Bitcoin Forum
July 11, 2025, 01:28:40 AM
Welcome,
Guest
. Please
login
or
register
.
News
: Latest Bitcoin Core release:
29.0
[
Torrent
]
Home
Help
Search
Login
Register
More
Bitcoin Forum
>
Bitcoin
>
Bitcoin Technical Support
>
Need help encrypting
Pages: [
1
]
« previous topic
next topic »
Print
Author
Topic: Need help encrypting (Read 1313 times)
BookofNick
(OP)
Full Member
Offline
Activity: 322
Merit: 117
Need help encrypting
May 24, 2011, 12:56:55 AM
#1
Hey all, seems the consensus is that backup wallet.dat files should be kept encrypted. I've never done this before, and am struggling. Here's what I've done so far:
- Downloaded truecrypt
- Created a "volume"
- Dragged and dropped my wallet.dat file inside my volume.
Now here's where I get confused. When I try to open the volume file on my comp, it gives me this string of gobblygook text. Is that my wallet.dat contents? If so, why didn't it ask for my password before I opened it?
I can also access wallet.dat through the TrueCrypt application, but when I try to open it it opens with EyeTV (a cable converter).
More questions:
- If I email the encrypted volume file containing wallet.dat, do I need truecrypt to open it on another computer?
- Assuming I can find the wallet.dat, how do I get the bitcoins onto the bitcoin application that sends/receives money? What if the bitcoin application already exists on that computer? Can you create another one? Or do the coins add on to the balance of the existing app?
It's all very confusing. I am impressed with those who see this stuff as second nature. HELP.
http://www.youtube.com/bookofnick
http://www.twitter.com/bookofnick
https://www.instagram.com/thebookofnick/
bitlotto
Hero Member
Offline
Activity: 672
Merit: 500
BitLotto - best odds + best payouts + cheat-proof
Re: Need help encrypting
May 24, 2011, 01:37:42 AM
#2
Think of the file or volume as a virtual disk. The only way to open it is using truecrypt - no other way to open it. To open it you have to use the truecrypt application. By opening it you have access to contents. This file is totally encrypted. By using a file browser you can copy and paste files to and from this virtual disk and the encryption is done behind the scenes. "Mount" opens the file. "Dismount" closes it.
The wallet stores all your addresses that you use. Every so often back up the wallet TO the "virtual disk" or volume. If you need to restore the wallet you just copy it FROM the encrypted volume. As long as you use a secure password you can email or store the file (volume) anywhere without too much risk as it is all encrypted.
PM me if want. Or just ask here.
*Next Draw Feb 1*
BitLotto
: monthly raffle
(0.25 BTC per ticket) Completely transparent and impossible to manipulate who wins.
TOR
TOR2WEB
Donations to: 1JQdiQsjhV2uJ4Y8HFtdqteJsZhv835a8J are appreciated.
BookofNick
(OP)
Full Member
Offline
Activity: 322
Merit: 117
Re: Need help encrypting
May 24, 2011, 02:04:58 AM
#3
Ok, that answers my question regarding opening a file. But once I open the file, how do I get the coins onto my bitcoin client? Let's say my client holds 10 BTC, and I hold 20 BTC on my backup wallet.dat. How do I make my client see that I have 30 coins? Could I put a portion of my backup onto my client (I.e. Leave 15 coins on my backup wallet.dat so I have 15 coins on my client?
Or does it not work that way? Thanks for your help.
http://www.youtube.com/bookofnick
http://www.twitter.com/bookofnick
https://www.instagram.com/thebookofnick/
bitlotto
Hero Member
Offline
Activity: 672
Merit: 500
BitLotto - best odds + best payouts + cheat-proof
Re: Need help encrypting
May 24, 2011, 02:33:29 AM
#4
Wallets are just a way of accessing coins that are sent to specific addresses. Wallets doesn't actually store the coins but the addresses that are yours on the Bitcoin network. Each wallet has at least 100 addresses built in so your backup should last a while unless you are doing a lot of transactions. If you are, you need to back up more. Say you have one wallet with addresses A,B,C and another with E,F,G. (Usually you just have one wallet that has MANY addresses. And use it for everything) If you had some BTC at address A you could send it to E then all your money would be in the E,F,G wallet. You can't merge wallets but you can send money to each wallet if your coins are split. By having the wallet file in the default location and running Bitcoin you can see how much BTC the wallet contains. Moving money around is all done in the Bitcoin client software.
*Next Draw Feb 1*
BitLotto
: monthly raffle
(0.25 BTC per ticket) Completely transparent and impossible to manipulate who wins.
TOR
TOR2WEB
Donations to: 1JQdiQsjhV2uJ4Y8HFtdqteJsZhv835a8J are appreciated.
BookofNick
(OP)
Full Member
Offline
Activity: 322
Merit: 117
Re: Need help encrypting
May 24, 2011, 03:34:23 AM
#5
Okay, so the bitcoins aren't stored on your wallet. It's more or less a password that confirms through the network that the coins are yours...I get that. What do I actually need to do when restoring? Do I replace the wallet.dat with the backup?
So I think I get this. Let's again say I have 10 bitcoins on my computer client and 20 bitcoins on my backup. I want to have all 30 of my bitcoins on my computer client. So I remove wallet.dat from my client and replace it with wallet.dat from my backup. I can then open the client and send those 20 coins to my original address which contains the 10 bitcoins. Then I remove the backup wallet.dat and replacement with the original. Right?
http://www.youtube.com/bookofnick
http://www.twitter.com/bookofnick
https://www.instagram.com/thebookofnick/
error
Hero Member
Offline
Activity: 588
Merit: 500
Re: Need help encrypting
May 24, 2011, 03:38:17 AM
#6
If you do that, then the "backup" isn't a backup; it's a whole separate wallet.
3KzNGwzRZ6SimWuFAgh4TnXzHpruHMZmV8
BookofNick
(OP)
Full Member
Offline
Activity: 322
Merit: 117
Re: Need help encrypting
May 24, 2011, 03:48:09 AM
#7
Man, I must have one thick skull!
Okay, so if I have 20 coins when I backup, spend 10, have 10 left, when I restore the network will see that I have 10 coins and that will appear in my balance.
And if I have 20 coins when I backup, gain 10, have 30, when I restore the network will see that I have 30 coins and that will appear in my balance?
http://www.youtube.com/bookofnick
http://www.twitter.com/bookofnick
https://www.instagram.com/thebookofnick/
bitlotto
Hero Member
Offline
Activity: 672
Merit: 500
BitLotto - best odds + best payouts + cheat-proof
Re: Need help encrypting
May 25, 2011, 01:57:20 AM
#8
Quote from: BookofNick on May 24, 2011, 03:48:09 AM
Man, I must have one thick skull!
Okay, so if I have 20 coins when I backup, spend 10, have 10 left, when I restore the network will see that I have 10 coins and that will appear in my balance.
And if I have 20 coins when I backup, gain 10, have 30, when I restore the network will see that I have 30 coins and that will appear in my balance?
Ok...The wallet contains "keys" to addresses. Think of the wallet as a key ring. Whenever people send you coins they go to an address on the network. You don't need to be connected. But now, to move, or spend those coins you need the keys for that address. That's what the wallet contains. If you back up the wallet with 30 coins then spend some when you restore the backup it will still say the lower amount because those addresses have less coins. The "keys" just tell Bitcoin where to look on the WHOLE network for what addresses are yours. People can send to your address when you are not connected. When you connect next time, Bitcoin will look up the addresses and see what amounts they contain...hope that helps!
Maybe my article at:
http://bitcoinweekly.com/articles/how-bitcoin-security-works-by-analogy
will help.
*Next Draw Feb 1*
BitLotto
: monthly raffle
(0.25 BTC per ticket) Completely transparent and impossible to manipulate who wins.
TOR
TOR2WEB
Donations to: 1JQdiQsjhV2uJ4Y8HFtdqteJsZhv835a8J are appreciated.
error
Hero Member
Offline
Activity: 588
Merit: 500
Re: Need help encrypting
May 25, 2011, 03:17:36 AM
#9
You don't have to be at home to receive mail in your mailbox.
3KzNGwzRZ6SimWuFAgh4TnXzHpruHMZmV8
Pages: [
1
]
Print
Bitcoin Forum
>
Bitcoin
>
Bitcoin Technical Support
>
Need help encrypting
« previous topic
next topic »
Jump to:
Please select a destination:
-----------------------------
Bitcoin
-----------------------------
=> Bitcoin Discussion
===> Legal
===> Press
===> Meetups
===> Important Announcements
=> Development & Technical Discussion
===> Wallet software
=====> Electrum
=====> Bitcoin Wallet for Android
=====> BitcoinJ
=====> Armory
=====> Mycelium
=====> Hardware wallets
=> Mining
===> Mining support
===> Pools
===> Mining software (miners)
===> Hardware
=====> Group buys
===> Mining speculation
=> Bitcoin Technical Support
=> Project Development
-----------------------------
Economy
-----------------------------
=> Economics
===> Speculation
=> Marketplace
===> Goods
=====> Computer hardware
=====> Digital goods
=======> Invites & Accounts
=====> Collectibles
===> Services
===> Currency exchange
===> Gambling
=====> Games and rounds
=====> Investor-based games
=====> Gambling discussion
===> Lending
=====> Long-term offers
===> Securities
===> Auctions
===> Service Announcements
=====> Micro Earnings
===> Service Discussion
=====> Web Wallets
=====> Exchanges
=> Trading Discussion
===> Scam Accusations
===> Reputation
-----------------------------
Other
-----------------------------
=> Meta
===> Bitcoin Wiki
=> Politics & Society
=> Beginners & Help
=> Off-topic
=> Serious discussion
===> Ivory Tower
=> Archival
===> New forum software
===> Корзина
===> CPU/GPU Bitcoin mining hardware
===> Chinese students
===> Obsolete (buying)
===> Obsolete (selling)
===> MultiBit
-----------------------------
Alternate cryptocurrencies
-----------------------------
=> Altcoin Discussion
=> Announcements (Altcoins)
===> Tokens (Altcoins)
=> Mining (Altcoins)
===> Pools (Altcoins)
=> Marketplace (Altcoins)
===> Service Announcements (Altcoins)
===> Service Discussion (Altcoins)
===> Bounties (Altcoins)
=> Speculation (Altcoins)
-----------------------------
Local
-----------------------------
=> العربية (Arabic)
===> العملات البديلة (Altcoins)
=====> النقاشات
===> إستفسارات و أسئلة المبتدئين
===> التعدين
===> النقاشات الأخرى
===> منصات التبادل
=> Bahasa Indonesia (Indonesian)
===> Marketplace (Bahasa Indonesia)
===> Mining (Bahasa Indonesia)
===> Altcoins (Bahasa Indonesia)
===> Trading dan Spekulasi
===> Ekonomi, Politik, dan Budaya
===> Topik Lainnya
=> Español (Spanish)
===> Mercado y Economía
=====> Servicios
=====> Trading y especulación
===> Hardware y Minería
===> Esquina Libre
===> Mercadillo
=====> Mexico
=====> Argentina
=====> España
=====> Centroamerica y Caribe
===> Primeros pasos y ayuda
===> Altcoins (criptomonedas alternativas)
=====> Minería de altcoins
=====> Servicios
=====> Tokens (Español)
=> 中文 (Chinese)
===> 跳蚤市场
===> 山寨币
===> 媒体
===> 挖矿
===> 离题万里
=> Hrvatski (Croatian)
===> Trgovina
===> Altcoins (Hrvatski)
=====> Announcements (Hrvatski)
===> Off-topic (Hrvatski)
=> Deutsch (German)
===> Anfänger und Hilfe
===> Mining (Deutsch)
===> Trading und Spekulation
===> Projektentwicklung
===> Off-Topic (Deutsch)
===> Treffen
===> Presse
===> Altcoins (Deutsch)
=====> Announcements (Deutsch)
===> Marktplatz
=====> Auktionen
=====> Suche
=====> Biete
=> Ελληνικά (Greek)
===> Αγορά
===> Mining Discussion (Ελληνικά)
===> Altcoins (Ελληνικά)
=====> Altcoin Announcements (Ελληνικά)
=====> Altcoin Mining (Ελληνικά)
=> עברית (Hebrew)
=> Français
===> Actualité et News
===> Débutants
===> Discussions générales et utilisation du Bitcoin
===> Mining et Hardware
===> Économie et spéculation
===> Place de marché
=====> Échanges
=====> Produits et services
=====> Petites annonces
===> Le Bitcoin et la loi
===> Wiki, documentation et traduction
===> Développement et technique
===> Vos sites et projets
===> Hors-sujet
===> Altcoins (Français)
=====> Annonces
=> India
===> Mining (India)
===> Marketplace (India)
===> Regional Languages (India)
===> Press & News from India
===> Alt Coins (India)
===> Buyer/ Seller Reputations (India)
===> Off-Topic (India)
=> Italiano (Italian)
===> Guide (Italiano)
===> Progetti
===> Discussioni avanzate e sviluppo
===> Trading, analisi e speculazione
===> Mercato
=====> Mercato valute
=====> Beni
=====> Servizi
=====> Esercizi commerciali
=====> Hardware/Mining (Italiano)
=====> Gambling (Italiano)
===> Accuse scam/truffe
===> Mining (Italiano)
===> Alt-Currencies (Italiano)
=====> Annunci
===> Raduni/Meeting (Italiano)
===> Crittografia e decentralizzazione
===> Off-Topic (Italiano)
=> 日本語 (Japanese)
===> アルトコイン
=> Nederlands (Dutch)
===> Markt
===> Gokken/lotterijen
===> Mining (Nederlands)
===> Beurzen
===> Alt Coins (Nederlands)
===> Off-topic (Nederlands)
===> Meetings (Nederlands)
=> Nigeria (Naija)
===> Politics and society (Naija)
===> Off-topic (Naija)
=> 한국어 (Korean)
===> 대체코인 Alt Coins (한국어)
=> Pilipinas
===> Altcoins (Pilipinas)
=====> Altcoin Announcements (Pilipinas)
===> Pamilihan
===> Others (Pilipinas)
=> Polski
===> Tablica ogłoszeń
===> Alternatywne kryptowaluty
=====> Nowe kryptowaluty i tokeny
=====> Tablica ogłoszeń (altcoiny)
=> Português (Portuguese)
===> Primeiros Passos (Iniciantes)
===> Economia & Mercado
===> Mineração em Geral
===> Desenvolvimento & Discussões Técnicas
===> Criptomoedas Alternativas
===> Brasil
===> Portugal
=> Русский (Russian)
===> Новички
===> Бизнес
=====> Барахолка
=====> Обменники
===> Идеи
===> Кодеры
===> Майнеры
===> Политика
===> Трейдеры
===> Альтернативные криптовалюты
=====> Токены
=====> Бayнти и aиpдpoпы
===> Хайпы
===> Работа
===> Разное
===> Oбcyждeниe Bitcoin
=====> Новости
=====> Юристы
=> Română (Romanian)
===> Anunturi importante
===> Offtopic
===> Market
=====> Discutii Servicii
===> Minerit
===> Tutoriale
===> Bine ai venit!
===> Presa
===> Altcoins (Monede Alternative)
=====> Anunturi Monede Alternative
=> Skandinavisk
=> Türkçe (Turkish)
===> Bitcoin Haberleri
===> Pazar Alanı
===> Madencilik
===> Ekonomi
===> Servisler
=====> Fonlar
===> Proje Geliştirme
===> Alternatif Kripto-Paralar
=====> Madencilik (Alternatif Kripto-Paralar)
=====> Duyurular (Alternatif Kripto-Paralar)
===> Konu Dışı
===> Yeni Başlayanlar & Yardım
===> Buluşmalar
=> Other languages/locations
Loading...