<p>Is it possible the file is corrupt? The file size is 96kb.
I just spend 2 weeks downloading Bitcoin Core, and when I replaced the wallet file in there with the wallet.dat file I saved on my computer a couple years ago, and then restarted Bitcoin Core, no luck! It still tells me I have 0 bitcoins. 
Also, I regrettably took someone's advice to empty my %APPDATA%\BITCOIN file (when placing my wallet.dat into it), and now it looks like Bitcoin Core is making me download the entire damn ledger again!! 
Please help me out here. If I can actually get this bitcoin, I will paypal 100 dollars to the person who figures it out for me. </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-12-09T20:27:58.470Z
"Because blockchain.info says so" - for which address? Are you sure that address is in your wallet? If you delete your blockchain it will need to download it again.
Pieter Wuille
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-12-09T20:28:54.267Z
So you delete your wallet.dat?
Petr
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-12-09T20:50:13.800Z
How would I confirm that that address is in my wallet? Like I said, I do have the wallet.dat file on hand. (Thanks for the help, by the way, Pieter!)
Max
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-12-09T20:56:14.177Z
No- I deleted the wallet file that was in the Bitcoin Core program that I downloaded... then I inserted my wallet.dat file into that location (%APPDATA%\BITCOIN)
Max
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-12-09T20:58:50.513Z
In other words, I definitely still have my wallet.dat file.
Max
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-12-09T21:15:18.457Z
You're looking at blockchain.info, which says you have BTC. What address are you looking at? How do you know that address belongs to that wallet.dat file?
Pieter Wuille
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-12-09T21:54:17.843Z
Basically, that's the address I gave to someone who then sent a bitcoin to it about 2 years ago. How did I get that address? I believe I got it from the Bitcoin Core program that I had downloaded. 
However, at that time I was not able to download the entire damn ledger (which I believe is called the "Blockchain") and as a result, I never got to display that bitcoin in my Bitcoin Core program, which requires downloading the whole blockchain first. Recently, now that BTC gained so much value, I was motivated to try to "recover" the bitcoin, and just spent days downloading Bitcoin Core.
Max
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-12-09T21:56:45.047Z
Go to the RPC console in Bitcoin-Qt (debug window), and type `validateaddress <address>` (replace `<address>` with the address you believe to be yours). It should respond `"ismine" : true` if the address is yours.
Pieter Wuille
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-12-09T22:29:57.640Z
Pieter, thanks for the help again. The program I have is Bitcoin Core v0.15.1. Is this what you are calling "Bitcoin-Qt?'
Max
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-12-09T22:30:44.090Z
Also, can I do this before downloading the entire ledger again, or do I have to download the entire ledger? edit: I just did that, and it says "ismine: false." However, how on earth would the program know if it's mine or not, since I have never until now had the Bitcoin Core program on my computer?
Max
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-12-09T22:33:27.903Z
No, you can do that while it's synchronizing. Also, increase the database cache size setting to increase sync speed.
Pieter Wuille
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-12-09T23:17:06.803Z
Alright, again though, Peter.... How would Bitcoin Core know that this bitcoin address is mine or not? I don't even have the computer I originally used to download Bitcoin Core!
Max
<bitcoin-core><wallet.dat>
I know I have a Bitcoin because BlockchainInfo says so... But loading wallet.dat into Core does nothing!
Max
# I know I have a Bitcoin because BlockchainInfo says so... But loading wallet.dat into Core does nothing!

(Asked by: username_0 on 2017-12-09)

Is it possible the file is corrupt? The file size is 96kb.
I just spend 2 weeks downloading Bitcoin Core, and when I replaced the wallet file in there with the wallet.dat file I saved on my computer a couple years ago, and then restarted Bitcoin Core, no luck! It still tells me I have 0 bitcoins.
Also, I regrettably took someone's advice to empty my %APPDATA%\BITCOIN file (when placing my wallet.dat into it), and now it looks like Bitcoin Core is making me download the entire damn ledger again!!
Please help me out here. If I can actually get this bitcoin, I will paypal 100 dollars to the person who figures it out for me.

**Tags:** bitcoin-core, wallet.dat

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: "Because blockchain.info says so" - for which address? Are you sure that address is in your wallet? If you delete your blockchain it will need to download it again.  
> **username_2**: So you delete your wallet.dat?  
> **username_0**: How would I confirm that that address is in my wallet? Like I said, I do have the wallet.dat file on hand. (Thanks for the help, by the way, username_1!)  
> **username_0**: No- I deleted the wallet file that was in the Bitcoin Core program that I downloaded... then I inserted my wallet.dat file into that location (%APPDATA%\BITCOIN)  
> **username_0**: In other words, I definitely still have my wallet.dat file.  
> **username_1**: You're looking at blockchain.info, which says you have BTC. What address are you looking at? How do you know that address belongs to that wallet.dat file?  
> **username_0**: Basically, that's the address I gave to someone who then sent a bitcoin to it about 2 years ago. How did I get that address? I believe I got it from the Bitcoin Core program that I had downloaded.  However, at that time I was not able to download the entire damn ledger (which I believe is called the "Blockchain") and as a result, I never got to display that bitcoin in my Bitcoin Core program, which requires downloading the whole blockchain first. Recently, now that BTC gained so much value, I was motivated to try to "recover" the bitcoin, and just spent days downloading Bitcoin Core.  
> **username_1**: Go to the RPC console in Bitcoin-Qt (debug window), and type `validateaddress <address>` (replace `<address>` with the address you believe to be yours). It should respond `"ismine" : true` if the address is yours.  
> **username_0**: username_1, thanks for the help again. The program I have is Bitcoin Core v0.15.1. Is this what you are calling "Bitcoin-Qt?'  
> **username_0**: Also, can I do this before downloading the entire ledger again, or do I have to download the entire ledger? edit: I just did that, and it says "ismine: false." However, how on earth would the program know if it's mine or not, since I have never until now had the Bitcoin Core program on my computer?  
> **username_1**: No, you can do that while it's synchronizing. Also, increase the database cache size setting to increase sync speed.  
> **username_0**: Alright, again though, Peter.... How would Bitcoin Core know that this bitcoin address is mine or not? I don't even have the computer I originally used to download Bitcoin Core!  

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## 0 answers

