Build 27.1.60.20 Windows R60.20 won't open files from old computer

Gary Talda

Purchased a new HP Omnibook. Then downloaded Quicken Classic which is weird because I have Business and Personal but apparently when I log in it will be the correct version.

Great. No matter what I do, I cannot open a file or a backup from my old computer. This also reports being 27.1.60.20 Version R60.20.

I tried validated the old file before copying it. The data is in a one drive folder, so I copied both the data file and the backup file to the local hard drive on the new computer. No difference.

If I select the data file, Quicken just freezes.

If I select to restore a backup, Quicken prompts me to collect all the appropriate responses, and then immediately freezes when starting the restore.

I did create blank file with a dummy manual account, so the software works.

I then tried export/import, but my data is far too complicated for that to be successful, but at least I could see the incorrect data in Quicken.

Ideas?

NotACPA

Is the old computer still available and functioning? If so, have you tried using Q on it to create a backup (say, to a USB drive) and then Restoring that file on the new computer?

And HOW old is the prior Q version (estimates, OK). Because if it's very old, there was more than a single file needed for Q.

Gary Talda

Yes the old computer is functional. As I stated, it is also reports being 27.1.60.20 Version R60.20.

Yes I tried the data file. First by accessing it directly on one drive, and second by copying it to a local drive on the new computer. No difference.

I did the same with a backup. I did a validate, and then I created a backup. I tried to restore it from one drive and then from a local drive on the new computer.

No difference. Just hung.

I watched Task Manager and it was running consistently about 15% cpu so some sort of loop.

RalphC

The first thing I'd try is making sure the HP is up-to-date with the BIOS and Windows OS software then uninstalling and re-installing the Quicken program because that would be quick.

The fact that a new file opens but your existing file does not does point towards a corrupt data file. You say you "validated" the file but have you Super Validated the existing data file? If that fails, have you tried restoring an older backup file? I'd try restoring the oldest backup and see if that works. If so, then whittle down the time frame until you arrive at the most recent valid file.

If all that fails, then I'd create new files by copying a time frame. You could start by copying the middle of the file to most recent. If that works, then keep going back in time until you find the corruption. Alternately, you could try copying the time frame from the beginning and going the middle and see if that works.

mshiggins

Oh! Is the file size growing while the file is hanging?

Boatnmaniac

Yes I tried the data file. First by accessing it directly on one drive, and second by copying it to a local drive on the new computer. No difference.

It is not recommended to save nor run the data file on One Drive (or any other Cloud storage service) because of the potential for data file corruption. It is OK to save backup files to One Drive but do not restore backup files while saved on One Drive. You can read more about this in this Support Article: https://www.quicken.com/support/error-when-opening-data-file-while-using-online-storage-service/ . I am not saying this is the cause of the issue you are seeing but it is a possibility.

Note that the error described in this Support Article is just one type of error that can occur. There can be other types of data corruption issues that occur. Unfortunately, data errors that do occur might not be fixable.

This Support Article also provides a link to instructions on how to safely transfer data files between computers.

Do you have a backup file dated from before when you first started seeing this issue? You might want to try moving that file to your local hard drive, perhaps on your old system, and then restoring that one there to see if the issue exists with it as well.

Gary Talda

All BIOS and windows software up to date. Uninstalled and re-installed. created a new dummy file with only manual fake checking account. File size stays the same while hanging.

So on the old computer, I created a backup. I copied the backup and the real data file to a new one drive directory. I didn't run super validate there yet, but I did run validate.

On the new computer, I tried to restore the backup. No luck. I tried to open the copied data file. No luck. Get this - I then opened Quicken with the fake data file. I then did a validate of the copy of the data file. IT COMPLETED SUCCESSFULLY AND REPORTED EXACTLY THE SAME ERRORS as the validate on the old computer on the real data file! Super validate on the new computer ALSO completed successfully on the copy of the data.

But I still can't successfully open the copy on the new computer!

weirding me out.

retird

What ERRORS are you getting?

Gary Talda

There is no error. It just never opens the file. Just hangs.

So I did the external drive route. As expected, no difference. I backed up the data file on the old computer to an external hard drive.

On new computer, De-installed Quicken. Re-installed it. When it came up, I restored from the backup. The target direct was local to the hard drive. files are all the same size.

Tried to open the new file on the local drive. Same hang.

Gary Talda

Oh and for grins, on the old computer, I restored the backup from the external drive onto the old computer in a new location. The file in the new location opened just fine!

Remember Quicken reports the same version and build on both computers.

27.1.60.20 Version R60.20

Note that the only difference I can see is that I downloaded Quicken Classic on the new computer. The old computer was Quicken Classic Business and Personal. Yes I understand that when I log in, Quicken detects my subscription and supposedly does Business and Personal on the new computer. The new fake file I created does look like Business and Personal. I can't see any other difference however.

mshiggins

Is the file size growing while the file is hanging?

Boatnmaniac

Note that the only difference I can see is that I downloaded Quicken Classic on the new computer. The old computer was Quicken Classic Business and Personal. Yes I understand that when I log in, Quicken detects my subscription and supposedly does Business and Personal on the new computer. The new fake file I created does look like Business and Personal. I can't see any other difference however.

There is only one Quicken Classic software. There is no such thing as a software unique to Business and Personal. The subscription simply determines which features are turn on or off. This is true no matter where you download the software from.

Oh and for grins, on the old computer, I restored the backup from the external drive onto the old computer in a new location. The file in the new location opened just fine!

Remember Quicken reports the same version and build on both computers.

Good to hear that this is not an issue with your data file.

Have you tried uninstalling Quicken from your new computer and then downloading and installing a fresh copy of the installation file from https://www.quicken.com/support/mac/how-do-i-download-quicken-quickencom-after-i-buy-it/ ?

Gary Talda

OK I tried something else. On the old computer, I created a series of copies (NOT BACKUP). kept moving start date back. 1/1/2024, 1/1/2020, 1/1/2015, 1/1/2010, 1/1/2005, 1/1/2000 and finally 1/1/1990 (I started using quicken in 1997) onto the external drive.

On the new computer, I copied all these files onto the local drive.

Sure enough, I kept moving back and they all worked. I finally went to the 1/1/1990 (all the data) and it worked?

No idea why backup didn't work but copy did. Oh well. Thanks everyone!

Boatnmaniac

https://community.quicken.com/discussion/comment/20473500#Comment_20473500

If you used the File > Copy or Backup File > Create a Copy or Template process: This will fix some file corruption issues. The main drawback of using this process is that it will deactivate all of the download connections for all accounts but it will retain most if not all settings (i.e., Preferences, Account register settings, tab views, Renaming Rules, Memorized Payee List, etc.), saved customized reports and Reminders. It will also break the connection with QWeb and QMobile if you use those. So, download connections and QWeb/QMobile will need to be set up, again, if you use those.

If you used this Copy process, then it very possibly fixed some corruption that was in the data file. Perhaps it was a corruption that was caused by trying to originally open and run it from One Drive? Just a guess.

Whatever was the reason for the issue, it's good to hear you have resolved it.