Help:Installing Bitcoin Core: Difference between revisions
MagicalTux (talk | contribs) Fixing getting started page, make things easier to read |
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You can start exchanging bitcoins within a few minutes. | |||
== On Windows == | |||
=== Installation === | |||
[http://bitcoin.org Download] and install Bitcoin. | |||
[[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. | ||
Revision as of 15:08, 19 December 2010
You can start exchanging bitcoins within a few minutes.
On Windows
Installation
Download and install Bitcoin.
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)
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.
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.