<p>The only way to avoid a full resync is to make sure your backup contains the blockchain as it was when you made the backup; not just your wallet.  </p>

<p>Then the core should only need to update with any more recent transactions.</p>

<p>Here is a good article on the subject:  <a href="http://bitzuma.com/posts/moving-the-bitcoin-core-data-directory/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">http://bitzuma.com/posts/moving-the-bitcoin-core-data-directory/</a></p>

<p>And here it is from the Wiki:  <a href="https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/Data_directory" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/Data_directory</a></p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-01-21T12:52:58.043Z
by the way which folder i need to backup is it blocks or chainstate?
Rocky
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-01-21T18:09:23.200Z
It depends on your version of Windows; here is a good article on the subject:  http://bitzuma.com/posts/moving-the-bitcoin-core-data-directory/
SDsolar
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-01-21T18:11:14.933Z
Here:  https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/Data_directory
SDsolar
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-01-22T16:31:35.617Z
You need both the blocks and the chainstate. They do not need to be perfectly synchronized however - the blocks data may be newer than the chainstate
Pieter Wuille
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-01-20T18:54:26.937Z
2017-01-21T18:13:40.800Z
2017-01-21T18:13:40.800Z
SDsolar
<p>I have tried to restore my wallet by replacing <code>wallet.dat</code> with my file, but the issue is that Bitcoin Core started synchronizing from 8 years again. Can some one help me to avoid this because I frequently format my system. So, is there any way to avoid needing to repeat the synchronization?</p>

<p>I have tried <code>-rescan</code> too but it did not work. :( 
It shows my transaction history but does not show my balance for which I assume the sync needs to finish.</p>

<bitcoin-core><synchronization><wallet-recovery><rescan>
Can a resynchronization be avoided when recovering a wallet in Bitcoin Core?
Rocky
# Can a resynchronization be avoided when recovering a wallet in Bitcoin Core?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2017-01-20)

I have tried to restore my wallet by replacing `wallet.dat` with my file, but the issue is that Bitcoin Core started synchronizing from 8 years again. Can some one help me to avoid this because I frequently format my system. So, is there any way to avoid needing to repeat the synchronization?

I have tried `-rescan` too but it did not work. :(
It shows my transaction history but does not show my balance for which I assume the sync needs to finish.

**Tags:** bitcoin-core, synchronization, wallet-recovery, rescan


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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2017-01-20. Score: 1 | Accepted answer

The only way to avoid a full resync is to make sure your backup contains the blockchain as it was when you made the backup; not just your wallet.

Then the core should only need to update with any more recent transactions.

Here is a good article on the subject: <http://bitzuma.com/posts/moving-the-bitcoin-core-data-directory/>

And here it is from the Wiki: <https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/Data_directory>

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: by the way which folder i need to backup is it blocks or chainstate?  
> **username_1**: It depends on your version of Windows; here is a good article on the subject:  http://bitzuma.com/posts/moving-the-bitcoin-core-data-directory/  
> **username_1**: Here:  https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/Data_directory  
> **username_2**: You need both the blocks and the chainstate. They do not need to be perfectly synchronized however - the blocks data may be newer than the chainstate  

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