Failure at pruneing the blockchain #11217

Describe the issue

I wanted to prune the blockchain of my Bitcoin Core node to save space in my computer. I tried to follow the intructions in different ways but it apeared to fail in all of them. My version of Bitcoin Core is v0.14..2. An my computer works with Windows 10.

Can you reliably reproduce the issue?

If so, please list the steps to reproduce below:

1. First, I opened the comand line console, and tried to introduce the code "-prune=1100"and the console answered "Method not found (code -32601)". I trien to use different methods as will be shown in the screenshots I will send, but none of then worked.
2. Then, as other internet instructions told me, I went to the Bitcoin-Ot and created a new file and named it "bitcoin.conf". I will send you the screenshots.
3. A also wrote "-prune=1100" in it but it did not prune the blockchain either.

Expected behaviour

I expected to eliminate the old blocks of the blockchain to save space in the computer.

Actual behaviour

Nothing of that happened

Screenshots.

What version of bitcoin-core are you using?

General Client version: v0.14.2 User agent: /Satoshi:v0.14.2/ Using Berkeley DB 4.8.30: (April 9, 2010) Datadir: C:\Users\ander\AppData\Roaming\Bitcoin Startup time: sáb sep 2 10:59:22 2017 Network Name: main Number of conections: 8 (In: 0 / Out: 8)

Make sure not to use the dash-prefix for options set in the conf file. So -key=value becomes key=value\newline in the conf file.

So, Marco, in the conf file I should write: "prune=1100..." and then what more. Sorry I am not a computer programing expert.

Yes, try removing the leading dash (-) and see if it helps.

I have tried but it did not work

You can either start bitcoin-qt with -prune=<target in MB> or add this to your bitcoin.conf (no - there).

If you use -prune=1, you can then prune your blockchain manually by calling pruneblockchain <target in MB> via RPC or RPC-Console. If you use a value larger then 550, it will auto-prune to that target (in MB). 550 is the minimal value (that ensures 288 blocks/undos for reorgs).

@jonasschnelli @MarcoFalke. As I have said, I am not a computer expert, but I tried to follow those intructions, the best I could. I just desire to see where I did wrong. So my questions are:

• I have tried both ways in the "bitcoin.conf" file once with "-prune=1100" an the other with "prune=1100" it did not work in any of those times. Maybe, as I created the file from nothing, shall I place it in another carpet?
• @jonasschnelli, what did you mean at telling me to start bitcoin-qt with "-prune=<target in MB>"?
• Where shall I put the "-prune=1" to be able to manualy prune the blockchain?

@Aristondo Did you restart the client?

The config file is only read at startup. Just changing the contents of the file won't have an effect - you need to start the client.

@sipa So, how shall I restart the client? Do I have to uninstall and then install it again? And I have discovered that in fact I have three files with Bitcoin stuff. I do not know were to exactly put my "bitcoin.conf" file.

The bitcoin.conf file needs to be placed in the data directory: https://bitcoin.stackexchange.com/questions/4006/where-is-the-data-folder-for-bitcoin-qt

To restart the client, exit it, and open it again. No need to reinstall.

I'm closing this issue, this is not a support site. Use https//bitcoin.stackexchange.com for community questions.

You can also wait for 0.15.0, which will land end of next week and then go to "Settings">"Options">"Open Configuration File" to make sure you open the correct file.