Questions related to the standard Bitcoin client first developed by Satoshi Nakamoto.
2
votes
1answer
185 views
Testnet Bitcoin Generation Time
2 Parts to this.
1st - What is a typical winning block (I get coins) generation time when running on testnet.
Ive done numbers with calculators and all that but given I cant work out accurately ...
6
votes
1answer
141 views
Why can’t the genesis block coinbase be spent?
According to the bitcoin wiki:
The first 50BTC block reward went to address 1A1zP1eP5QGefi2DMPTfTL5SLmv7DivfNa, though this reward can't be spent due to a quirk in the way that the genesis block ...
2
votes
2answers
243 views
When do I have to backup wallet.dat?
Is it obligatory to backup wallet.dat after each outgoing transfer?
I understand it is, but not after each incoming transfer.
4
votes
1answer
65 views
How to turn off “change” address in bitcoind?
I would like to keep backup of my wallet on paper, but that's impossible or at least impractical when the bitcoind keeps creating new addresses for "change". I know it is possible in theory to do it ...
3
votes
1answer
70 views
Older Clients & Wallets
I have about 5 BTC stored in Wallets created under different versions of Bitcoin, all encrypted with multiple backups.
I downloaded latest Client and it doesn't work with the wallets, I've gone back ...
-1
votes
1answer
226 views
How to activate the mining process in the standard bitcoin client?
I have done the whole synchronization and now it should be mining bitcoins from what I understand but I don't see anything showing that it is actually mining for bitcoins nor any activity from my cpu… ...
3
votes
1answer
147 views
getrawtransaction error? [Code -5]
I'm trying to read raw transactions but there is a problem; Seems like getrawtransaction only works for recent transactions, old transactions give me the next error:
No information available about ...
1
vote
2answers
260 views
How do I recover an encrypted bitcoin wallet to which I don't know the password? [duplicate]
My husband died recently. He had a Bitcoin-Qt wallet with some bitcoins. I don't know the password and the wallet is locked and encrypted. Is there anyway to regain access to the wallet?
0
votes
1answer
112 views
What are good ways to storing backup of an encrypted wallet?
What are good ways and places for storing backup of an encrypted wallet?
When somebody open encrypted wallet what all can he do when he does not have a key?
asuming that the key to the wallet is e.g. ...
2
votes
1answer
170 views
saved .bitcoin directory full ~9 gigs block data, won't work when copied to other system
I had to delete my .bitcoin directory in ubuntu 12.10 , after months of getting the near 9 gigs of blk data files.
I copied everything over to another machine (and back to the original too) and it ...
0
votes
0answers
28 views
How to move blockchain data while still being able to use wallet?
Using standard client v0.8.1:
I would like to move blockchain data from its default location to the different location (maybe even external disk or NAS drive). What should I do to make this working ...
1
vote
2answers
133 views
Wallet.dat can contain only 100 private keys even if I back up?
Considering the Bitcoin client for Windows 0.8.1:
So the best way (if I have already used up 100 keys) is to send bitcoins to different wallet and then to newly generated one?
When I want new keys, ...
2
votes
1answer
304 views
“Failed to read Block”
I encountered a error whilst downloading Bitcoin-Qt on my Macbook version 10.6.8; it says "Failed to read block"
How do I fix this error without losing the bitcoins currently in my wallet?
Your ...
3
votes
0answers
308 views
What is “failed to read block” and how can this be fixed?
When I try to open my BitCoin wallet, I get a "failed to read block" message and it will not open. What does this mean and how can this be rectified?
3
votes
1answer
269 views
technical question: receiving wallet.dat error
I have ~5 BTC on an old laptop (Windows 7) and I tried moving the balance to another client. At first I tried moving about 0.1 BTC just to see what would happen. The client debitted the balance but it ...
3
votes
2answers
151 views
Does the satoshi client always send the change of a transaction to a newely generated address?
Experimentally, this seems to be the case, but is it always like this or depends on some details?
Also, does it generate a new address each time this is done, or first searches the wallet if there is ...
4
votes
1answer
104 views
What is “Key Splitting”? When would I use it?
Here is some github code to create split keys.
Is Key Splitting the same as Multi Sig?
What are the benefits of Key Splitting, what's it used for?
How does it relate to P2SH or any other relevant ...
9
votes
1answer
99 views
What are the privacy implications of filtered blockchain downloads?
There is now "Bloom filter" support in the network protocol for sending only relevant transactions to lightweight clients.
What are the privacy implications of the bloom filter? Does it leak any ...
9
votes
1answer
249 views
Does the official Bitcoin version 0.8. client still download the whole blockchain?
The release notes for version 0.8 of the "Satoshi" client say
"Bloom filter" support in the network protocol for sending only relevant transactions to lightweight clients.
Is this an optional ...
2
votes
1answer
69 views
Which version of the JSON-RPC protocol does Bitcoin use?
I would like to get some clarification on which version of the JSON-RPC protocol does Bitcoin use? 1.0 or 2.0?
3
votes
1answer
64 views
Why is it important for checkpoints to contain well-formed blocks?
In the source code of the standard client, checkpoints.cpp has this comment:
//
// What makes a good checkpoint block?
// + Is surrounded by blocks with reasonable timestamps
// (no blocks before ...
2
votes
2answers
260 views
Transaction delayed >12 hours by Satoshi Bitcoin client
Yesterday I sent 20 BTC to 1Hj8kJ3rq4c4Hn9Prtw45Zue791f4Nc9L3 with a 0.0001 fee and transaction Id 30d1ef9aa05898b11b5ee4f5f5e703a822a821fb499c647b658fc3cb67a899b8.
My Satoshi client said today that ...
4
votes
2answers
110 views
How much time it takes to verify a Bitcoin signature in the Satoshi client?
Assuming:
An average modern computer
Using a single thread, as the current Satoshi client does
Using the OpenSSL library, as the Satoshi Bitcoin client does
The signature is not in the signature ...
2
votes
1answer
325 views
How to transfer addresses from Satoshi client to MultiBit?
I'm trying to take an address from my Satoshi client and transfer it into my new MultiBit client. I have found several questions similar to this, and have tried all their solutions, but to no avail.
...
0
votes
2answers
204 views
When importing private keys, will compressed or uncompressed format be used?
I am looking into implementing support for compressed public keys on Vanity Pool. However, I have my concerns about importing solutions into a desired vanity address under that format. From what I can ...
4
votes
1answer
397 views
Is there a way to not pay the transaction fees when using the standard Bitcoin client?
I tried sending one satoshi (0.00000001 BTC) to one of my friend and the client always showed a dialog prompting me to pay 0.0005 BTC in fee, with the only options being OK (pay the fee) or cancel ...
1
vote
1answer
81 views
What is main.cpp for in bitcoind? [closed]
What does the main.cpp source-code file do? I know what main.cpp files are for in general, but specifically in the case of bitcoin?
4
votes
1answer
477 views
How can I combine all the tiny amounts I've received to minimise transaction fees, and do I need to?
Important parts in bold, for those who don't want to read the detail!
I've received lots of tiny transactions, in amounts sometimes as low as 0.000003BTC.
Even though I've also received (relatively) ...
10
votes
2answers
402 views
Why does the age of the coin in my wallet matter?
When a new transaction is made, the client seems to prefer older coins in the wallet.
What is the rationale for this? Are there any cases where it doesn't make sense to strictly collect coins by ...
5
votes
2answers
242 views
Is it possible to view others' transactions in bitcoin client?
This seems like a really basic question, but I'm having trouble searching for answers on it. My understanding is that my bitcoin client (Bitcoin v0.7.1-beta) has basically theoretically downloaded the ...
3
votes
0answers
340 views
Does Bitcoin-QT use more CPU when its idle than during synchronization?
I am running the standard client on a micro Amazon EC2 instance. When I am synchronising Bitcoin with the network, it uses about 50% of the available CPU. After it is fully synchronised, I leave it ...
5
votes
0answers
270 views
My sync wont start, what can I do?
I have used Bitcoin previously via Windows GUI miners, but never faced an issue like this before. I am now running Ubuntu 12.04 amd64 and using an updated 0.7.1 Satoshi client.
The sync looks like ...
2
votes
1answer
372 views
What is the structure of blk001.dat and blkindex.dat?
Can anyone tell me where I can read about the structure of the files
blk0001.dat
blk0002.dat
blkindex.dat
I know that in these files bitcoin is saving all the information about transactions.
I ...
4
votes
1answer
248 views
Bitcoin URL scheme
What is the URL scheme that is used by Bitcoin to copy transaction information directly into the client? Which versions of Bitcoin clients support it?
3
votes
5answers
5k views
My client stopped synchronizing, how can I access my wallet?
My wallet has been stuck synchronizing for 21 days, my transfer is in the block chain but I can't get it to sync with my wallet. I've closed firewalls, uninstalled and reinstalled QT with back up and ...
5
votes
2answers
905 views
Can wallets be shared by different machines?
I have a bitcoin client installed on machine one. Let's say it has 5 coins in there. I then have another machine, with another client on it. Can both machines see the same wallet?
Do I have to have a ...
1
vote
2answers
83 views
When is the version 0.7 of the standard client scheduled to be released?
The 0.7 version of the standard client is slowly looming, but has not yet been released. Some websites, such as the Testnet Faucet appear to be using that version already. However, not wanting to use ...
4
votes
1answer
150 views
Add a transaction generated offline to the official client
I have a transaction that I generated/signed using a custom tool. I'd like to make sure it was generated correctly by submitting it to the official client and watching the logs to see if it is ...
6
votes
1answer
151 views
What is the formal code review process of the standard client?
There are n developers with commit privileged.
After one of them merges a pull request, how many eyes review that code? When? Is a complete (holistic) code review done before releasing a version? ...
9
votes
2answers
4k views
How can I export the private key for an address from the satoshi client?
If I want to transfer an address from the satoshi client into a different client, how can I find its private key to do so?
1
vote
1answer
275 views
How can I retrieve my bitcoins when the client crashes as soon as it begins synchronizing
As soon as the client begins synchronizing it crashes. It's stuck at 139,500 blocks left. I am brand new to bitcoin and sent $300 to an address on this client.
3
votes
1answer
335 views
What to do about a “stuck” transaction?
I started the standard client with --rescan instead of -rescan after switching wallets and before synchronizing with the latest blockchain, and made an going transaction.
This transaction got ...
2
votes
2answers
940 views
New User, New Wallet
I recently purchased some bitcoins, which were sent via coinapult to my cell phone. I received a text for the amount with a link to an online wallet (apparently not a true wallet but just an account ...
2
votes
1answer
120 views
What is the file wallet.dat.rewrite?
In my %APPDATA%\Bitcoin folder (in Windows 7) I have a file called wallet.dat.rewrite
It was apparently last modified on 12th May 2011.
I don't think it's a file I created manually, so what is it?
3
votes
1answer
195 views
Is the “official client” crash-resistant?
I'm running the "official client" (12 MB zipped version) on a Windows platform.
What are the risks (to my wallet) when the computer crashes due to overheating, BSOD, power failure, etc?
Is the ...
5
votes
1answer
361 views
What does a double spend look like?
What does a double spend look like? Can anyone link to an example on blockchain.info?
Will invalid half of the double spend simply remain at 0-confirmations, or might it ever reach 1 or 2? Will the ...
1
vote
1answer
240 views
How to clear invalid transactions from one's wallet?
I've recently been testing double-spend attacks against myself using a couple wallets, and the standard client does not appear to clear conflicting transactions from its transaction list, even if the ...
4
votes
2answers
522 views
What are seednodes?
A follow up from a comment on this answer.
What are seednodes, and how do they differ from fallback nodes?
4
votes
1answer
8k views
Where can I see my Bitcoin address?
I use the original client, but I don't know where can I find my Bitcoin address. Can someone help me?
6
votes
1answer
111 views
Does Bitcoin prefer broadcasting transactions crediting it?
I'm currently doing some double-spend testing, and it appears that the standard client prefers broadcasting transactions that credit its wallet. That is to say, a client that receives such a ...
