user9040: I bought BTC in 2011 and renamed my wallet.dat to something else that I cannot remember. How can I find my wallet file on my computer? I'm prepared to use the command line and scripting.

user4708: Write a script (e.g. Perl, Python, Ruby... ) that opens every file on your computer and looks inside it to check the format.  I'm not sure what that format is exactly.  It may be as simple as a certain constant sequence of bytes at the beginning (a so-called "magic number").

user9287: Place to start - use the linux "file" command, which will show the following for a bitcoin wallet (at least in the client I use)
wallet.dat: Berkeley DB (Btree, version 9, native byte-order)
So - you could run something like:
find / -type f exec file '{U}' \; | grep "Berkeley DB"
That would be a start!

user9334: In Windows 7 download and install Altap Salamander 2.54 (Google for it)
It's file manager (you can use any other file manager as well)
Then press Ctrl and key F to bring search window
Then set all options exactly as in this screen: http://s21.postimg.org/5qdx5cb1j/search.png
In Containing field enter: name"1 (each wallet has this text inside) and then click: Find Now
It takes a while to search entire disc C:
To speed up the process You can setup also Advanced options - see this screen: http://s21.postimg.org/xzb01t1wn/advanced.png
(I presume that Your wallet size is from 30KB to 10MB. If not change second value)

9040: <p>I bought BTC in 2011 and renamed my wallet.dat to something else that I cannot remember. How can I find my wallet file on my computer? I'm prepared to use the command line and scripting.</p>
 4708: <p>Write a script (e.g. Perl, Python, Ruby... ) that opens every file on your computer and looks inside it to check the format.  I'm not sure what that format is exactly.  It may be as simple as a certain constant sequence of bytes at the beginning (a so-called "magic number").</p>
 9287: <p>Place to start - use the linux "file" command, which will show the following for a bitcoin wallet (at least in the client I use)</p>

<p>wallet.dat: Berkeley DB (Btree, version 9, native byte-order)</p>

<p>So - you could run something like:</p>

<p>find / -type f exec file '{U}' \; | grep "Berkeley DB"</p>

<p>That would be a start!</p>
 9334: <p>In Windows 7 download and install Altap Salamander 2.54 (Google for it)</p>

<p>It's file manager (you can use any other file manager as well)</p>

<p>Then press Ctrl and key F to bring search window</p>

<p>Then set all options exactly as in this screen: <a href="http://s21.postimg.org/5qdx5cb1j/search.png" rel="nofollow">http://s21.postimg.org/5qdx5cb1j/search.png</a></p>

<p>In Containing field enter: name"1 (each wallet has this text inside) and then click: Find Now</p>

<p>It takes a while to search entire disc C:</p>

<p>To speed up the process You can setup also Advanced options - see this screen: <a href="http://s21.postimg.org/xzb01t1wn/advanced.png" rel="nofollow">http://s21.postimg.org/xzb01t1wn/advanced.png</a></p>

<p>(I presume that Your wallet size is from 30KB to 10MB. If not change second value)</p>
