Back up Errors - Backing up with Dropbox
Every time I back up my Quicken file in the last 2 weeks I get these errors - Quicken can not open the data file because it is in use by other application. Please close that application and try again. I then click OK and the following pops up. Unable to reload current file after copy. I click OK and it closes. How can I stop this. I don't think it's backing up. I see a file in dropbox but Quicken says I have not backed up since a previous date.
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When you start a
manual backup process from within Quicken, one of the first things that happens
is: Quicken closes the data file to ensure that all updates have been written.
A split second later it opens the file again to start the Backup process.
A third party cloud
backup product like Dropbox, Carbonite, One Drive, etc. or a NAS backup server
will use that "file close" command as the trigger to start its own
backup process ... and that gets in the way of Quicken trying to reopen the file
for backup ... error "file in use" ...
If you are using any
of these cloud backup products you need to configure them so as NOT to backup
your current Quicken data file. Make it use either the Automatic Backup file or
the Manual Backup file.
Using Carbonite, OneDrive, Dropbox, etc. as the Backup
process
(For this
discussion, Carbonite is assumed to be the backup product in effect. Replace
"Carbonite" with the name of your backup tool.
It is also assumed that your Quicken data file is stored in the default (and
recommended) location
C:\Users\_your_username_here_\Documents\Quicken)
IMHO, you should
keep Carbonite (or any other third party backup product which you use) away
from your live Quicken data file. It will interfere with some Quicken
operations, especially Manual Backup.
Instead, configure
Carbonite to backup either of these files:
- The backup file created by Quicken Automatic Backup
Or
- The backup file created by Quicken Manual Backup as you close Quicken.
Backup settings in
Quicken are stored in Edit / Preferences / Backup.
If you choose the
Automatic Backup file as Carbonite candidate (or even if you don't), activate
this process and set it to execute every "1" times Quicken closes.
The Automatic Backup file always goes to a \Backup folder that's part of the
folder which contains your current Quicken data file, usually
\Documents\Quicken\Backup
If you choose the
Manual Backup file as Carbonite candidate, create a separate
\Quicken\Carbonite_Backup folder and direct the Manual Backups to go there
every "1" times Quicken closes. Select the "Add date stamp to
file name option" so you get multiple backups and not just one that is
overwritten every time.
For a belts and
suspenders approach:
Automatic Backups go
to Carbonite, Manual Backups go to a USB stick or external hard drive.
One can never have
enough backups of your Quicken data file. BTDTGTS!
Note: It's been
brought to my attention that some versions of Quicken may not start the backup
process upon close if you close Quicken by any command other than clicking the
(used to be red) "X".
Now running Quicken Windows Subscription, Home & Business
Retired "Certified Information Systems Auditor" & Bank Audit VP
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