Check register corruption

b slurry

Happily using Q2004, but for one occasional issue: the checking register will load as the savings register - a duplicate. In a recent incident, restoring the most recent back up did not correct the problem, but earlier back ups did. That hints that the check register, though it displayed properly upon initial load, was corrupt when last exited/saved. Any clues on why this occurs and/or how to prevent it? Thanks Windows 10 Pro (64)

splasher

Have you done a Validate of the data file?  File->File Operations

Bob_L

 No telling, especially with an older version.  You might want to consider downloading a newer free version here:

https://www.quicken.com/support/how-and-when-use-intermediate-version-convert-older-versions-quicken

b slurry

Solid suggestions, both. Next time this occurs will test 'validation.' If that fails, may resort to updating to the free 2013. Gracious!

splasher

b slurry said:

Solid suggestions, both. Next time this occurs will test 'validation.' If that fails, may resort to updating to the free 2013. Gracious!

Don't wait for it to happen again, make a backup and run the validate now and let it try to fix anything it finds now versus letting it cause a problem in the future.
The validation process makes a copy of the data file to a VALIDATE folder prior to running, but I always make a safety backup just in case.

b slurry

One can never have too many back ups. Ran validate successfully and noted thereafter that the VALIDATE folder is empty. The BACKUP folder, on the other hand, contains several recent back ups.

UKR

Please do upgrade to the free 2013 version. It's quite possible that you are running into capacity limitations in 2004, e.g., number of transactions in a register or the file, number of accounts, etc. that have been removed in 2013.

I also suspect that you are missing the patch files in 2004, to fix bugs found since the release of the original 2004 software installation CD (or floppy).

When you're done upgrading to 2013 ...

How to properly set up Quicken Backup
How to make Quicken create a backup for you automatically every time you close Quicken

For the sake of this discussion it is assumed that your Quicken data file is located in the Default (and recommended) place: C:\Users\username\Documents\Quicken

Review the backup settings available in Quicken (under Edit / Preferences / Backup).

In there you will find two types of backup: Automatic and Manual Backup.

Automatic Backup should be enabled and always goes to a \Backup folder that's part of the folder which contains your current Quicken data file, e.g. \Documents\Quicken\Backup. Set it to create a backup after running Quicken [1] times and to keep [5] (or more, your choice) backup copies.

To create a Manual Backup copy of your Quicken data file on an external device (USB-hard drive or USB memory stick recommended), put a checkmark at "Manual Backup Reminder" to enable the function and set "Remind me after running Quicken [xx] times" to [1].

Click OK to save the changes.

From now on, when you close Quicken using the red X button, you will get a popup window.

When you get this window for the first time, on some versions click the radio button for "Backup on my computer".
Change the Backup File name's drive letter and path to point to your external device so that it looks something like this: E:\Quicken Backup\QDATA-2017-04-01.QDF-backup
or use the Change button and work your way through the dialog.

Do not change the filename portion! Just overtype the drive letter and choose a backup folder name. If the folder does not exist, it will be created.

Also choose the option to "Add date to backup file name".

Every day when you run Backup or close Quicken, an additional backup file is created. Without the Add Date option you only have 1 backup copy which is overwritten every day ... and that may prove bad in a problem recovery situation.

Allow this backup to run to save the changes made on the screen.

Of course, once in a while you will have to go in and delete some of the oldest backup files, at your discretion, to avoid filling up your USB device.

One can never have enough backups of a Quicken data file. BTDTGTS!

b slurry

Good advice. The path here is "C:\Program Files (x86)\Quicken" and not the user folder. A manual back up is done here each and every time something is added to Quicken.

UKR

b slurry said:

Good advice. The path here is "C:\Program Files (x86)\Quicken" and not the user folder. A manual back up is done here each and every time something is added to Quicken.

That's bad.

Versions of Windows since about Windows 95 have begun implementing security methods, to deter hackers. This supposedly makes it impossible for data files to be stored within a Program Files folder. You should be getting Windows warning messages, at least.

Old versions of Quicken installed the data file within the program files into a folder named C:\Quickenw ... they didn't know any better then ... it took hackers to teach Microsoft and the Quicken programmers how to do it better.

Since the advent of the Documents folder (in various incarnations), the Quicken data file and any subfolders like \Backup or \Validate is recommended to be stored in the \Documents\Quicken folder. Not the \Desktop folder. Not a \Program Files folder.

Please move all your Quicken data files, \Backup, \Validate, etc. from the Program Files folder to \Documents\Quicken. Do so with Quicken closed. When done moving files, please double-click the .QDF data file in the new location, to start Quicken and make it access the file. Quicken will remember the new file location (see bottom of Files menu) from now on, for future restarts.

b slurry

Let me ad that Quicken will not write to C:\Users\username\Documents\Quicken or \Quicken\BACKUP. In preferences there is no option for setting the back-up folder. This is likely not critical as the Program Files (86) folder has housed the data files for decades.

b slurry

Very good. Ignore the comment just above, as Quicken BACKUP/VALIDATE and data files have been relocated to C:\Users\username\Documents\Quicken. Validated, backed up and restored successfully. 2013 is downloaded and pending. There has never been a Windows warning message.

Under Edit / Preferences / Backup there is no automatic option - only settings for when to warn and how many back ups to retain (5). As noted, BU is done manually (to a USB) every time a change is made.

Appreciate the cautions and responsive advice. Best for the holidays!

b slurry

The 2013 conversion has been made. Looks nice, but for the occasional "register" prompt at launch that likely will eventually disappear. ^_^ Take good care.

UKR

Bypass registration (Quicken for Windows 2014 and older)

If all else fails and you get stuck on a Registration window, you can try the following to bypass registration:

Start or restart Quicken.
Do not start a One Step Update or any other download activity.
Press and hold and keep holding both the left CTRL and Shift keys while you click Tools and then One Step Update.
When the message “You will no longer be prompted for registration” appears, click OK.

b slurry

Nice. That one is a bit obscure. Ciao.

b slurry

P.S.: Automatic BU _is_ an option in 2013.