<p>(I suppose you have the Bitcoin-Qt client.)</p>

<p>Taking a backup of the <a href="https://bitcoin.stackexchange.com/questions/4006/where-is-the-data-folder-for-bitcoin-qt">Bitcoin folder</a> will do it. </p>

<ul>
<li>Copy the folder to an external hard drive of a different partition. </li>
<li>Reinstall your system.</li>
<li>Install Bitcoin-Qt again.</li>
<li>Move the folder back.</li>
</ul>

<p>Note that to keep your bitcoins, only the <code>wallet.dat</code> file is required. But when you copy the whole folder, you will probably not need to sync with the network again.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-01-11T22:11:57.833Z
2014-01-11T22:11:57.833Z
Steven Roose
<p>I have the official Bitcoin wallet and I would like to do a fresh install of everything on the computer. How can I save my Bitcoins (and hopefully block chain)?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-01-11T22:04:52.190Z
Which OS are you using?
Greg Hewgill
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-01-11T22:13:24.707Z
@GregHewgill Windows 7
Celeritas
<wallet><client><backup>
How to keep Bitcions when reinstalling OS from fresh
Celeritas
# How to keep Bitcions when reinstalling OS from fresh

(Asked by: username_0 on 2014-01-11)

I have the official Bitcoin wallet and I would like to do a fresh install of everything on the computer. How can I save my Bitcoins (and hopefully block chain)?

**Tags:** wallet, client, backup

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Which OS are you using?  
> **username_0**: @username_1 Windows 7  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2014-01-11. Score: 3

(I suppose you have the Bitcoin-Qt client.)

Taking a backup of the [Bitcoin folder](https://bitcoin.stackexchange.com/questions/4006/where-is-the-data-folder-for-bitcoin-qt) will do it.

* Copy the folder to an external hard drive of a different partition.
* Reinstall your system.
* Install Bitcoin-Qt again.
* Move the folder back.

Note that to keep your bitcoins, only the `wallet.dat` file is required. But when you copy the whole folder, you will probably not need to sync with the network again.


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