Bitcoin Stack Exchange

Bitcoin Stack Exchange Review Guide: Everything You Need to Know (with FAQ)

Ever search a Bitcoin question and end up with five tabs, three contradictions, and zero confidence? Me too. And when it’s your money or your code on the line, guessing isn’t an option.

That’s why I put together this Bitcoin Stack Exchange review and guide. If you’ve ever wished for a place where experts explain things clearly—and wrong answers quietly sink—this is it. I’ll show you what to expect, how it can save you hours, and how to use it without stepping on the usual landmines.

I’ll be walking through Bitcoin Stack Exchange—what it is, how to get great answers fast, and whether it’s worth your time. I’ll also cover the “people also ask” topics you see on Google so you can stop hunting and start doing.

Why finding trustworthy Bitcoin answers is so hard

Bitcoin moves fast, and bad info sticks around. Here’s what trips most people up:

• Outdated posts: Fee policies, wallet formats, and node behavior change. Old “fixes” can break things today.
• Shills and noise: Some sites push products; others blur Bitcoin with random altcoin advice.
• No context: Answers that sound smart but ignore your setup (OS, wallet version, node config) lead you in circles.
• Flat-out wrong takes: Misunderstandings about addresses, change, RBF, or PSBTs are everywhere.

“Why is my Bitcoin transaction stuck?” — The most common question, with ten different answers depending on your wallet, fee policy, and whether RBF/CPFP is available.

One wrong copy-paste and you’re chasing ghosts. Or worse, exposing your wallet.

What you’ll get from this guide

I’ll show you how to use Bitcoin Stack Exchange to cut through the noise:

• When to search vs ask: Save time by spotting golden, already-solved threads.
• How to ask smart: The simple template pros use to get accurate answers fast.
• Safety first: The non-negotiables that keep your keys and privacy safe while asking for help.
• What to expect: How voting, edits, and moderation quietly improve answer quality.

Short version: you’ll learn how to turn a vague problem into a clear, fixable question—and get an answer you can trust.

Who this review is for

• Beginners: You’re trying to send safely, pick a wallet, or make sense of fees without getting wrecked.
• Builders and power users: You work with Bitcoin Core, scripts, PSBTs, HWI, Lightning, or node tooling and want precise, version-aware answers.
• Troubleshooters: Your node is out of sync, your transaction won’t confirm, or your wallet UI is doing something weird.

When I review tools and services on Cryptolinks.com/news, I routinely check Bitcoin Stack Exchange for known issues, best practices, and edge cases. It saves hours—and helps avoid risky “fixes” that only work in theory.

How I tested Bitcoin Stack Exchange

To make this review useful, I looked at the site the way real users do—both new and advanced:

• Top tags and recent activity: I checked wallet, bitcoin-core, transactions, lightning-network, and privacy to see what’s hot and how fast things get answered.
• Answer accuracy: I compared accepted and highly upvoted answers against live behavior in Bitcoin Core and popular wallets.
• Version awareness: I noted answers that specify software versions, since behavior can change across releases.
• Moderation speed: I tracked how quickly duplicates or off-topic posts get flagged or closed—signal vs noise matters.
• New-user experience: I reviewed how friendly and clear the guidance is for first-time askers.

Example checks I ran:

• “Why is my change address unfamiliar?” — Verified explanations about change outputs across different wallet types.
• “My tx is unconfirmed—what now?” — Compared RBF and CPFP guidance across wallets that support them and those that don’t.
• “How to create a PSBT for a multisig?” — Cross-checked answers against Bitcoin Core/HWI behavior and standard PSBT fields.

Stack Exchange as a network has long emphasized fast, peer-reviewed answers. In my checks, common Bitcoin tags often get useful replies the same day, and weak or incorrect info tends to be corrected in comments or downvoted so it doesn’t linger at the top.

Curious what makes this place different from Reddit or Discord, and how the “best answer rises to the top” actually works? In the next section, I’ll show exactly what Bitcoin Stack Exchange is, how it’s organized, and why that structure helps you get better answers with less drama. Ready to see how it works behind the scenes?

What Bitcoin Stack Exchange is and how it actually works

What it is

Bitcoin Stack Exchange is a focused Q&A site for Bitcoin—only Bitcoin. It sits inside the Stack Exchange network and runs on a simple idea: ask a clear question, tag it, let the community answer, and let votes push the best answer to the top.

Think of it as a living, curated knowledge base with years of archives. You’re not scrolling through hot takes; you’re reading solutions that have been tested, edited, and challenged by people who actually run nodes, write wallets, and ship code.

“Don’t trust, verify.” — That Bitcoin mantra fits the culture there. Answers aren’t sacred; they’re scrutinized.

What makes it work:

• Tags and search: Questions are labeled (e.g., transactions, addresses, lightning-network, psbt), which keeps everything discoverable years later.
• Voting and acceptance: The most useful answers rise. The asker can mark the solution that fixed their issue.
• Peer edits: Typos, outdated info, or unclear bits get improved by others. It’s normal to see answers refined over time.
• Public history: You can read comments, see edits, and check timestamps—critical when versions change.

Who answers there

The people you meet are usually the ones building or operating the tools you use:

• Developers and reviewers: Contributors you’ll recognize from Bitcoin Core, Lightning implementations, BIPs, and open-source tools.
• Node runners and wallet builders: Folks who manage mempools, craft PSBT workflows, and test edge cases daily.
• Security-minded users: People who’ve learned the hard lessons and want you to avoid their mistakes.

Real-world feel: I’ve seen “stuck transaction” questions answered with clear explanations on fee rates, RBF, CPFP, and mempool policy—plus exact steps to unstick safely. I’ve also seen nuanced topics (like output descriptors or taproot policy) get answers with code snippets and references to BIPs, which is rare in most forums.

Is it free, safe, and beginner-friendly?

Yes, yes, and yes.

• Free: You can read and ask without paying. Creating an account lets you track posts and earn reputation.
• Safe: Strong moderation and public review help filter out scams and low-effort replies. Still, never share seeds, xprvs, or unredacted logs.
• Beginner-friendly: If your question is clear and on-topic, people help. Simple doesn’t mean “bad” there; vague does.

There’s a reason the archive stretches back over a decade: the best answers keep getting better, and the worst answers don’t survive.

What’s on-topic vs off-topic

Here’s the quick way to avoid frustration:

• On-topic: Bitcoin transactions, addresses, fees, wallets, seed formats, keys, nodes, Lightning, privacy basics, PSBT, descriptors, script/policy, consensus rules, and development questions related to Bitcoin.
• Off-topic: Price predictions, trading signals, investing advice, most altcoin questions, and product support for non-Bitcoin tools.

If you’re unsure, skim the on‑topic guidelines. A common pattern: “Why is my transaction pending?” is welcome; “Will BTC hit $100k?” gets closed fast.

How it compares to Reddit, Discord, or forums

I use all of them for different reasons, but here’s the edge:

• Less noise, more signal: No meme drift, fewer tangents. The format nudges everyone toward precise answers.
• Search that actually works: Posts are structured for long-term usefulness. Years later, you can still find a solid explanation of RBF vs CPFP or how to construct a taproot spend with Miniscript.
• Accountability: Votes, comments, and edit history reduce “confident but wrong” posts that plague fast chats.
• Durable learning: Reddit and Discord are great for quick pings, but messages get buried. On Bitcoin Stack Exchange, solutions become part of a living manual.

I like seeing answers that cite BIPs, Bitcoin Core release notes, or implementation docs. It’s a subtle trust signal: the answer isn’t just opinion, it’s anchored to how Bitcoin actually works.

If you’re thinking, “Okay, I’m in—how do I get the best answers quickly without waiting around?” I’ll show you the exact playbook next. Want a hint? The secret starts before you even hit “Ask Question.”

How to get great answers fast: practical tips

Search first, then ask smart

You’ll save time (and earn goodwill) by searching the archive before posting. Bitcoin questions often repeat, but the context changes: versions, network conditions, or wallet behavior. Use these quick moves:

• Use Google with operators: site:bitcoin.stackexchange.com "RBF stuck" or "PSBT missing inputs"
• Browse and filter tags: bitcoin.stackexchange.com/tags — try wallet, transactions, fees, lightning-network, bitcoin-core, privacy
• Skim near-duplicates to sharpen your wording or add the missing detail others overlooked

Stack Exchange’s own guidance shows that clear, well-scoped questions get answered faster. Their “how to ask” and minimal reproducible example pages are gold:

• How to ask
• Minimal reproducible example

How to write a winning question

Great answers start with great questions. I use this simple structure that consistently gets fast, accurate responses:

• Title formula: [Problem] + [Tool/Version] + [Network/OS] + [Key error or symptom]
• Goal: One line about what you’re trying to achieve
• Environment: OS, wallet/node version, mainnet vs testnet, hardware details if relevant
• Steps taken: Numbered steps someone else can follow
• Expected vs actual: What you thought would happen vs what actually happened
• Evidence: Exact error messages or short logs (sanitized), transaction IDs if debugging a real tx
• What you tried: Attempts that didn’t work help others skip dead ends

Sample title ideas that work:

• “Why is my RBF transaction still unconfirmed after 6 hours? (Electrum 4.5.0, Windows, mainnet)”
• “PSBT import fails with ‘missing inputs’ in Bitcoin Core 27.0 (macOS, testnet)”
• “LND 0.17 ‘temporary channel failure’ on multi-hop payment — what am I missing?”

Sample body (shortened):

Goal: Replace a low-fee tx using RBF in Electrum.

Env: Electrum 4.5.0 on Windows 11, mainnet, connected to my own node.

Steps: 1) Sent 5,000 sats with 1 sat/vB. 2) Right-clicked tx → Increase fee → set 25 sat/vB. 3) Broadcast.

Expected: Mempool shows replaced tx with higher fee.

Actual: Electrum shows “replaced,” but mempool.space still shows the old tx after 30 minutes.

Evidence: TXID: xxx… (ok to share); no addresses shown here for privacy.

Tried: Restart Electrum, reconnect server, bumped fee again; same result.

“Clarity is kindness.” The community can only fix what it can see. The right details turn a guessing game into a quick solve.

Avoid common pitfalls

• Never share seeds, private keys, xprv/xprv-like data, or unredacted logs or screenshots. Mask sensitive data like: bc1q…abcd
• Skip price predictions, trading tips, and altcoin questions — they’ll be closed as off-topic
• Keep it Bitcoin-only. Lightning is fine; use the right tags
• Be respectful and specific. Rants, support tickets, or vague “it doesn’t work” posts get ignored

Understand votes, accepts, and reputation

Votes are the community’s way of sorting signal from noise:

• Upvotes mean “useful” — more eyes and faster follow-ups
• Accepted answer (the checkmark) flags what actually solved it for you and helps future readers
• Reputation grows when your posts help others. As it rises, you unlock things like commenting everywhere, retagging, and editing

Pro tip: If you find the fix yourself, post a self-answer and accept it. That’s encouraged, and it’s incredibly helpful for the next person with the same issue.

Get answers faster

• Nail the title: “What/Why/How” + tool + version + clear symptom beats “Help!!!” every time
• Tag like a pro: Use 3–5 precise tags. Examples:

  • wallet, addresses, transactions
  • fees, bitcoin-core, lightning-network
  • privacy, psbt, script

• Include minimal steps: The fewer assumptions, the faster someone can reproduce and fix. If it’s a Core issue, paste the exact command and error:

  • bitcoin-cli -regtest walletcreatefundedpsbt …
  • error code: -25, message: Missing inputs

• Share safe evidence: TXIDs are fine for debugging; if privacy matters, say so and redact addresses
• Respond fast: If a commenter asks for a log line or version number, update your question promptly — edits keep everything in one place
• Close the loop: Post what fixed it, even if it was a silly config. Future you (and hundreds of others) will thank you

One more thing I’ve seen again and again: questions with clear titles, versions, and reproducible steps get same-day answers in the popular tags. That’s not luck — it’s how the format is designed to work.

You might be wondering: with so many moving parts in Bitcoin — versions, nodes, wallets, Lightning — why are the answers there usually right on the money? That’s where quality control and smart moderation come in… ready to see how your question gets protected (and bad info gets filtered out)?

Answer quality, moderation, and staying safe

Why answers are often reliable

What makes Bitcoin Stack Exchange feel different is the way good information floats and bad information sinks. It’s not magic—it’s incentives and eyes.

• Voting reveals consensus. Strong, correct answers get upvoted fast. If something’s off, it draws comments or downvotes. That pressure keeps quality high without needing endless debates.
• Edits improve clarity. Anyone with enough reputation can suggest edits. Typos, fuzzy wording, missing context—cleaned up by the crowd until the post is sharp.
• Experts hang out there. You’ll regularly see contributors who work on wallets, nodes, or privacy tools. They reference BIPs, code, and logs—not vibes.
• Public data keeps folks honest. The entire network runs on transparent reputation and history. If someone is consistently helpful (or consistently wrong), you can see it.

There’s a reason Q&A systems like Stack Exchange have been studied for years: community voting and reputation tend to surface accurate answers and correct errors over time. That effect is very visible on Bitcoin Stack Exchange, especially on technical topics where citations (BIPs, code, docs) are the norm.

“Don’t trust. Verify.”

The best posts live by that line. They include reasoning, references, and steps you can test yourself.

Real example: I’ve seen fee-and-mempool answers explain not just what to do (e.g., use RBF or CPFP) but why it works, with mempool policy details and links to BIP-125, plus notes on when a node’s minimum feerate might reject your transaction. That kind of context saves you from copy-pasting fixes that only work sometimes.

Version awareness matters

Bitcoin changes slowly, then all at once. Wallet formats, descriptor support, Taproot, Lightning features—answers can age. Smart readers check the timestamp, the versions mentioned, and any follow-up comments.

• Descriptors and PSBTs: Answers pre-descriptor wallets (think older Bitcoin Core setups) can miss how change addresses or key derivation are handled today. Look for mentions of BIP-174 (PSBT), descriptors, and your wallet version.
• Taproot and scripts: Posts from the pre-Taproot era won’t cover BIP-341/342 rules, keypath vs scriptpath spends, or how wallets expose bech32m addresses.
• Fee policy and RBF: Policy changed across versions; some nodes enable full-RBF, some don’t. Good answers call out the Bitcoin Core version and policy assumptions.
• Lightning specifics: LND vs Core Lightning vs Eclair can behave differently. The best answers name the implementation and version, so you aren’t applying the wrong fix.

Pro tip: If you suspect an answer is outdated, say so in a comment and ask for an update. I’ve watched maintainers jump in, add a fresh note, and link to new docs—within hours.

Security tips you should never ignore

Most mistakes aren’t technical—they’re human. Bitcoin Stack Exchange can be a safe place to ask, but only if you keep your secrets and your caution.

• Never post seeds, private keys, or raw xprvs. Not blurred. Not “just a few words.” Not in logs. If it touches funds, don’t share it.
• Sanitize screenshots and logs. Redact addresses if privacy matters. Trim paths or hostnames if they identify you. Share only what’s needed.
• Be careful with copy-paste code. If you don’t understand a script or RPC, ask what it does first. Malicious code doesn’t look malicious until it’s too late.
• Verify downloads and signatures. Whether it’s Bitcoin Core or a wallet tool, verify PGP signatures and checksums from the official site, not a random mirror.
• Beware DM “helpers.” Real help happens in public on Bitcoin Stack Exchange. Anyone asking you to move to private chat to “recover funds” is almost certainly a scammer.
• Repro on testnet or regtest. When you’re learning, don’t learn with real money. Great answers often include safe test steps—follow those first.
• Cross-check claims. Solid answers link BIPs, docs, or code. If there’s no reference and it sounds risky or too convenient, ask for a source.

Real example: A user once shared unredacted logs containing an extended public key. Within minutes, multiple comments explained why that was risky and how to rotate to a new wallet. That’s the culture: correct the risk, teach the why, and keep it public.

What happens if your question is closed

Closed doesn’t mean you’re unwelcome. It usually means the question needs focus—or it’s already answered elsewhere.

• Duplicate: You’ll see links to the canonical solution. Read them—they’re often better than anything you’d get in a fresh thread.
• Unclear or broad: Tighten the scope. Add versions, exact error messages, steps to reproduce, and what you already tried. Then request a reopen.
• Off-topic (price, trading, non-Bitcoin stuff): Keep it Bitcoin, keep it technical or practical. If it’s about trading signals or altcoins, it will get closed, period.

Tip: When a post is closed, the close reason is a map to fixing it. I’ve edited questions with missing version info or fuzzy titles and watched them reopen and get great answers the same day.

Bottom line: on Bitcoin Stack Exchange, quality isn’t luck—it’s a system. Clear rules, visible reputation, and people who care about getting Bitcoin right. The real question is whether it’s the right place for you right now. Want to see who gets the most out of it—and when it absolutely shines (and when it doesn’t)? That’s exactly what I’m tackling next.

Who should use Bitcoin Stack Exchange, and when it shines (or doesn’t)

Beginners

Bitcoin Stack Exchange is perfect when you have a focused “how do I do X safely?” question and you want a clean, accurate answer without hype. If you’re just starting, think of it as your precision tool—not a full course, but the place to get unstuck fast.

Real examples I’ve seen get strong, step‑by‑step answers:

• “How do I verify my Bitcoin Core download on Windows/macOS?” — Answers typically show the exact GPG/sha256 steps, where to find signatures, and what a correct output looks like.
• “My transaction is unconfirmed after 24 hours—what should I do?” — You’ll get explanations of mempool conditions, RBF/CPFP options, and when to simply wait.
• “Why does my bech32 address start with bc1 and is it safe?” — Expect a plain‑English breakdown of address types, fee savings, and wallet support.
• “I can’t see coins after restoring my seed—what did I miss?” — Common fixes include derivation path checks, gap limits, and how to scan for the right address type without exposing secrets.

It’s not where you go to “learn everything about Bitcoin end‑to‑end” in one sitting. Pair it with a solid beginner guide, then bring your specific roadblocks. Ask one clear question at a time, and you’ll usually get an answer that stands the test of time.

Rule of thumb: If you can state your setup, the exact behavior, and what you tried, you’re in the right place. If you want price predictions or general investing advice—wrong venue.

Developers and power users

If you live in RPC calls, BIPs, PSBTs, descriptors, Taproot/Tapscript, or Lightning quirks, this is your playground. The best answers don’t just fix the problem—they link concepts to specs and policy rules so you understand why something works.

Typical “dev‑grade” questions that get excellent treatment:

• Policy vs consensus: “Why is my transaction non‑standard even though it’s valid?” Expect references to standardness rules, feerates, ancestor/descendant limits, and mempool policy.
• PSBT workflows: “How do I construct a PSBT for a multisig with a hardware wallet?” You’ll see correct field population, utxoupdatepsbt usage, and where different wallets expect derivation paths.
• Descriptors and Miniscript: “What’s the checksum for this descriptor, and why won’t my ranged key import?” Answers often include correct syntax, version caveats, and links to relevant BIPs.
• Taproot/Tapscript: “Why is my control block length off?” You’ll get explanations tied to BIP‑340/341/342 and examples of valid encodings.
• Lightning specifics: “Channel reserve and dust limits differ between LND and CLN—what gives?” Expect comparisons, spec references, and notes on behavior during force‑close or fee spikes.

Bring minimal reproducible detail: the exact error, RPC call and params, relevant tx hex (redact what you must), wallet versions, and OS. With that, the odds of getting a same‑day, reference‑backed answer are high. From my own checks across popular tags like transactions, bitcoin-core, and lightning-network, first answers often land within hours, while niche edge cases can take longer.

Strengths and limits

• Strengths

  • Accuracy and expert eyes: Voting and peer review keep half‑baked ideas in check. Canonical answers get refined over time.
  • Searchability: Threads are written to be found and reused. When you Google a Bitcoin error message, you’re likely to land on a clear answer here.
  • Low noise: No price chatter, no shilling—just technical reasoned responses.
  • Durability: Good posts stay valuable for years, with updates noted in comments or edits when versions change.

• Limits

  • No trading/price talk: Off‑topic by design.
  • Strict Q&A format: Broad, opinion‑heavy discussions are discouraged—great for answers, not for debates.
  • Assumed basics: Some replies expect you to know terms like RBF, CPFP, or descriptors. If a term is new, ask for clarification or search the tag wiki.
  • Version drift: Older answers may predate Taproot or new wallet behavior. Always check timestamps and version notes.

One more reality check: communities like this tend to answer a large share of questions quickly. Across the Stack Exchange network, answer rates are historically high, and Bitcoin Stack Exchange keeps up well—particularly for common tags. In my ongoing reviews for tool coverage, I consistently see useful first responses under 24 hours for mainstream topics, with deeper protocol questions resolved as experts drop in across time zones.

People also ask: quick hits we cover

• Is it free? Yes.
• Is it moderated? Yes—community voting plus active moderators keep things tidy.
• How fast are answers? Often same day for popular tags; trickier questions can take longer.
• Can I ask about trading? Generally no—price, signals, and exchange picks are off‑topic.
• Are answers trustworthy? Usually. Still check votes, comments, dates, and versions.
• Beginner‑friendly? Yes, if your question is clear and on‑topic.
• Lightning questions? Absolutely—use tags like lightning-network, lnd, core-lightning, invoices, channels.

If you want a simple checklist for asking a great first question—and a short FAQ that clears up the last doubts—shall I hand you my personal playbook next?

FAQ, my verdict, and smart next steps

Quick FAQ: answers to common questions

• Is Bitcoin Stack Exchange safe? Yes. It’s tightly moderated and peer-reviewed. Still, never share seeds, private keys, or unredacted xprvs—ever.
• Is it beginner-friendly? Absolutely, if you’re clear and on-topic. Simple, focused questions get surprisingly good answers.
• How do I ask a good question? Describe your setup (OS, wallet/node version), steps you took, exact errors, and what you already tried. Redact sensitive info.
• Are answers trustworthy? Usually. Check votes, comments, timestamps, and versions. Ask for updates if something looks dated.
• Can I ask Lightning questions? Yes. Use tags like lightning-network, bolt11, or lnd/core-lightning to reach the right eyes.
• Difference vs Reddit? Less chatter, more signal. Answers are built to be searched and reused, not lost in a feed.

Real-world wins I’ve seen:

• A stuck transaction solved with a clear CPFP walkthrough (no paid “accelerators” needed).
• A wallet import problem fixed by learning about descriptor wallets in newer Bitcoin Core versions.
• A Lightning payment that kept failing traced to incorrect invoice amounts vs. msat rounding—answer included a minimal test and the fix.

“If it’s a Bitcoin tech question, there’s a good chance someone has already documented the pitfall—and the fix—on Bitcoin Stack Exchange.”

Want to see activity and answer patterns yourself? The community’s public data is browsable on the Stack Exchange Data Explorer for Bitcoin. It’s not marketing fluff—you can check trends and timing data with real queries.

How I use it at Cryptolinks.com

When I review tools on Cryptolinks.com/news, I search Bitcoin Stack Exchange to sanity-check features and find known edge cases. A few patterns that save me time:

• Wallet recovery: Before recommending a flow, I look for “gotchas” around seed restores, descriptor vs. legacy imports, and change address handling. If there’s a canonical Q&A that flags a footgun, I link it in my reviews.
• Lightning features: For LNURL, keysend, or channel management, I filter by the right tags to see best practices from people who actually run nodes daily.
• Fee mechanics and RBF: I cross-check how a wallet handles RBF/CPFP against answers that break down mempool behavior and minimum relay policies.

The result is fewer assumptions and more tested guidance. If a product behavior is nonstandard, I usually find an explanation or a safer workaround in minutes.

What to do after reading this

• Bookmark:https://bitcoin.stackexchange.com/
• Take the tour: The site tour shows how questions, votes, and reputation work.
• Follow tags: Track what you care about (e.g., bitcoin-core, lightning-network, privacy, fees).
• Ask or answer: Start small. Post a clear question you actually need help with, or answer something you’ve solved before.
• Keep notes public: If you fix your own issue, post the solution. It helps the next person (and future you).
• Search smarter: Use Google with site:bitcoin.stackexchange.com plus your keywords. Example: site:bitcoin.stackexchange.com PSBT tutorial.
• Stay safe: Never share secrets. Redact addresses if privacy matters. If a code snippet or command looks risky, ask for clarification.

If you’re curious about why this model works, Stack Exchange’s community-moderation approach and reputation system have been studied for years, and you can browse methodology and metrics on their research and insights hub. It’s not specific to Bitcoin, but the same mechanics apply: voting, peer edits, and visibility for the best answers.

Final take

Bitcoin Stack Exchange is one of the best places online to get clear, no-nonsense Bitcoin help. Use the right tags, give enough context, and you’ll often get a solid answer the same day. It’s saved me hours, helped me avoid bad assumptions, and pointed me toward safer workflows more times than I can count.

If you want to level up your Bitcoin game—whether that’s running a node, managing wallets safely, or understanding Lightning quirks—start using it regularly. Ask well. Answer when you can. And always double-check versions and dates. That simple routine will pay for itself fast.