<p>Even if you transfer all the data from a fully synced client, the bitcoin client still needs to validate those blocks. It will still take a while, but should be quicker than downloading all the data and verifying.     </p>

<p>ANSWER IS NOT ACCURATE.<br>
EDIT: If you copy the chainstate, there shouldn't be any work the receiving system should perform anymore - the software wouldn't even know it was moved. It's possible the wrong directory was used.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-01-01T21:37:16.950Z
Thanks for the response. I was hoping that was the case and yes, it is moving faster than before.
Dr.Von
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-01-03T10:35:07.453Z
If you copy the chainstate, there shouldn't be any work the receiving system should perform anymore - the software wouldn't even know it was moved.
Pieter Wuille
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-01-03T10:36:34.347Z
Downvote. This answer is incorrect.
Pieter Wuille
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-01-03T13:18:24.613Z
Pieter, any ideas why his client would still be still syncing?
m1xolyd1an
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-01-03T17:21:18.533Z
My best guess is that he used the wrong directory.
Pieter Wuille
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-01-03T19:08:09.257Z
Answer has now been edited.
m1xolyd1an
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-01-30T16:03:55.937Z
I completed the blockchain download. My Core wallet still takes ~5 minutes to sync an hour of transactions. If I were to wait a week to resync my wallet it would take at least 8 hours. This seems fairly long and inconvenient. If I can't find a better solution I may settle with using my less secure MultiBit desktop client.
Dr.Von
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-01-01T21:24:48.463Z
2017-01-03T19:07:27.710Z
2017-01-03T19:07:27.710Z
m1xolyd1an
<p>I started downloading the Bitcoin blockchain via my MacBook Pro onto my 1TB external hard drive. I want to use my iMac to finish the download. I plugged my EHD into my iMac and checked to blocks folder and it contained the previous transaction I downloaded (86GB). The wallet.dat, peers.dat, chainstate, banlist.dat and fee_estimates.dat files. I opened Bitcoin Core and moved the directory to the blocks folder where the previous transaction I downloaded are. I followed the steps to start the sync. I expected the blockchain to recognize the blocks and start where it left off on my MacBook but it started from the beginning. Any ideas on how to pick up where I left off?</p>

<blockchain><wallet><synchronization>
How can I pick up the blockchain download where it left off on another computer using an EHD?
Dr.Von
# How can I pick up the blockchain download where it left off on another computer using an EHD?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2017-01-01)

I started downloading the Bitcoin blockchain via my MacBook Pro onto my 1TB external hard drive. I want to use my iMac to finish the download. I plugged my EHD into my iMac and checked to blocks folder and it contained the previous transaction I downloaded (86GB). The wallet.dat, peers.dat, chainstate, banlist.dat and fee\_estimates.dat files. I opened Bitcoin Core and moved the directory to the blocks folder where the previous transaction I downloaded are. I followed the steps to start the sync. I expected the blockchain to recognize the blocks and start where it left off on my MacBook but it started from the beginning. Any ideas on how to pick up where I left off?

**Tags:** blockchain, wallet, synchronization


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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2017-01-01. Score: -1 | Accepted answer

Even if you transfer all the data from a fully synced client, the bitcoin client still needs to validate those blocks. It will still take a while, but should be quicker than downloading all the data and verifying.

ANSWER IS NOT ACCURATE.  
EDIT: If you copy the chainstate, there shouldn't be any work the receiving system should perform anymore - the software wouldn't even know it was moved. It's possible the wrong directory was used.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Thanks for the response. I was hoping that was the case and yes, it is moving faster than before.  
> **username_2**: If you copy the chainstate, there shouldn't be any work the receiving system should perform anymore - the software wouldn't even know it was moved.  
> **username_2**: Downvote. This answer is incorrect.  
> **username_1**: Pieter, any ideas why his client would still be still syncing?  
> **username_2**: My best guess is that he used the wrong directory.  
> **username_1**: Answer has now been edited.  
> **username_0**: I completed the blockchain download. My Core wallet still takes ~5 minutes to sync an hour of transactions. If I were to wait a week to resync my wallet it would take at least 8 hours. This seems fairly long and inconvenient. If I can't find a better solution I may settle with using my less secure MultiBit desktop client.  

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