoin Core, or should I let it finish?

Thanks in advance for your advice.

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[nc50lc]

What do you think? Should I shut down Bitcoin Core, or should I let it finish?

How exactly did you "threw in" your wallet.dat file to Bitcoin Core v25.0? Please describe the steps that you did.
Depending on how you did it and its timing, if it rescanned or not, the blocks with the transactions may have been skipped.
(BTW, having no unverified transaction history at all isn't promising)

Letting it finish is still recommended since you can rescan later, that's only if you didn't enabled "prune block storage" setting
which would prevent you from scanning those old blocks without redownloading the entire blockchain.
If you want to finish it, I'd recommend to disable the setting if it's enabled and start over.
Otherwise, if you don't have the disk space, make sure that the wallet is properly loaded (use "Restore Wallet") before starting over initial block download again.

On a side note, the latest release version is v26.0 as you can see above the forum menu, but it didn't affected the result.
There's no "official Bitcoin website" BTW.

[LoyceV]

What do you think? Should I shut down Bitcoin Core, or should I let it finish?

If your wallet is loaded and you expected transactions made in 2011, there's no point letting it sync all the way since you're at 2016 already.

[teddyKapowski]

What do you think? Should I shut down Bitcoin Core, or should I let it finish?

How exactly did you "threw in" your wallet.dat file to Bitcoin Core v25.0? Please describe the steps that you did.
Depending on how you did it and its timing, if it rescanned or not, the blocks with the transactions may have been skipped.
(BTW, having no unverified transaction history at all isn't promising)

Letting it finish is still recommended since you can rescan later, that's only if you didn't enabled "prune block storage" setting
which would prevent you from scanning those old blocks without redownloading the entire blockchain.
If you want to finish it, I'd recommend to disable the setting if it's enabled and start over.
Otherwise, if you don't have the disk space, make sure that the wallet is properly loaded (use "Restore Wallet") before starting over initial block download again.

On a side note, the latest release version is v26.0 as you can see above the forum menu, but it didn't affected the result.
There's no "official Bitcoin website" BTW.

Thank you much for your answer and information.

I was surprised too. I read everywhere that Bitcoin Core 25 can't read the old wallet.dat files, but for me it works. I just clicked on file > open a wallet :
 
https://i.ibb.co/GtTX7Jq/bitcoincore-open-a-wallet.png

The file has been created in 2011 :

https://i.ibb.co/kySmf5f/files-2011.png

I just close Bitcoin Core and my Pc and I reopened them. I wanted to repeat the process but Bitcoin Core continues where it stopped earlier. It remains 4 years and 21 weeks :

https://i.ibb.co/dgjGM0r/bitcoin-core-reste-4-ans.png

But it reaches 2019 so I don't think it is useful to go on

https://i.ibb.co/N7DsWzK/bitcoin-core-reste-4-ans-informations.png

The "prune block storage" setting is enabled from the beginning (up to 2Go). Should I disable it now during the scan process? Or should I wait the end and then I do a new scan the the setting disabled?


Thank you again

[teddyKapowski]

What do you think? Should I shut down Bitcoin Core, or should I let it finish?

If your wallet is loaded and you expected transactions made in 2011, there's no point letting it sync all the way since you're at 2016 already.

Yes, I want to be sure. I read on the forum that the Bitcoin Core client may not see certain transactions even though they actually exist on the blockchain.

[Medusah]

You can use the following command to get the first address of your wallet (where 'X' your wallet name).

Code:

bitcoin-cli --rpcwallet X getnewaddress

I'm just saying this to save you time from syncing a wallet that contains no funds.  If the first address does not contain any coins, try with the second, third and so on.  Use a block explorer to check. 

If your wallet is loaded and you expected transactions made in 2011, there's no point letting it sync all the way since you're at 2016 already.

Maybe he received dust.  Spammers like picking old addresses to spread their spam.

[teddyKapowski]

You can use the following command to get the first address of your wallet (where 'X' your wallet name).

Code:

bitcoin-cli --rpcwallet X getnewaddress

I'm just saying this to save you time from syncing a wallet that contains no funds.  If the first address does not contain any coins, try with the second, third and so on.  Use a block explorer to check. 

If your wallet is loaded and you expected transactions made in 2011, there's no point letting it sync all the way since you're at 2016 already.

Maybe he received dust.  Spammers like picking old addresses to spread their spam.

Thank you Medusah

I am sorry to be so ignorant but i don't know the wallet name. where does i find it?

and I write this command in the Bitcoin Core console (Window > Console) right?

I hope that a lot of spammers sent a lot of dusts 

[nc50lc]

I just clicked on file > open a wallet
-snip-
I just close Bitcoin Core and my Pc and I reopened them. I wanted to repeat the process but Bitcoin Core continues where it stopped earlier. It remains 4 years and 21 weeks :

You've properly loaded it, good.

If you want to double-check, you don't have to repeat IBD if the blocks are intact, just rescan from block 0 and it'll scan those available blocks.
Go to "Console" (Window->Console) and type rescanblockchain to rescan with default args.

I am sorry to be so ignorant but i don't know the wallet name. where does i find it?

I hope that a lot of spammers sent a lot of dusts

Old wallet.dat files don't have a specific wallet name.
In the new versions, the wallet name is equivalent to the folder where it's located: ...\bitcoin\wallets\<wallet_name>\wallet.dat

As for "dusts", it's usually those old addresses with large amount of Bitcoins are being targeted.

[teddyKapowski]

I just clicked on file > open a wallet
-snip-
I just close Bitcoin Core and my Pc and I reopened them. I wanted to repeat the process but Bitcoin Core continues where it stopped earlier. It remains 4 years and 21 weeks :

You've properly loaded it, good.

If you want to double-check, you don't have to repeat IBD if the blocks are intact, just rescan from block 0 and it'll scan those available blocks.
Go to "Console" (Window->Console) and type rescanblockchain to rescan with default args.

I am sorry to be so ignorant but i don't know the wallet name. where does i find it?

I hope that a lot of spammers sent a lot of dusts

Old wallet.dat files don't have a specific wallet name.
In the new versions, the wallet name is equivalent to the folder where it's located: ...\bitcoin\wallets\<wallet_name>\wallet.dat

As for "dusts", it's usually those old addresses with large amount of Bitcoins are being targeted.

Thank you for your help. I entered the command rescanblockchain and I got this : "Can't rescan beyond pruned data. Use RPC call getblockchaininfo to determine your pruned height. (code -1)"

But you know what is worst? I think that actually the Bitcoin Core 25 cannot open my 2011 wallet.dat file... I'm sorry to have misled you.
(I was misleading because of the text at the bottom of the video "sync with the network...3 years and 27 weeks" which made me think that the software use my file to sync it with the blockchain (while it's not)).

Here is a video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=recqagQ0Hss

The error message which appear in the window : "Wallet file verification failed. "C:/Users/imwon/AppData/Roaming/Bitcoin/wallets/my old wallet 2011/wallet.dat is corrupted. Try the tool bitcoin-wallet to fix it or restore a backup."

Conclusion, I need to open the wallet.dat file with the good Bitcoin Core client... And I can't find it 

[nc50lc]

-snip-

Thank you for your help. I entered the command rescanblockchain and I got this : "Can't rescan beyond pruned data. Use RPC call getblockchaininfo to determine your pruned height. (code -1)"
Conclusion, I need to open the wallet.dat file with the good Bitcoin Core client... And I can't find it  

That was the "prune block storage" setting that I was talking about in my first reply.
You may stop the sync process now and disable the said setting; or if disabling isn't possible due to storage issue, only restart the sync once the target wallet is already loaded.
Read that post for more info.

But you know what is worst? I think that actually the Bitcoin Core 25 cannot open my 2011 wallet.dat file... I'm sorry to have misled you.
(I was misleading because of the text at the bottom of the video "sync with the network...3 years and 27 weeks" which made me think that the software use my file to sync it with the blockchain (while it's not)).
-snip-
The error message which appear in the window : "Wallet file verification failed. "C:/Users/imwon/AppData/Roaming/Bitcoin/wallets/my old wallet 2011/wallet.dat is corrupted. Try the tool bitcoin-wallet to fix it or restore a backup."

That error has nothing to do with the Bitcoin Core version since old wallets can still be loaded to the latest version without issues.
Bitcoin Core simply detected that it's corrupted.
As per the message, you can try to use bitcoin-wallet tool to salvage "a copy" of it. (make sure to keep an original backup)

Here's the instructions:

Try Bitcoin Core's bitcoin-wallet tool's "salvage".
"bitcoin-wallet" is in the "bin" folder inside Bitcoin Core's installation directory (where bitcoind and bitcoin-cli are located).

To use it, open Terminal, cd to the directory where bitcoin-wallet is.
Then use the command (provide the full path to the wallet.dat file):

Code:

bitcoin-wallet --wallet="E:\Folder\wallet.dat" salvage

It wont return with any response (unless it failed) but you will see a backup file (wallet.dat.xxxxx.bak) where the wallet.dat is located.
The new wallet.dat is the "salvaged" wallet.

Notes:

• Depending on the binary, Bitcoin Core's bitcoin-wallet tool can be in "daemon" folder instead of "bin".
• In Windows11, in the step that mentioned "terminal", use PowerShell.
• To expand the "cd" step; "cd" means "change directory", here's an example to cd: cd "C:\Program Files\Bitcoin\daemon"

[Danydee]

Conclusion, I need to open the wallet.dat file with the good Bitcoin Core client... And I can't find it 

Did you try extracting the addresses/wallets in it? I saw you can open it with a simple text editor or using a tool that do that automatically, there are existing (but be careful choosing/using a tool, it can be harming)!


Do Bitcoin Core don't gave you the list of your wallets ?   You can just check the balances manually!

[teddyKapowski]

-snip-

Thank you for your help. I entered the command rescanblockchain and I got this : "Can't rescan beyond pruned data. Use RPC call getblockchaininfo to determine your pruned height. (code -1)"
Conclusion, I need to open the wallet.dat file with the good Bitcoin Core client... And I can't find it  

That was the "prune block storage" setting that I was talking about in my first reply.
You may stop the sync process now and disable the said setting; or if disabling isn't possible due to storage issue, only restart the sync once the target wallet is already loaded.
Read that post for more info.

But you know what is worst? I think that actually the Bitcoin Core 25 cannot open my 2011 wallet.dat file... I'm sorry to have misled you.
(I was misleading because of the text at the bottom of the video "sync with the network...3 years and 27 weeks" which made me think that the software use my file to sync it with the blockchain (while it's not)).
-snip-
The error message which appear in the window : "Wallet file verification failed. "C:/Users/imwon/AppData/Roaming/Bitcoin/wallets/my old wallet 2011/wallet.dat is corrupted. Try the tool bitcoin-wallet to fix it or restore a backup."

That error has nothing to do with the Bitcoin Core version since old wallets can still be loaded to the latest version without issues.
Bitcoin Core simply detected that it's corrupted.
As per the message, you can try to use bitcoin-wallet tool to salvage "a copy" of it. (make sure to keep an original backup)

Here's the instructions:

Try Bitcoin Core's bitcoin-wallet tool's "salvage".
"bitcoin-wallet" is in the "bin" folder inside Bitcoin Core's installation directory (where bitcoind and bitcoin-cli are located).

To use it, open Terminal, cd to the directory where bitcoin-wallet is.
Then use the command (provide the full path to the wallet.dat file):

Code:

bitcoin-wallet --wallet="E:\Folder\wallet.dat" salvage

It wont return with any response (unless it failed) but you will see a backup file (wallet.dat.xxxxx.bak) where the wallet.dat is located.
The new wallet.dat is the "salvaged" wallet.

Notes:

• Depending on the binary, Bitcoin Core's bitcoin-wallet tool can be in "daemon" folder instead of "bin".
• In Windows11, in the step that mentioned "terminal", use PowerShell.
• To expand the "cd" step; "cd" means "change directory", here's an example to cd: cd "C:\Program Files\Bitcoin\daemon"

Thank you for your help, i'm going to try to do that.

edit : indeed, it doesn't return with any response but it doesn't create the new salvaged wallet.dat.xxxxx.bak file : https://youtu.be/e4dC6526KCg

[teddyKapowski]

Conclusion, I need to open the wallet.dat file with the good Bitcoin Core client... And I can't find it  

Did you try extracting the addresses/wallets in it? I saw you can open it with a simple text editor or using a tool that do that automatically, there are existing (but be careful choosing/using a tool, it can be harming)!


Do Bitcoin Core don't gave you the list of your wallets ?  You can just check the balances manually!

I try to extract the addresses/wallets and the balance through the Bitcoin Core client. but for now it doesn't accept the wallet.dat file  

you can't open the file with a simple text editor, it's shows unreadable encrypted information. A tool for that? I don't know yet which tool but good idea!

Do Bitcoin Core don't gave you the list of your wallets ?

No : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=recqagQ0Hss

You can just check the balances manually!

I don't know how but i think the may be corrupted according Bitcoin Core, so the first step is to salvage it.

Thank you for your help

[nc50lc]

edit : indeed, it doesn't return with any response but it doesn't create the new salvaged wallet.dat.xxxxx.bak file : https://youtu.be/e4dC6526KCg

I checked the video and it seems salvage didn't do anything to the target wallet at all.
Try moving the wallet file to a folder inside your C: drive with your wallet.dat file, e.g.: "C:/temp/wallet.dat"
Try "info" just to check if bitcoin-wallet is actually working, command: bitcoin-wallet --wallet="C:/temp/wallet.dat" info
The expected result should be:

Code:

"D:\bitcoin\wallet.dat" corrupt. Try using the wallet tool bitcoin-wallet to salvage or restoring a backup.

The use salvage.

If nothing works or salvage failed, try another tool like "pywallet".
But you must create a separate topic for that.

[Danydee]

- Is your wallet.dat password encrypted ?

you can't open the file with a simple text editor, it's shows unreadable encrypted information. A tool for that? I don't know yet which tool but good idea!

https://www.publish0x.com/cryptokyo/got-walletdat-files-but-dont-know-addresses-or-even-coins-xyvlmqe  (Got wallet.dat files but don't know addresses or even coins!!!!)  


About tools the most recognized seems to be Pywallet (it's need Python 2, not 3!)..

 you can also check if something here may help you!

check balances manually..

It is by looking on a block explorer like this: https://blockchair.com/bitcoin/address/1CrMWr46rUVxKgWGB1N5MmWCoHy3u6UAEK   ..

But the easier would be by this tool :https://bitcoindata.science/bitcoin-balance-check

[nc50lc]

- Is your wallet.dat password encrypted ?

Encrypted or not, the text editor method that you've suggested should work if the user previously used any address from his wallet.
Even if the file looks like jumbled text (due to the text editor's encoding of the binary data), there are still human-readable parts mixed in there.
The trick is to find "name" strings using a simple "CTRL+F" find command.
If there's a match, an address should follow it.

But I do not recommend relying on it when it comes with getting the balance since it can be an outdated state of the wallet and addresses that you see may only be a portion of the actual amount.