Need some help with setting up a cold storage

[coinlary]

I have an old PC but it is  32 bit currently running on windows 7, it's been a while I use it but I felt like just setting up another cold storage on it.
I will be changing the hard drive  to a new one but I'm  not sure which  Linux distro and the self custody wallet that works on x86 Pcs or it doesn't  matter?.

[Stalker22]

I personally wouldnt recommend it. this architecture is no longer supported by most modern software, so it could potentially be insecure.

The purpose of cold storage is to eliminate risk, not just reduce it. By using an ancient, unsupported computer, you are introducing a whole new set of risks. Why dont you just buy a hardware wallet?  They are cheap, require a lot less effort, and provide much better security for your funds.

[Mia Chloe]

I have an old PC but it is  32 bit currently running on windows 7, it's been a while I use it but I felt like just setting up another cold storage on it.
I will be changing the hard drive  to a new one but I'm  not sure which  Linux distro and the self custody wallet that works on x86 Pcs or it doesn't  matter?.

I remember to a long time ago when I wanted to setup one back in my newbie days, o_e_l_e_o (may his soul rest in peace) and a couple of other veteran members walked me through then. Basically what's most  important  is to ensure that;

• The PC is running on an open source software Linux or Tails in my own opinion you can go with any depending on the one you prefer.
  
• The wallet software you are going to be using must be open source and verified during your installation process.
• That computer must not have any connection to the internet (you can achieve this by getting rid of all network drivers or preferably detach the networking components on the board (won't be necessary if you're just testing)

Read through this thread;
Does this still count?
It should walk you through the process.

[coinlary]

I personally wouldnt recommend it. this architecture is no longer supported by most modern software, so it could potentially be insecure.

The purpose of cold storage is to eliminate risk, not just reduce it. By using an ancient, unsupported computer, you are introducing a whole new set of risks. Why dont you just buy a hardware wallet?  They are cheap, require a lot less effort, and provide much better security for your funds.

Appreciate  your  thoughts.
I do have a cold storage already,  I just felt like doing something with the old PC since it's  just sitting  at home doing nothing..

• The PC is running on an open source software Linux or Tails in my own opinion you can go with any depending on the one you prefer.
  
• The wallet software you are going to be using must be open source and verified during your installation process.
• That computer must not have any connection to the internet (you can achieve this by getting rid of all network drivers or preferably detach the networking components on the board (won't be necessary if you're just testing)

Read through this thread;
Does this still count?
It should walk you through the process.

Thanks for the link, the list were part of my consideration too but the only problem I'm  having  is that it's  a 32-bit PC and might required some dedicated and specific OS (preferably Linux distros) with a dedicated software too. It's not like the current x86_64 PCs

[OcTradism]

I do have a cold storage already,  I just felt like doing something with the old PC since it's  just sitting  at home doing nothing..

If you already have your wallet backups in cold wallets, that is good, and it does not harm your Bitcoin wallets and Bitcoin funds if you have any extra cold storage wallet backups on any extra devices.

Make sure you do extra backups properly and don't take risk to make it unsafely and carelessly so that it can be accessed by the other people who can steal your bitcoins.

Creating a cold storage wallet in Electrum.
[LIST] Open source hardware wallets.
[GUIDE] How to buy a Hardware Wallet the right way.

That old computer can hit its lifespan and no longer be usable in the future like next several months, couple of years, but as said, it plays a role as an extra backup for you. So if it is broken, it does not harm your bitcoin fund as you already have other backups to use.

[IIrik11]

i too have an old 32 bit pc and i run bodhi linux on it but i do not use it for cold storage because more of then not u run into problems

problems that require u to connect to internet and that would sabotage the whole purpose of having a cold storage wallet

i run tails on a pen drive with seed backed up somewhere else and it is enough to bounce off txs when they need to be signed ie

[Hridyansh Labs]

I have an old PC but it is  32 bit currently running on windows 7, it's been a while I use it but I felt like just setting up another cold storage on it.
I will be changing the hard drive  to a new one but I'm  not sure which  Linux distro and the self custody wallet that works on x86 Pcs or it doesn't  matter?.

Old PCs are a very secure option if you set them up as cold storage. Since your PC is 32-bit and x86, it would be better to choose a lightweight Linux distro accordingly. I would use Debian with LXDE, or AntiX, both are lightweight and run very well on 32-bit.

Again, regarding wallets, there is a light version of Electrum that still runs well on 32-bit and is perfect for cold storage if kept completely offline. Just install it, write a seed phrase, and leave it without a net connection. You can also check out Armory if you want, a little heavy but great in terms of security.

All in all, it is a really good idea to use old PCs in this way. Electronic waste is reduced and secure financial storage is created at the same time.

You can follow extra link: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=5288971.0

[nc50lc]

I will be changing the hard drive  to a new one but I'm  not sure which  Linux distro and the self custody wallet that works on x86 Pcs or it doesn't  matter?.

What matters in the wallet-selection is the compatibility between the offline and online wallet software's transaction export/import process.

For example, your dated machine may only be able to install old versions of modern Bitcoin software while the online machine is capable of the latest versions.
In that regard, the exported transaction to be signed by the offline wallet may not be compatible with it.
Electrum for example, used serialized raw txn but switched to PSBT later on. (take note of that)

You can even mix and match offline and online wallets as long as the transaction export/import is compatible. (e.g.: Bitcoin Core, Sparrow and Electrum's PSBT)

I do have a cold storage already,  I just felt like doing something with the old PC since it's  just sitting  at home doing nothing..

Distros that support(ed) 32-bit may be easy to find (use search engines),
However, installing the wallet of your choice will be your biggest hurdle here.

Once you decided on your OS and wallet, you could try to install it but will likely encounter issues with the wallet's dependencies.
You may try to post a new topic in the specific wallet's board or in the Linux Distros' forum if you encounter an issue. (you will)

[BitMaxz]

Thanks for the link, the list were part of my consideration too but the only problem I'm  having  is that it's  a 32-bit PC and might required some dedicated and specific OS (preferably Linux distros) with a dedicated software too. It's not like the current x86_64 PCs

Tails would be the best one for cold storage but the problem is latest version of Tails OS doesn't support 32-bit, but you can try the older version. I heard that the last version that supports 32-bit-based systems is Tails 3.0.

You can try it, but I do not know if you can install the latest version of Electrum on this, but since it's based on Linux, it might be supported.

Another option: I think there are some Android OS out there, like Remix OS, that support 32-bit-based systems. You can try that one and install the Electrum ARM 32-bit.

[Stalker22]

You can try it, but I do not know if you can install the latest version of Electrum on this, but since it's based on Linux, it might be supported.

Since Electrum is in Python, I think it should work fine on a 32-bit system.  Of course, you should have a 32-bit version of Python.  But I havent tried newer versions, though.

[coinlary]

i too have an old 32 bit pc and i run bodhi linux on it but i do not use it for cold storage because more of then not u run into problems

Bodhi  it is, will research and try it out . My PC is still having the windows on it, I barely go out but anytime I go out again,I   will make sure to get some new component like the fan(the fan Is kind of weak too) and the hard drive to install the new OS on.

Once you decided on your OS and wallet, you could try to install it but will likely encounter issues with the wallet's dependencies.
You may try to post a new topic in the specific wallet's board or in the Linux Distros' forum if you encounter an issue. (you will)

Okay noted that, someone suggested bodhi, I also saw puppy Linux online , I don't know how they will work  but once I tried them I will get back to whatever wallet installed.

Tails would be the best one for cold storage but the problem is latest version of Tails OS doesn't support 32-bit, but you can try the older version. I heard that the last version that supports 32-bit-based systems is Tails 3.0.

Tbh, I would have preferred Tails, but I don't know how everything will turn out using software on it. I'll still give it a try, but if I notice it won't be convenient having a cold storage setup on a 32-bit PC, then I will just forget about it. I do have another cold storage, but it's worth trying (the setup).