Of course! It's great that you're persisting. The new error you've encountered is very common and actually helps us pinpoint exactly where the problem lies. Let's solve this step by step.

Your situation is a bit complex because you have two different "recovery assets": a `wallet.aes.json` file and a 17-word mnemonic phrase. It's crucial to understand that these represent **two completely separate recovery paths**. You cannot use both at the same time.

I will explain both paths so you can choose the one most likely to work.

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Subject: SOLVED: "unrecognized arguments" error and confusion with wallet.aes.json / 17-word Seed

Hello again!

Let's get things organized. The `unrecognized arguments` error is simple to fix, but your question reveals a larger confusion that we need to clear up first.

The Most Important Point: Two Recovery Paths, Choose Only One

You have to decide which piece of information is more reliable: your forgotten password or your 17-word seed.

• Path A: Recover the PASSWORD for the `wallet.aes.json` file.
  
  • What it is: The `wallet.aes.json` file is a digital safe that contains your private keys. It can only be opened with the password you created at the time.
    
  • Tool to use: `btcrecover.py`
    
  • What you need: The correct `wallet.aes.json` file and a good idea of what the password might be. The 17-word seed is irrelevant for this path.
    
• Path B: Recover the WALLET from your 17-word SEED.
  
  • What it is: The mnemonic phrase (seed) is the master key to your wallet. With it, you can recreate your wallet anywhere, without needing the `wallet.aes.json` file.
    
  • Tool to use: `seedrecover.py` (a different script that comes with `btcrecover`).
    
  • What you need: Your 17-word seed and at least one public address from your lost wallet. The `wallet.aes.json` file and the password are irrelevant for this path.
    

Now, let's detail how to follow each path.

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Path A: Recovering the Password for `wallet.aes.json`

Follow this path if you think you have a good chance of guessing your old password.

Step 1: Fixing the `unrecognized arguments` Error
The error happens because the command to specify the wallet file is not `--wallet-file`. The correct command is `--wallet`.

Step 2: Where to Place the `wallet.aes.json` File
To simplify things, place a copy of your `wallet.aes.json` file in the main `btcrecover` folder (the same folder where the `btcrecover.py` file is located).  It is very important to work with a copy so you don't damage the original.

Step 3: Ensuring You Have the Correct `wallet.aes.json` File
You mentioned you saved two different files. A real `wallet.aes.json` from a Blockchain.com wallet is a JSON-formatted text file that contains a lot of encrypted data. It should not just contain information about languages.

If you are not sure if your file is correct, you can try to download a new backup from the Blockchain.com website. The modern method for this involves using your browser's developer tools:

• Go to the Blockchain.com login page.
• Open your browser's "Developer Tools" (usually by pressing F12) and click on the "Network" tab.
• Try to log in with any password. It will fail, which is expected.
  
• In the "Network" tab, look for an API call named `wallet`. Click on it.
• In the panel that opens, look for the "Response" tab. The content there is your encrypted wallet backup.
• Copy all of that text, paste it into a plain text editor (like Notepad), and save it as `wallet.aes.json`.

Step 4: The Final Command for Path A
After placing the correct `wallet.aes.json` file in the right folder, use a command like this to try a password list (assuming you created a file named `passwords.txt`):
Note that we use `--wallet`, not `--wallet-file`.

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Path B: Recovering the Wallet with the 17-Word Seed

Follow this path if you have more confidence in your seed than in your password memory.

Step 1: Understanding the 17-Word Seed Problem
Modern wallets (BIP-39 standard) use 12, 18, or 24 words. Having 17 words almost certainly means you have an 18-word seed with one word missing. The good news is that `seedrecover.py` is designed to solve exactly this!

Step 2: The Essential Prerequisite - A Public Address
For `seedrecover.py` to work, it needs a target. You must provide at least one of your public Bitcoin addresses from the lost wallet. The program generates thousands of possible seeds and checks them against this address. Without it, there is no way to know which seed is the correct one. You might find an old address in your transaction history on exchanges, emails, etc.

Step 3: Using the Correct Tool - `seedrecover.py`
For this path, you do not use `btcrecover.py`. You use `seedrecover.py`.

Step 4: The Command for Path B
Open the terminal in the `btcrecover` folder and use a command like this:

Command breakdown:

• --wallet-type bip39: Tells the program to use the most common seed standard.
  
• --addrs YOUR_PUBLIC_ADDRESS_HERE: Replace this with a real public address from your wallet.
  
• --mnemonic "...": Put your 17 words inside the quotes, in the correct order, separated by spaces.
  

`seedrecover.py` will automatically test every possible word in every possible position to find the missing 18th word.

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Final Recommendation

• If you have a public address and are confident your 17 words are correct (just with one missing), start with Path B. It is often much faster than trying to guess a password.
  
• If you don't have any public address or are unsure about the seed, focus on Path A and try to remember all possible passwords you might have used.
  

I hope this detailed explanation helps clear everything up. Choose a path, follow the steps carefully, and you will have a much better chance of success.

Good luck!