Help For cold storage

[CrackedLogic]

I have an old computer tower lying in my storeroom,

I want to move a few of my bitcoins onto that and keep it there until an emergency occurs.



So what I want to do is ;
Format the pc
Double check for viruses with Malwarebytes and AVG
download a wallet onto that pc
Encrypt that wallet
Send my BTC there
Then shutdown that pc and leave it until needed.

The pc would have the usual user account password etc.
I won't forget the password since it is my wifi passkey


Good Idea?
Yes ,no, maybe?

[mintodev]

You can just store the address printed out and save it in a locker .

That would be better instead of wasting the whole computer memory for just backup.

[roslinpl]

I have an old computer tower lying in my storeroom,

I want to move a few of my bitcoins onto that and keep it there until an emergency occurs.



So what I want to do is ;
Format the pc
Double check for viruses with Malwarebytes and AVG
download a wallet onto that pc
Encrypt that wallet
Send my BTC there
Then shutdown that pc and leave it until needed.

The pc would have the usual user account password etc.
I won't forget the password since it is my wifi passkey


Good Idea?
Yes ,no, maybe?

And what you will do if your HDD fails?
Cold storage should have good durability.

I know that HDD might fail just like that - because of a bad day

[byt411]

I have an old computer tower lying in my storeroom,

I want to move a few of my bitcoins onto that and keep it there until an emergency occurs.



So what I want to do is ;
Format the pc
Double check for viruses with Malwarebytes and AVG
download a wallet onto that pc
Encrypt that wallet
Send my BTC there
Then shutdown that pc and leave it until needed.

The pc would have the usual user account password etc.
I won't forget the password since it is my wifi passkey


Good Idea?
Yes ,no, maybe?

And what you will do if your HDD fails?
Cold storage should have good durability.

I know that HDD might fail just like that - because of a bad day

Or you might be planning to retrieve your btc and fall over with a cup of water...
Well, make a paper wallet, put it into a safe. Lot safer, you cannot properly protect a computer unless you have loads of money.
Oh, and laminate the paper wallet too.

[softron]

Yes its a good idea. But you should store more copies somewhere else.

[HELP.org]

Yes its a good idea. But you should store more copies somewhere else.

Yes, outside of your immediate geographic area should there be some natural disaster in your area.

[sgk]

I have an old computer tower lying in my storeroom,

I want to move a few of my bitcoins onto that and keep it there until an emergency occurs.

So what I want to do is ;
Format the pc
Double check for viruses with Malwarebytes and AVG
download a wallet onto that pc
Encrypt that wallet
Send my BTC there
Then shutdown that pc and leave it until needed.

The pc would have the usual user account password etc.
I won't forget the password since it is my wifi passkey

Good Idea?
Yes ,no, maybe?

Your process is good but you're leaving the wallet only in one location. What if you lost your computer, your house burnt or someone steals your computer?

Copy the wallet file on a couple of USB drives and store them in different locations.
Also upload the wallet file (encrypted) to one of your cloud storage accounts or email it to yourself.

[CrackedLogic]

What if you lost your computer, your house burnt or someone steals your computer?


Also upload the wallet file (encrypted) to one of your cloud storage accounts.

That's a good point.

Thanks!

[Crossbow376]

You can just store the address printed out and save it in a locker .

That would be better instead of wasting the whole computer memory for just backup.

Is that a typo and what you want to say is indeed the "private key"? 

[Velkro]

user account password is VERY weak protection
use truecrypt volume and you have it 100% secure then on password

or use this advice above, to create paper wallet, you can also do it here bitcoinvanitygen.com, i did it

[TookDk]

user account password is VERY weak protection
use truecrypt volume and you have it 100% secure then on password

or use this advice above, to create paper wallet, you can also do it here bitcoinvanitygen.com, i did it

I will recommend to split your saving into different mediums: e.g. one wallet digital stored and a paper wallets hidden away in your safe/locker.

(not to put all the eggs in once basket)

[varChar]

Im in the same situation. I want to put my btc in a cold storage but I dont know if im gonna buy a computer or make a paper wallet.
Probably best to put it in a paper wallet. But how and what is best way to do this?

One way is like this:
https://bitcoinpaperwallet.com/
But then you only get 1 paper to get all of the bitcoin.

Another way is:
https://bitcoinarmory.com/
And there make a wallet. And use theirs 2/3 paper to recreate the wallet.
Then you can have 1 at the bank, 1 at home and 1 at someone you trust. Then you'll need 2 of 3 papers to recreate the wallet. A bit safer then the first suggestion.
(Think there even is a 5 of 7 alternative way as well).

[TookDk]

Im in the same situation. I want to put my btc in a cold storage but I dont know if im gonna buy a computer or make a paper wallet.
Probably best to put it in a paper wallet. But how and what is best way to do this?

One way is like this:
https://bitcoinpaperwallet.com/
But then you only get 1 paper to get all of the bitcoin.

Another way is:
https://bitcoinarmory.com/
And there make a wallet. And use theirs 2/3 paper to recreate the wallet.
Then you can have 1 at the bank, 1 at home and 1 at someone you trust. Then you'll need 2 of 3 papers to recreate the wallet. A bit safer then the first suggestion.
(Think there even is a 5 of 7 alternative way as well).

The method I found most safe is :

1. Roll a dice 99 times (you will get a 99 digit base6 number), write the number down.
2. Download the html file from www.bitaddress.org to a usb drive.
3. Boot a PC, which is NOT connected to the internet.
4. Open bitaddress.org from the usb drive, type your base6 number into "wallet details" to convert to private/public adr.
5. Print or write down the keys.
6. Burn your paper with the base6 number and format PC.

Then do you have a pretty good paperwallet.

Cheers!

[nosdi26]

Store your wallet.dat file in several usbs, make a paper wallet and sit down and relax