Wallets

[optionT]

I was looking to put my BTCs on a flash drive or a cd, and found it to be a little complex. Are there any straight forward directions to do this?
Also, what is the best wallet strategy? Paper wallet, flash drive, cd?

[Ares]

If you have Windows 7 go to start, type in Run hit enter.
Type in %APPDATA% into the Run prompt and hit enter.

look for the Bitcoin folder and browse to it. Look for wallet.dat and copy and paste that to your USB flash drive and that should be it. Make sure you encrypt your wallet FIRST before you copy it to a flash drive though. That's under the wallet program Settings-->Encrypt Wallet make sure you remember the password.

[optionT]

If you have Windows 7 go to start, type in Run hit enter.
Type in %APPDATA% into the Run prompt and hit enter.

look for the Bitcoin folder and browse to it. Look for wallet.dat and copy and paste that to your USB flash drive and that should be it. Make sure you encrypt your wallet FIRST before you copy it to a flash drive though. That's under the wallet program Settings-->Encrypt Wallet make sure you remember the password.

To do this, I have to download the bitcoin client? Can you link me to the website? I'm a noob, about 4 weeks only into it, lol.

[Ares]

To do this, I have to download the bitcoin client? Can you link me to the website? I'm a noob, about 4 weeks only into it, lol.

Maybe this site will help, there are a number of different wallets you can use.

http://bitcoin.org/en/choose-your-wallet

Personally I've been using blockchain.info however I backed it up via a wallet backup, and a paper backup. But there are a number of options. If you have any question, feel free to ask.

[optionT]

Maybe this site will help, there are a number of different wallets you can use.

http://bitcoin.org/en/choose-your-wallet

Personally I've been using blockchain.info however I backed it up via a wallet backup, and a paper backup. But there are a number of options. If you have any question, feel free to ask.


I forgot to add that I have my BTCs at coinbase.

I went ahead and downloaded the multibit client. I found where my wallet is, multibit.wallet. So, I think I'm all set, I just have to send my BTCs from coinbase to my multibit address.

[sirgonzo420]

I forgot to add that I have my BTCs at coinbase.

I went ahead and downloaded the multibit client. I found where my wallet is, multibit.wallet. So, I think I'm all set, I just have to send my BTCs from coinbase to my multibit address.

Make sure that you back up your private keys too.

You could backup your private keys to a text file, and encrypt that text file with a strong passphrase, and then email it to yourself, if you wanted to be able to reach it anywhere that you could check your email.

Or, there is always the paper wallet (https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/Paper_wallet) option, which is nice.

Cold storage is a good idea.... that is... to create a bitcoin address and private key pair on a computer that is NOT connected to the internet (linux Live CDs are great for this purpose, because they provide a safe environment from intruder software), and then to hand copy that address/privkey onto a piece of paper [double/triple checking for accuracy... UPPERCASE and lowercase matter], which you then hide/protect. After you are done, shut down the computer, and remove the Live CD. The private key(s) generated this way exist solely on the piece of paper, and nowhere else. This is a secure, offline storage method, but paper wallets are still subject to loss, destruction, and theft.