New OS install...where'd my wallet go?

[xarchangelzerox]

So a couple days ago I got a shiny new SSD, installed windows 7 on it, started installing everything for my fresh OS.

I still have everything on my old HDD, windows install and everything, so I can always go back and boot from that drive (for now) to get information I might need
 
After booting from my SSD, I loaded the bitcoin application from my HDD, but noticed that my balance was 0 and my address was different.  I was a little confused, so I shut down and booted into my HDD to load bitcoin, and found that my balance was still intact when I boot from the HDD.

I'm loading bitcoin from the same location in both boots...but only one of them shows my balance.  Do I just have to send coins from my old wallet to my new one?  Is this the way it's supposed to work?  Am I missing something?

Thanks!

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[mewantsbitcoins]

First reason: you forgot to copy your wallet.dat. It goes in c:\Users\[your username]\AppData\Roaming\Bitcoin
Note, that AppData is a hidden directory.

Second: you have to download all the blocks to see the correct balance

[xarchangelzerox]

Thanks!

I knew it had to be something like that.  Works like a charm now =D

[mewantsbitcoins]

No problemo!
Here to help 

[chungenhung]

First reason: you forgot to copy your wallet.dat. It goes in c:\Users\[your username]\AppData\Roaming\Bitcoin
Note, that AppData is a hidden directory.

Second: you have to download all the blocks to see the correct balance

What exactly does "download all the blocks" mean?

[mewantsbitcoins]

You could read about it on wiki
https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/wiki/Bitcoin#Block-chain_and_Confirmations

In practical term it's a record of all the transactions that occurred and your client can only participate in the network if it's downloaded all of it. Currently it's block 123335 and is increasing ~every 10mins




edit: oh, and it means that the very first time you start your bitcoin client it may take a little while before you can use it.

[Vasili Sviridov]

There used to be a blockchain torrent lying around. Maybe it's time to make a new one.