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    [Guide] FeatherCoin - Getting started, create a wallet!

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    • S
      sheepson Regular Member last edited by wrapper

      This guide is useful, but out of date.

      Latest information for FTC 0.9.6.x series can be found : https://github.com/wrapperband/FeathercoinWalletGuide

      FeatherCoin How to get started.

      To begin mining Feathercoin (FTC) you need a few things like (i) a FTC wallet to hold FTC’s, (ii) a computer to mine FTC’s and (iii) some basic knowledge on the mining process.

      Below, I will explain the steps to get your mining operation started. First, we will deal with setting up your first FTC wallet and using it. After you have become familiar with the FTC wallet and its use, we will continue with setting up your PC for mining FTC.

      1. Create a FTC wallet
      First, download the FeatherCoin-qt client.
      Windows or Mac
      http://www.feathercoin.com/

      Once you have downloaded the client, unzip the files to a location you like (e.g. (in Windows), “C:\Program Files (x86)\Feathercoin”). Feathercoin has no installer - it is just an executable â€" so you place the files at the desired location yourself.

      2. Run the client for the first time
      Now launch the file ‘feathercoin-qt.exe’ located in your Feathercoin folder. You might get a Windows pop-up asking if you want to allow the client to connect to the Internet. Since the client needs access to the Internet to function properly, choose the option that allows the client to access the Internet.

      The first time the client starts it will download the entire so-called ‘blockchain’. This is a file that contains all FTC transactions ever made. Everyone who runs the official Feathercoin client also hosts the entire blockchain on their PC. All clients share and update this blockchain by means of a torrent-like peer-2-peer system. If you make a FTC payment, your transaction is send out over the network and â€" in the end â€" stored as part of a block in that blockchain. Every time you start up the client, it will automatically receive the newer blocks since the last usage.

      Once the blockchain has been downloaded (This can take some time, depending on your Internet connection) your screen will look like this:

      [[http://sheepson.nl/ftc/wallet 1.png]]

      This represents your wallet. You are now able to send and receive FTC’s.

      When you click on the button ‘Receive coins’, you will see this screen:
      [img]http://sheepson.nl/ftc/wallet 2.png[/img]
      (Please do not donate to this address)

      Here you see your ‘wallet address’ which was automatically created for you by the client. The address either starts with a ‘6’ or a ‘7’. This is your unique wallet address and only you can access this address. The address itself is used publicly as an address to receive FTC in. However, only you have the keys to access the FTC associated with this address. These keys are stored on your PC only (see below). You do not have to run the client 24/7; you can just run it now and then, during which the client automatically updates the blockchain. When the blockchain is being downloaded, the client will recognise if there are any transactions in respect of your wallet address and, if so, those transactions will be applied to your FTC balance.

      3. What if my computer crashes?
      Upon the first run, the Feathercoin client creates a ‘wallet.dat’ file. This file contains the keys to your wallet address. Be very careful with this file, threat it like your pin-code. If you ever lose this file without having a backup, you will never be able to retrieve the FTC in your wallet again. They would be lost forever.

      The ‘wallet.dat’ file is located in:
      (Windows XP) "C:\Documents and Settings\%username%\Application data\
      (Windows 7/8) “C:\Users\%username%\AppData\Roaming\Feathercoin”
      If you don’t see an “AppData” or “Application data” folder do the following:

      (Windows XP) Open explorer -> go to Tools -> Folder options -> View -> select ‘show hidden files and folders’ -> apply.

      (Windows 7/8) Open explorer -> go to Organize -> Folder options -> View -> select ‘show hidden files and folders’ -> apply. Now you will the AppData folder!

      [[http://sheepson.nl/ftc/hidden folders.png]]

      Make regular backups of the ‘wallet.dat’ file in case your computer crashes! Preferably, zip the ‘wallet.dat’ file with a password so that the backup file is useless for thieves.

      4. Extra layer of security
      To create an extra layer of security you can encrypt your wallet. To do so, start your client and go to Settings -> encrypt wallet.
      Your screen will look like this:
      [img]http://sheepson.nl/ftc/encrypt.png[/img]
      Choose a password you will never ever forget, because if you do forget this there is no way to access your wallet ever again! Now that you have encrypted your wallet, a thief cannot access your wallet unless he is able to crack your password. Therefore, choose a password that is sufficiently random and long.

      5. Conclusion
      You have now learned how to set up and operate the client. I hope this guide was helpful and increased your interest in FTC. Now, you are ready to send your first FTC’s. However, to get some FTC’s we will proceed to mining some of your own.

      Next guide:
      [url=http://forum.feathercoin.com/index.php?topic=486]Start mining![/url]

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      • M
        Markus1337 Regular Member last edited by

        Really good :) Are you going to mention how to mine solo / pool?

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        • S
          ShadowEW last edited by

          Looks pretty clean and easy to follow, you could mention that simply writing %appdata% in your address bar (of explorer / a folder) will take you straight to your AppData folder for the account you are logged into.
          Useful if policies are setup preventing you from unhiding hidden files and folders or you want to keep certain files hidden ^^

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          • J
            JohnsonX last edited by

            This also needs a section that explains how to update the wallet.

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            • S
              ShadowEW last edited by

              [quote name=“JohnsonX” post=“2273” timestamp=“1368210058”]
              This also needs a section that explains how to update the wallet.
              [/quote]
              That’s relatively simple, the wallet updates (syncs) for as long as it’s running. There isn’t any form of update (besides when a new client is released it’s just as simple as copy and pasting the new files over the old, or just running the client straight out of the archive again as all your data is stored in %appdata% anyway)

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              • F
                FeatherWeight last edited by

                Thanks for the tutorial, really useful that was, esp for noobs like me. I have one question

                I’ve heard so much on the .net about hackers getting hold of your wallet, my question is:

                1. I want to buy and hold coins for a number of years, I dont want to mine, so can i buy coins, backup the wallet, place it on a [b]usb [/b]stick.

                2. [b]Uninstall [/b]the feather program, including the wallet (as I have it on a usb stick)

                3. Now, lets say 3 years time, can I run the FeatherCoin wallet program and overwrite the wallet.dat file with the one I had on my usb

                thanks

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                • S
                  sheepson Regular Member last edited by

                  [quote name=“FeatherWeight” post=“2835” timestamp=“1368389516”]
                  Thanks for the tutorial, really useful that was, esp for noobs like me. I have one question

                  I’ve heard so much on the .net about hackers getting hold of your wallet, my question is:

                  1. I want to buy and hold coins for a number of years, I dont want to mine, so can i buy coins, backup the wallet, place it on a [b]usb [/b]stick.

                  2. [b]Uninstall [/b]the feather program, including the wallet (as I have it on a usb stick)

                  3. Now, lets say 3 years time, can I run the FeatherCoin wallet program and overwrite the wallet.dat file with the one I had on my usb

                  thanks
                  [/quote]

                  Yes!

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                  • M
                    Markus1337 Regular Member last edited by

                    [quote name=“FeatherWeight” post=“2835” timestamp=“1368389516”]
                    Thanks for the tutorial, really useful that was, esp for noobs like me. I have one question

                    I’ve heard so much on the .net about hackers getting hold of your wallet, my question is:

                    1. I want to buy and hold coins for a number of years, I dont want to mine, so can i buy coins, backup the wallet, place it on a [b]usb [/b]stick.

                    2. [b]Uninstall [/b]the feather program, including the wallet (as I have it on a usb stick)

                    3. Now, lets say 3 years time, can I run the FeatherCoin wallet program and overwrite the wallet.dat file with the one I had on my usb

                    thanks
                    [/quote] just make sure its at least 2 usb’s as corrupted sticks happen. And also dropbox but I guess you dont want to risk it.

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                    • S
                      ShadowEW last edited by

                      [quote name=“Markus1337” post=“3504” timestamp=“1368566471”]
                      [quote author=FeatherWeight link=topic=337.msg2835#msg2835 date=1368389516]
                      Thanks for the tutorial, really useful that was, esp for noobs like me. I have one question

                      I’ve heard so much on the .net about hackers getting hold of your wallet, my question is:

                      1. I want to buy and hold coins for a number of years, I dont want to mine, so can i buy coins, backup the wallet, place it on a [b]usb [/b]stick.

                      2. [b]Uninstall [/b]the feather program, including the wallet (as I have it on a usb stick)

                      3. Now, lets say 3 years time, can I run the FeatherCoin wallet program and overwrite the wallet.dat file with the one I had on my usb

                      thanks
                      [/quote] just make sure its at least 2 usb’s as corrupted sticks happen. And also dropbox but I guess you dont want to risk it.
                      [/quote]
                      Create yourself a small [url=http://www.truecrypt.org/]TrueCrypt[/url] folder/archive and you’re good to go. If you can crack one of those, then the person who cracked it deserves the coins inside. x3
                      Just for those who’re skeptical about Dropbox and such cloud sites. Don’t forget that all these cloud sites do actually have ownership rights over whatever file you upload. :P

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                      • F
                        Feather_lover last edited by

                        I made some changes to the text. Clean and markup included. Feel free to do with it what you want: https://www.dropbox.com/s/eqhzs2zz47xjom5/Feathercoin.Wallet.Guide.17-05-2013.zip

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                        • S
                          sheepson Regular Member last edited by

                          [quote name=“Feather_lover” post=“4242” timestamp=“1368827772”]
                          I made some changes to the text. Clean and markup included. Feel free to do with it what you want: https://www.dropbox.com/s/eqhzs2zz47xjom5/Feathercoin.Wallet.Guide.17-05-2013.zip
                          [/quote]

                          Thanks for this :)!
                          I applied your changes to the guide, English is not my native language so there were a lot of changes!

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                          • F
                            Feather_lover last edited by

                            Perhaps your guides can get a more central spot in the forum or even the main website.

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                            • D
                              dgiors last edited by

                              I have a simple question.

                              Is it sufficient to backup your wallet.dat just once?

                              I understand the need to keep multiple copies in safe places but my question has to do with if the file is static or not. My best guess is that it’s unchanging so there’s no need for a rolling backup of the file.

                              Thanks in advance.

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                              • S
                                sheepson Regular Member last edited by

                                [quote name=“dgiors” post=“7698” timestamp=“1369797088”]
                                I have a simple question.

                                Is it sufficient to backup your wallet.dat just once?

                                I understand the need to keep multiple copies in safe places but my question has to do with if the file is static or not. My best guess is that it’s unchanging so there’s no need for a rolling backup of the file.

                                Thanks in advance.
                                [/quote]

                                Yes that is enough, you don’t need to backup on balance change, only when you add another wallet address your wallet.dat changes. :)

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                                • D
                                  dgiors last edited by

                                  [quote name=“sheepson” post=“7772” timestamp=“1369828792”]

                                  Yes that is enough, you don’t need to backup on balance change, only when you add another wallet address your wallet.dat changes. :)
                                  [/quote]

                                  Ahhh, thanks for the distinction that the file changes when you add a new wallet address. That makes perfect sennse.

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