Help:Installing Bitcoin Core: Difference between revisions

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Fixing getting started page, make things easier to read
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== Beginning steps ==
You can start exchanging bitcoins within a few minutes.


# [http://bitcoin.org Download] and install Bitcoin. <br /> [[File:Download it fin.png]] [[File:Install fin.png]]<br /><br />
== On Windows ==
# On first running Bitcoin, you need need to download all the blocks before being able to use it. <br /> [[File:First time run fin.png]]<br /><br />
 
# This time around, Bitcoin took 40 mins to download them. Others have reported longer times. <br /> [[File:Bitcoin all blocks fin.png]]<br /><br />
=== Installation ===
# [https://freebitcoins.appspot.com/ Bitcoin Faucet] hands out 0.05 BTC to new visitors in order to play with. Fill in the form with your address. <br /> [[File:Get some btc.png]]<br /><br />
[http://bitcoin.org Download] and install Bitcoin.
# A new entry should appear in Bitcoin. The network hasn't yet confirmed it, but you know it's being processed. <br /> [[File:First btc recv.png]]<br /><br />
 
# The more confirms gathered, the more sure you become of the transfer's validity. After 6 confirms, you can be 100% sure everything was successful. It takes a while to process payments, so be patient. <br /> [[File:Six confirms bitcoin client.png]]<br /><br />
[[File:Download it fin.png|frame|none|Download the "Windows (exe)" version]]
 
[[File:Install fin.png|frame|none|Complete installation wizard]]
 
=== Letting the client gather informations on the network ===
 
The first time you run Bitcoin, it needs to download all the blocks before the informations displayed are up to date. You can already give your bitcoin address at this point, but you won't see any transactions before the initialisation is complete (it can take a few hours)
 
[[File:First time run fin.png|frame|none|Bitcoin is initializing by establishing connection to other clients and downloading blocks]]
 
[[File:Bitcoin all blocks fin.png|frame|none|After some time (up to a few hours) bitcoin finally finished its download]]
 
=== Getting my first coins ===
 
The [https://freebitcoins.appspot.com/ Bitcoin Faucet] currently hands out 0.05 BTC to new bitcoin users. Fill in the form with your bitcoin address.
 
[[File:Get some btc.png|frame|none|Getting free coins from the Faucet]]
 
A new entry should appear in Bitcoin. The network hasn't yet confirmed it, but you know it's being processed. After about one hour it should get its 6 confirmations, and thru be "confirmed". You can however already use the coins when there is only one confirmation.
 
The confirmation counter will, just like the block counter, increase by one every 10 minutes or so. It might be faster like it might be slower.
 
It is usually considered that 6 confirmations are enough to be 100% sure a transfer has been processed.
 
[[File:First btc recv.png|frame|none]]
 
[[File:Six confirms bitcoin client.png|frame|none]]


== Points to remember ==
== Points to remember ==
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* You don't need to be online for receiving BTC.
* You don't need to be online for receiving BTC.
* You can create as many new addresses as you like. Using a different address each time makes you more anonymous.
* You can create as many new addresses as you like. Using a different address each time makes you more anonymous.
* With certain precaution, you can be anonymous.  
* With certain precaution, you can be anonymous.
* You cannot send BTC to an invalid address. Typo's are not a worry as the payment will refuse to send.
* You cannot send BTC to an invalid address. Typo's are not a worry as the payment will refuse to send.
__NOTOC__

Revision as of 15:08, 19 December 2010

You can start exchanging bitcoins within a few minutes.

On Windows

Installation

Download and install Bitcoin.

Download the "Windows (exe)" version
Complete installation wizard

Letting the client gather informations on the network

The first time you run Bitcoin, it needs to download all the blocks before the informations displayed are up to date. You can already give your bitcoin address at this point, but you won't see any transactions before the initialisation is complete (it can take a few hours)

Bitcoin is initializing by establishing connection to other clients and downloading blocks
After some time (up to a few hours) bitcoin finally finished its download

Getting my first coins

The Bitcoin Faucet currently hands out 0.05 BTC to new bitcoin users. Fill in the form with your bitcoin address.

Getting free coins from the Faucet

A new entry should appear in Bitcoin. The network hasn't yet confirmed it, but you know it's being processed. After about one hour it should get its 6 confirmations, and thru be "confirmed". You can however already use the coins when there is only one confirmation.

The confirmation counter will, just like the block counter, increase by one every 10 minutes or so. It might be faster like it might be slower.

It is usually considered that 6 confirmations are enough to be 100% sure a transfer has been processed.

Points to remember

  • You don't need to be online for receiving BTC.
  • You can create as many new addresses as you like. Using a different address each time makes you more anonymous.
  • With certain precaution, you can be anonymous.
  • You cannot send BTC to an invalid address. Typo's are not a worry as the payment will refuse to send.