Negative Consequences of moving Quicken file vs back-up file to New Computer

quick20

For the Desktop version, are there any negative consequences of moving the Quicken file vs back-up file to a New Computer and using the Quicken file in the new install of Quicken on the new computer? I do not have the Cloud set-up.

NotACPA

First off, you should be backing up to an external device, say a USB drive … so that if your harddrive crashes you don't lose the backup also.

With that done, it seems to me that it would be easier to restore that backup to the new computer rather than copying the
QDF to the USB and moving it to the new computer.

Ps56k2

what version … Help — About Quicken

The main QDF and the backup QDF are just copies of the same file

splasher

The downside to restoring backups is that Quicken increments a background counter called datasets every time you do a restore and it is a finite number. Once exceeded, you have to contact Quicken support to get it reduced, but it only reduced by one, so it will happen again.

Copying/moving does not cause this issue. You can also take a backup, copy it to the other machine and rename the extension from .QDF-backup to .QDF and open that file without causing the issue.

It used to be suggested a few years back to only do restores, but the dataset issue came about when they re-engineered the backend to work with the Quicken Cloud Account (it is there whether you use QMobile/QWeb or not), so the preferred method is copying.

quick20

Thank you. But, I did not create a cloud account. So, I don't see any data sets in the "Quicken ID & Cloud Accounts" section of Quicken desktop. I guess a better question is I already opened the regular .qdf file vs a back-up file in a new computer. Should I be aware of any issues to be prepared given I never had a cloud account in the first place? (I don't see any Datasets in "Quicken ID & Cloud Accounts".

splasher

https://community.quicken.com/discussion/comment/20431510#Comment_20431510

Everyone using subscription Quicken (2018+) has a Quicken Cloud Account. If it isn't being used to contain financial information for display in QMobile/QWeb, it is used as a minimum to hold the information about your subscription and other information (don't ask me what because I don't know) about your Quicken installation and data files.

quick20

Where do I find the Quicken Cloud account? As mentioned, when I am in Quicken desktop for Windows the latest release under "Preferences" and then under "Quicken ID&Cloud Account" I don't see any cloud Datasets. A few years ago when I activated Quicken Mobile, I would see Datasets. Since I never activated Quicken Mobile I don't see any cloud Datasets. So, I assume there is only one cloud Dataset and the above concern about using the main QDF file and not the QDF backup file to restore to a new Computer does not matter. But, if anyone knows different that would be helpful?

splasher

You only see the list of QCAs if you have QMobile/Qweb turned on. One way to see them is to create a new data file with QMobile/QWeb turned on, it doesn't need to have any accounts created in it, just QMobile/QWeb turned on. You can then see the QCAs in the Preferences section that you cited.

There is a unique QCA for each and every Quicken data file based on a unique internal file identifier. Backups and copies made using Windows all have the same QCA and doing a restore increments the dataset.

Making a copy using Quicken's File Copy routine will create a copy that has a different file identifier, but it also de-activates all of the online features in the copy.

quick20

1. If I never set-up a Cloud account in the first place, will any QCAs show-up if I follow the steps you indicated by turning on the QMobile/QWeb? 2) Can I turn QMobile/Qweb off once I turn on? 3)Will Quicken support be able to tell me how many Quicken Cloud accounts I have and delete the unnecessary ones?

splasher

You are equating having a QCA with using QMobile/QWeb. That is not the case. Every Quicken data file has a QCA to hold, as previously stated, information about your subscription, but does not necessarily contain any financial information.

I don't know know else to explain it.

Follow the process explained earlier about creating a dummy data file with QMobile/QWeb turned on. It will only affect that data file, BUT it will make all of the QCAs visible when going thru the Preferences menu to see them.

quick20

Thank you. Can I turn off QMobile/QWeb after I follow the steps you listed? (Turning on QMobile/QWeb, deleting old QCA hold, then turning of QMobile/QWeb to make it like it was before?)

splasher

Maybe I haven't been clear, but QMobile/QWeb being turned on or off is done at the Quicken data file level, not the program. So, in everything that I have stated earlier, it is ONLY turned on in the dummy data file.