<p>When you run bitcoin-qt or bitcoind in command line, pass that argument. This way, the client indexes transactions from a file, not from the internet.</p>

<pre><code>bitcoin-qt -loadblock=/path/to/bootstrap.dat
</code></pre>

<p>Source: <a href="http://eu2.bitcoincharts.com/blockchain/" rel="nofollow">http://eu2.bitcoincharts.com/blockchain/</a>
 Version 0.7 or later will also import this file by passing the command line argument "-loadblock=/path/to/bootstrap.dat" to bitcoin-qt or bitcoind. </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-11-07T07:07:51.597Z
2013-12-11T12:38:03.527Z
2013-12-11T12:38:03.527Z
Ozan Yurtseven
<p>I just did it in Windows.  Download Bootstrap.dat, then look for C:\Users\Your Name\AppData\Roaming\Bitcoin and put the file there.  Bitcoin will automatically find it and load from it.  Good luck.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-01-24T02:12:35.370Z
2014-01-24T02:12:35.370Z
Eddy
<p>Once I have the 9+ Gb bootstrap.dat file downloaded, how do I use it? I'd like to attempt mining without joining a pool; do I have the right file for a solo effort? I can use Windows or Linux so either one in the answer will be fine.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-11-06T23:27:21.787Z
Your talking about mining with the Bitcoin-Qt client, in linux "~/.bitcoin/" and in Windows find the AppData hidden directory. You can start Bitcoin-Qt and let it create the directory and stop it, remove everything inside for a clean beginning and move bootstrap to this directory.
Jonas Oestman
<blockchain><synchronization><solo-mining><bootstrap.dat>
How do I use the blockchain file bootstrap.dat?
Paul Gregoire
# How do I use the blockchain file bootstrap.dat?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2013-11-06)

Once I have the 9+ Gb bootstrap.dat file downloaded, how do I use it? I'd like to attempt mining without joining a pool; do I have the right file for a solo effort? I can use Windows or Linux so either one in the answer will be fine.

**Tags:** blockchain, synchronization, solo-mining, bootstrap.dat

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Your talking about mining with the Bitcoin-Qt client, in linux "~/.bitcoin/" and in Windows find the AppData hidden directory. You can start Bitcoin-Qt and let it create the directory and stop it, remove everything inside for a clean beginning and move bootstrap to this directory.  

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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2013-11-07. Score: 3 | Accepted answer

When you run bitcoin-qt or bitcoind in command line, pass that argument. This way, the client indexes transactions from a file, not from the internet.

```
bitcoin-qt -loadblock=/path/to/bootstrap.dat

```

Source: <http://eu2.bitcoincharts.com/blockchain/>
Version 0.7 or later will also import this file by passing the command line argument "-loadblock=/path/to/bootstrap.dat" to bitcoin-qt or bitcoind.


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### Answer by username_3 on 2014-01-24. Score: 0

I just did it in Windows. Download Bootstrap.dat, then look for C:\Users\Your Name\AppData\Roaming\Bitcoin and put the file there. Bitcoin will automatically find it and load from it. Good luck.


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