Advice on running two wallets please

Question

Could anyone tell me please if it is possible to run two versions of the Bitcoin qt client independently on the same pc?

The reason I ask is that I wish to make a bitcoin gift to someone on a USB memory stick.

So I run a fresh wallet, send some Bitcoin to it, then move the whole thing onto a USB stick for the other person to use at some point in time.

Does that sound sensible or is there a better way of doing this?

I already have and run my own wallet.

The person concerned doesn't have a pc of their own at the present time. Any help much appreciated.

Answer 1

You don't need to be running two wallets at the same time. Funds can be received while offline. Do the following:

1. Create a backup of your current wallet.
2. While Bitcoin-QT is NOT running, remove your wallet from the Bitcoin-QT folder.
3. Start Bitcoin-QT and create a new wallet.
4. Copy a receiving address from the new wallet to somewhere.
5. Close Bitcoin-QT and move the new wallet to the USB stick.
6. Restore your Wallet backup, and start Bitcoin-QT
7. Send the amount to be gifted to the receiving address you saved before.

Answer 2

https://www.bitaddress.org

Just print out a paper wallet and send your gift to that address. There are much easier wallets for your friend to use than bitcoin-qt. Mycelium is a nice one because it allows someone to spend directly from a private key (printed on the paper wallet).