Damaged QR code. Reward!

[clanier1972]

Hello Everyone,

This is my first post. If anyone could help I would greatly appreciate it and I would also be happy to send you a little something to compensate you for your time and effort.

Here's my problem: I have a private key with a damaged QR code. So far I've tried making a wallet at Blockchain Info and manually entering the private key. Even though the blockchain recognizes the Key the wallet does not. I've also tried opening an account with Electrum and entering the code there but it's almost as if the program doesn't recognize what I am trying to do. My skills in this field are minimal so I am probably doing something wrong. The object is to transfer the Bitcoin back into my Coinbase account. Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Chris

[nandibear]

...So far I've tried making a wallet at Blockchain Info and manually entering the private key. Even though the blockchain recognizes the Key the wallet does not...

Thanks,
Chris

Hi, Chris.

I don't understand exactly what you mean when you indicate that the blockchain recognizes the private key but the wallet doesn't.

Please forgive my ignorance.

[nandibear]

... So far I've tried making a wallet at Blockchain Info and manually entering the private key...

Thanks,
Chris

Also are you sure that you are entering the private key in the correct location with your account at blockchain.info?

[nandibear]

[clanier1972]

'I don't understand exactly what you mean when you indicate that the blockchain recognizes the private key but the wallet doesn't.

Please forgive my ignorance."

When I go to the blockchaininfo site and enter my address it shows the bitcoin that should match that address. But when I put the corresponding private key into the window you have shown on your last post it just sort of sits there and does nothing...same with electrum.

I think my original post was improperly worded. Sorry.

Thanks,
Chris

[Fremont]

Hi Chris,

It might be worth trying to import your private key into the Mycelium wallet (if you have an Android device).

You can do this by entering your private key into a note / text input field on your device and copying it to your clipboard (note that this comes with its own security risks if your device is compromised or another person copies your private key from your device).

Install and open Mycelium -> Accounts -> Tap the key icon at the top of the screen -> Advanced -> Clipboard -> Restore address as BTC -> OK

Your address will now appear in the list of accounts and you will be able to send your BTC from Mycelium to any other wallet / address such as your Coinbase address.

The security risk mentioned above is completely negated once you send your funds from the address associated with that private key, and as long as you don't use that address again.

Fremont

[clanier1972]

Thank you very much Fremont. I'm going to work on that right now.
Chris

[clanier1972]

The clipboard button Says : "Clipboard not valid." I was able to import my public key using the qr code but the clipboard option isn't available for some reason.

Chris

[Fremont]

The clipboard button Says : "Clipboard not valid." I was able to import my public key using the qr code but the clipboard option isn't available for some reason.

Chris

Hi Chris,

Sorry to hear Mycelium was a non-runner. If you scanned the QR code and it imported the public key and you do not have another QR code to scan this means that your QR code and very likely the address beneath it are only the public part of the key.

Don't post the private key here if you have it nor provide it to anyone, but in order to determine the part of the key you have does the key you are trying to enter begin with a '1', '3' or '5'?


Fremont

[clanier1972]

The clipboard button Says : "Clipboard not valid." I was able to import my public key using the qr code but the clipboard option isn't available for some reason.

Chris

Hi Chris,

Sorry to hear Mycelium was a non-runner. If you scanned the QR code and it imported the public key and you do not have another QR code to scan this means that your QR code and very likely the address beneath it are only the public part of the key.

Don't post the private key here if you have it nor provide it to anyone, but in order to determine the part of the key you have does the key you are trying to enter begin with a '1', '3' or '5'?


Fremont

Thanks for your patience. I should have included all of this info from the beginning. I Have a paper wallet I made on Bitaddress.org. There is a public key with an intact QR code that when scanned into a wallet shows the amount of Bitcoin that should be there. There is also a corresponding private key with a damaged QR code that will not scan, nor will Mycelium, Electrum, or Blockchain Info recognize this as a valid address when pasted or entered manually, even though it is the private key that was generated with the public key that does seem to be valid. The private key has been checked and checked again. I am definitely entering the correct one. And to answer your question: Pub Key starts with 1, Pr key starts with n. I've done multiple searches but I can't seem to find anyone else who has had this problem. The only thing I can think of is that my Private key got swiped but it seems unlikely that the Public key would still be the same, if that is even possible.

Chris

P.S. - Private key is password protected if that makes any difference.

[Fremont]

Thanks for your patience. I should have included all of this info from the beginning. I Have a paper wallet I made on Bitaddress.org. There is a public key with an intact QR code that when scanned into a wallet shows the amount of Bitcoin that should be there. There is also a corresponding private key with a damaged QR code that will not scan, nor will Mycelium, Electrum, or Blockchain Info recognize this as a valid address when pasted or entered manually, even though it is the private key that was generated with the public key that does seem to be valid. The private key has been checked and checked again. I am definitely entering the correct one. And to answer your question: Pub Key starts with 1, Pr key starts with n. I've done multiple searches but I can't seem to find anyone else who has had this problem. The only thing I can think of is that my Private key got swiped but it seems unlikely that the Public key would still be the same, if that is even possible.

Chris

P.S. - Private key is password protected if that makes any difference.

Hi Chris,

No worries at all! Now that I have all the info I think I have a solution for you.

The easiest thing for you to do would be to simply go to bitaddress.org again and download it and run it client side on your own computer for security reasons. You can also run it on their site if you're willing to take the relative risk of your private key possibly being compromised (or indeed you can use our very own paper wallet tool here which was forked from bitaddress).

Instead of generating a new wallet, click the 'Wallet details' button in bitaddress. There you can enter your private key and select the 'BIP38 Encrypt' checkbox, enter your password in there and simply regenerate your paper wallet's private and public key QR codes.

You'll then have a perfectly functioning private key QR code which you can sweep into any wallet. Please do ensure that you sweep the funds rather than simply import the private key, or if you do import the private key be sure to move your funds immediately to another address.

Also if your private key got swiped the public key would still be the same, but the funds would have moved. I think that's what you meant anyway but just wanted to clarify.

Fremont

[clanier1972]

Fremont

I was looking on the Bitaddress page to see what constituted a valid private key when I realized that I only had 56 characters when I should have had 58. It turns out all BIP38 PK's start with the same two letters. I wouldn't have figured it out had you not put me on the trail. Many Thanks.

Is that QR code by your name a good address for you?

[Fremont]

Fremont

I was looking on the Bitaddress page to see what constituted a valid private key when I realized that I only had 56 characters when I should have had 58. It turns out all BIP38 PK's start with the same two letters. I wouldn't have figured it out had you not put me on the trail. Many Thanks.

Is that QR code by your name a good address for you?

Ah, I'm glad you got on the right path and got access to your coins! When you said your private key started with 'n' and was password protected I should have filled in the gap though, sorry about that - I need more coffee in my life!!

No reward at all is necessary, I'm just happy we were able help in some small way. If you do feel like donating in any event please feel free to make a donation to Free Ross.

And please do stick around the forum, we'd absolutely love to have you here.

Fremont