Clean Reinstall of Windows 7 on Laptop with Bitcoins in Electrum

[viking02]

I will be going to do clean install of windows 7 on my laptop and i still have bitcoins in my electrum.  I do have the 12 word phrase which i read is all i need in case my computer ever have any issues to recover the bitcoins.


However would u suggest i just send all the bitcoins to my blockchain or coinbase account in the time being?  Or should i just leave it there and then reinstall electrum in my laptop once i do the clean reinstall.  I have the 12 word phrase and close to 100 percent i didn't make a mistake with a letter or word.  But if thats the case, would you suggest on safe side send it to blockchain instead?  Also... how do i recover the bitcoin from the electrum wallet?  Would i download electrum again then put the 12 word phrase or its something else b/c i recall i read i had to download some other client?  I don't think i want to try to attempt this so better save to send it to blockchain?  Then later on once computer is clean install, send the btc back to electrum but a new electrum account?  i assume it will be brand new electrum account with a new 12 word phrase then right no matter what?


Thanks.

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[viking02]

Would copying the electrum file to my usb flash drive would work as well?  Thus once i clean reinstall my laptop, then i just plug usb then open the electrum file that way?  Or is that not good idea?

[shorena]

I will be going to do clean install of windows 7 on my laptop and i still have bitcoins in my electrum.  I do have the 12 word phrase which i read is all i need in case my computer ever have any issues to recover the bitcoins.

Yes the seed - the 12 words - is all you need.

However would u suggest i just send all the bitcoins to my blockchain or coinbase account in the time being? 

I wouldnt. The main reason would be that you would have to trust someone else to hold your coins while there is no reason to do so.

Or should i just leave it there and then reinstall electrum in my laptop once i do the clean reinstall.  I have the 12 word phrase and close to 100 percent i didn't make a mistake with a letter or word. 

You can try restoring from seed before you reinstall. A dry run if you will. Open Electrum, select File -> New/Restore from the menu and create a new file (e.g. test) afterwards select "Restore an existing wallet from seed" and go from there.

But if thats the case, would you suggest on safe side send it to blockchain instead?  Also... how do i recover the bitcoin from the electrum wallet?  Would i download electrum again then put the 12 word phrase or its something else b/c i recall i read i had to download some other client? 

Nope just download Electrum again. Make sure its 1.9.8 and not the new beta (2.0)

I don't think i want to try to attempt this so better save to send it to blockchain?  Then later on once computer is clean install, send the btc back to electrum but a new electrum account?  i assume it will be brand new electrum account with a new 12 word phrase then right no matter what?


Thanks.

This is certainly possible, but I dont see a reason why you wouldnt just restore from your seed. Electrum is very easy to restore.

[viking02]

Hi.  So you saying my electrum username/password is completely useless then if i did a reinstall of my computer?


Also is there a way to find out my 12 word phrase is 100 percent right?  I wrote it down and have it and pretty sure to 100 percent its right but in case i wrote a wrong letter etc... would that mean i can't get my bitcoins back?


Oh no if i send bitcoins to my blockchain... its my blockchain acct not someone elses....


Can you explain the restore the seed before you reinstall?  So basicaly once i do that... then once i install electrum 1.9.8 again... then i put the 12 word phrase?   Whats difference between restoring it from seed before i reinstall as oppose to after wards?  The reaosn why im doing reinstall of windows 7 is my laptop has gotten really slow so wondering if it could be virus etc and internet has lot of issues on laptop.


Yes if i put the electrum in my usb... it seems easy b/c couldn't i just transfer that file into my desktop and thus same electrum file?  Thus just make sure electrum file is good?

[shorena]

Hi.  So you saying my electrum username/password is completely useless then if i did a reinstall of my computer?

There should be no username. The password is irrelevant if you restore from seed, yes. This is also true if you do not reinstall your OS.

Also is there a way to find out my 12 word phrase is 100 percent right?  I wrote it down and have it and pretty sure to 100 percent its right but in case i wrote a wrong letter etc... would that mean i can't get my bitcoins back?

Test it. As I said above you can just keep your wallet file and create a 2nd one. For the 2nd restore from the same seed and see if its working.

Oh no if i send bitcoins to my blockchain... its my blockchain acct not someone elses....


Can you explain the restore the seed before you reinstall?  So basicaly once i do that... then once i install electrum 1.9.8 again... then i put the 12 word phrase?   Whats difference between restoring it from seed before i reinstall as oppose to after wards?

Its the same. The point of doing it before you reinstall your system is that it gives you certainty that you know how to restore. If this should fail you still have your wallet file protected by the password.

  The reaosn why im doing reinstall of windows 7 is my laptop has gotten really slow so wondering if it could be virus etc and internet has lot of issues on laptop.

AFAIK this is a thing of the past. WinXP used to clog up over time, I have experienced similar issues with Win7. This might also be a coincidence since my behaviour also changed. A fresh system is certainly faster, but the question is if it will stay that way if you install the same software you had before.

If you suspect a virus, its probably best to do a scan from a linux dvd, before you use your wallet.

Yes if i put the electrum in my usb... it seems easy b/c couldn't i just transfer that file into my desktop and thus same electrum file?  Thus just make sure electrum file is good?

Yes you can also create a backup of the wallet file, you can do this from within Electrum (File -> Save Copy)

[pooya87]

the only difference between using your wallet file backup or your seed is that restoring from seed will not get you your labels or saved addresses and things like that.

[lite]

Would copying the electrum file to my usb flash drive would work as well?  Thus once i clean reinstall my laptop, then i just plug usb then open the electrum file that way?  Or is that not good idea?

Actually it's a good idea to backup your electrum on usd device. just understand this you ever imported private keys in your electrum they will be lost you can't recover that from seed..

[keyscore44]

If you open Electrum, select 'Wallet' and then click 'Seed' it will show you the 12 word seed (you'll have to enter your password).

Once you've got it you can wipe you laptop, reinstall Electrum and re-enter the seed. You could always make a backup of your wallet if you're worried about losing your bitcoin though it's not necessary.