<p>Addresses are not magically tied to the hardware you use. If you delete the file that contains the private keys for your addresses, you will lose them and thus lose access to your Bitcoin.</p>

<p>Since it seems that you formatted your hard drive without making a backup of your wallet file, your private keys and thus your Bitcoin are lost. You may be able to recover the file using file recovery software such as <a href="https://www.ccleaner.com/recuva" rel="noreferrer">Recuva</a>.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-04-18T10:49:14.127Z
whats the name of the file i should be looking for?          I saw someone say wallet.dat but id like to confirm
fredinhidef
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-04-18T14:10:34.753Z
The file is named `wallet.dat`.
Ava Chow
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-04-18T19:13:25.837Z
Thanks...I found what I believe may be the lost file but when I copy/paste...then boot BTC CORE it says corrupt file and then fails
fredinhidef
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-04-16T17:25:35.623Z
2019-04-16T17:25:35.623Z
Ava Chow
<p>First timer here</p>

<p>...I downloaded bitcoin core a few weeks ago until last week where it still had not synced so i started all over...I was originally waiting for BTC CORE to synchronize(I missed the part in the installation that stated I needed 220+ gb of free space)...I had to format BOOT ssd(256gb..also where I originally tried to save BTC CORE)...thats why it was taking so long and I purchased 1tb samsung evo. I'm  wondering if my BTC address will be the same(since I never actually synced with the servers and since I am not using the same SSD where BTC CORE is being saved. However, it is the same SSD that windows is booting from but I had to reinstall windows. </p>

<p>I have now downloaded BTC CORE on my new SSD and it is synced. Unfortunately, I cant find my BTC and when I use a block explorer the funds are not there(I checked with a BE last week and the BTC was there... but pending or waiting to sync...now its not)</p>

<p>...did my BTC address change? will it ever sync with the older one so I can get my funds? </p>

<p>hope someone can help</p>

<bitcoin-core><wallet-recovery>
I formated my hard drive with bitcoin core on it
fredinhidef
# I formated my hard drive with bitcoin core on it

(Asked by: username_0 on 2019-04-16)

First timer here

...I downloaded bitcoin core a few weeks ago until last week where it still had not synced so i started all over...I was originally waiting for BTC CORE to synchronize(I missed the part in the installation that stated I needed 220+ gb of free space)...I had to format BOOT ssd(256gb..also where I originally tried to save BTC CORE)...thats why it was taking so long and I purchased 1tb samsung evo. I'm wondering if my BTC address will be the same(since I never actually synced with the servers and since I am not using the same SSD where BTC CORE is being saved. However, it is the same SSD that windows is booting from but I had to reinstall windows.

I have now downloaded BTC CORE on my new SSD and it is synced. Unfortunately, I cant find my BTC and when I use a block explorer the funds are not there(I checked with a BE last week and the BTC was there... but pending or waiting to sync...now its not)

...did my BTC address change? will it ever sync with the older one so I can get my funds?

hope someone can help

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


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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2019-04-16. Score: 5

Addresses are not magically tied to the hardware you use. If you delete the file that contains the private keys for your addresses, you will lose them and thus lose access to your Bitcoin.

Since it seems that you formatted your hard drive without making a backup of your wallet file, your private keys and thus your Bitcoin are lost. You may be able to recover the file using file recovery software such as [Recuva](https://www.ccleaner.com/recuva).

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: whats the name of the file i should be looking for?          I saw someone say wallet.dat but id like to confirm  
> **username_1**: The file is named `wallet.dat`.  
> **username_0**: Thanks...I found what I believe may be the lost file but when I copy/paste...then boot BTC CORE it says corrupt file and then fails  

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