Quote from: 616westwarmoth on November 03, 2017, 12:37:32 AM

Quote from: znffal on November 03, 2017, 12:02:08 AM

Hi all, a question about backups...

1) I can backup my wallet by exporting a wallet.dat file. Do I have to do this everytime I receive more BBP? Or just whenever I add a new key?
2) How do I add new keys?
3) Can I generate and see the private key so that I can write it down/print it and store it somewhere safe?

Many thanks

1) think of your wallet.dat file as your passbook in a passbook savings account. You have to have that .dat file to be able to access (and prove you SHOULD have access) to the BBP stored in your account addresses. Exporting it once is all you need.

2) Adding new keys? The passphrase (password) you use is the only "key" you would have in an encrypted wallet (besides the .dat file). If you mean new addresses, you can get those by going under File and Sending (or Receving) Addresses and hit "new".

3) Clicking Encrypt Wallet will be where you choose a passphase, I don't know you can see it other than when you enter it.

To put a real world example or two.

Example One: You don't ever encrypt or backup your wallet. If I borrowed/stole/hacked your computer, I could send all your coins to my wallet (no passphrase).
Example Two: You encrypt your wallet with the passphrase "secret" but don't backup the wallet.dat file, then your computer crashes and you lose all your data. Since you didn't have a copy of the wallet.dat file, your coins would be lost.
Example Three: You backup your wallet.dat but don't encrypt it. Your computer crashes and all your data is lost, but you re-download the QT program, restore your wallet.dat, all your coins are still in you wallet. But if you lose your USB drive that has the wallet.dat on it, and I find it, I can put your wallet.dat on another computer and send all your coins to my wallet.
Example Four: You encrypt your wallet and back up the wallet.dat file. If I hack/borrow your computer, unless I guess your passphrase your coins are safe. If you computer crashes, your can restore your wallet.dat file to another computer and your coins are safe.

In short, Encrypt your wallet (passpharse) and then backup (copy) the wallet.dat file to at least two locations.

Thank you for the very nice, clear explanation.

I was confused because in another coin that I have looked into you can backup by wallet.dat as usual (and encrypt it) BUT you can also write down your private keys (private addresses?) so even if all wallet.dat get corrupted/lost you can recover your coins from the private keys alone.

Thanks again