Not showing balance in one of my accounts

Lovemyfarm

Got new Windows 11 computer 4 days ago. When I installed Quicken and did back up from external drive it was all was working perfect.

Then this morning I open up Quicken and one of my accounts (Checking) won't show me my balance in right column all I'm getting is ****** in red and **** in red. The other accounts I have like Savings - all show their balances in the right column and bottom.

I do not use any on line stuff. This is just for this computer and my personal information. I kept my old Win 10 computer and went to it and it works perfect. Showing me my balances on that. So I'm baffled in why is there such a screw up with my checking account only on this new computer?

Doesn't seem anyone has this problem - but I have tried some trouble shooting. But Quicken assumes I am using on line stuff. I'm not connected to my bank, no bill pay - nothing on line. Just the updates that Quicken offers I let it always update. So I have the latest up to date program.

CaliQkn

@Lovemyfarm - when you go to your checking account register, does it show the correct balance? Have you tried doing a validate on your file? You can go to File→Validate file and and choose "Validate File". In your version of Quicken, the options might be a little different.

Lovemyfarm

CaliQkn - The list of my accounts in the left column is correct and my checking balance is correct there. I just went to Validate File - and says it did some corrections. But did not fix the problem. Still ****** for my check register and no balances - This is so strange. I have been using Quicken for many years - so familiar with most everything.

CaliQkn

@Lovemyfarm - do you have transactions in the checking account? Make sure that the transactions are sorted by date in ascending order. Check the current balance of the account. It is the balance right before the blue line in the register. Does that balance match what is in your account list on the left side? If so, the issue could be a pending transaction (dated in the future).

Lovemyfarm

@CaliQkn Thank you for trying to help: Yes I have transactions in checking account back to 1990's. Everything is there. Yes in ascending order. Payment, Cir, Deposits Columns are all there. Go out to Balance column and it is all "RED" Asterisks ***** all the way back to 1990's - at the very bottom : where it says Current Balance shows red : Asterisks ****** to the right of that where it says Ending Balance: all red ******** I do have two entries for future - but even above the blue line is all Red **** for balances - I tried removing the 2 future payments from register, didn't change a thing. I was hoping to wake up this morning and it would solve itself. But why would that ONE account be like that, but my other accounts - show the Balance columns? Why does it work fine on my old win 10 computer, but like I said it worked fine the day I set it up on this new computer here last week , but then Saturday - all of a sudden I open it up and get red ***** for balances in my checking account register! This is so frustrating. I did have a windows update I did, but seems "IF" that would have caused this, all the accounts would be affected. Just crazy! Also what is crazy - when I was trying to print my register to see if the red **** showed up, which they did - it showed a balance in checking of 9 million dollars. I have had issues with Quicken since the day I installed it - after MS Money went away. Quicken will change my ending balances for a couple months, then when I go to balance, the ending balance is what is should be. Been dealing with that for a couple years. And when I try to delete a duplicate transaction from 2020 - Quicken always puts it back. Just odd little things - and only with my checking account. Never had problems with my other accounts. Quicken has just been a nightmare with my check register from day one. But I'm not calling and have them in my computer remotely having access to my personal stuff. That is why I don't do on line banking, bill paying, and save my files to external hard drive. I just tried re-booting to see if that would fix it. NOPE!

CaliQkn

@Lovemyfarm thank you for the additional information. It really helped me understand what the issue might be. There might be a problem with an old transaction from the 1990s. The asterisks might indicate the column width is too narrow to show the balance. Try making the column wider to show the balances. If that is successful, then you should be able to see where the problem transaction is by looking at when the balances started to off kilter.

Lovemyfarm

@CaliQkn YES - you're right - I started scrolling back and sure enough between Nov 9, 2022 and Nov. 11, 2022 - there is ODD Looking something stuck in there. in the date column is 255/255/18204 then under check number is yyy; Then N/A - Then N/A - then SPLIT - and that is prob. where this 9 million was put in there. But WHY? WHy did QUicken do that? I have my old computer right here - and that is where I did my back up and it isn't on that one! When I tried on this new computer to "restore" from back up, that didn't help. So how does ONE get rid of this crazy entry that I didn't put in there??? And I'm in shock in how did this happen? But like I said - I have had Quicken doing odd things like this to me since Day one. Just out of the blue - when I go to balance check book - Quicken has changed my beginning balance. Any ideas how to get rid of this 9 million entry? cause it won't let me delete it.

Lovemyfarm

I'm wondering if it will let me void it - cause won't let me delete it. Even the dep of course is all astericks cause of being 9 million and something. so not sure it will let me go in and make it zero. I'm just not sure of what to do - to not totally screw up my entire check book. Also - expanding the columns is the first thing I did - it is as big as it will go - and still won't show numbers. I feel sad for Elon Musk - he'd never be able to see his check book balances. HA! I guess Quicken isn't for the mega rich. LOL

CaliQkn

@Lovemyfarm - you can try voiding it. That might resolve the issue, but if you were unable to delete it then I am not sure voiding it would work either.

I think you did a validate on your data file, but have you tried any other troubleshooting steps?

Do you have good backups of your data file?

CaliQkn

@Lovemyfarm - I've been looking into this issue, and it seems like it's happened to other users. But the cause is a little vague. It could have resulted from an release update, but you are using Quicken 2017, so that doesn't make sense. It could have resulted from a restore of a backup file. That is why I asked if you have good backups. Maybe try restoring a different backup file and see if that resolves the issue.

CaliQkn

@Lovemyfarm - another thing I thought of. If and when you restore from a backup, copy the backup to your local drive (C:\) before you do the restore. I am not sure if you had originally restored directly from your external drive, but sometimes that does cause issues when the connection is slow or interrupted.

Lovemyfarm

I'm sooo frustrated. I'm not a computer person. So much of this is way over my head. I did do the viladate - just the top one. The others - didn't make sense to me. But didn't help. I went to my old computer which has Quicken on it, and I went to that 2022 date time. It ALSO had crazy entry - date: 255/255/1900 then Payee N/A then Memo N/A Cat. Split - but the Dep was for only 20.47. That file is the one I did back up on external hard drive - so when I put Quicken on this computer - I just restored directly from the external hard drive - to restore and like I said - "It was fine 3 days ago" Just Saturday when I opened Quicken to do some work - it was all messed up. I do not like how Quicken saves files - I have to make sure the correct date for my restore. But I did try to move the back up saved files to this desktop - and then restore from there. But nothing I do - changes my check register…. and that 9 million entry. But there again on my old computer what a shock to go back to 2022 - that Nov. and see the same crazy entry - but for 20.47 - I'm like where did that come from? What is Quicken trying to do to me. I have never had problems with my other accounts and they always balance perfectly. But my checking account/register has given me a fit over the years. And I don't know why. WHy doesn't quicken pick on my other check registers/accounts? And it is scary - cause I don't want to loose all these years of checking. But - it may be I will need to just create a new checking account - and maybe go back to January 1st - ??? and sit and enter all the entries since then - and just try to close out this messed up checking - to keep for if I need to look up checks from years past. But I'd like to know what Quicken is doing in updates or whatever to make such a mess??? I have fast connection speeds - But I do have a couple back ups on my external - and I tried both. But why when I back up the files from Old computer - turn around to this new computer and plug in hard drive and go to Quicken and say restore and it isn't restoring to exactly what it backed up 2 mins ago.

CaliQkn

@Lovemyfarm on your other computer, is that goofy transaction with the amount 20.47 a valid transaction? Are you able to edit or delete that transaction? If so, maybe you can fix the transaction on the old computer, make a backup and then restore the backup to the new computer.

Also if you have other older backups, try restoring those to see if they have the same issue.

I have to say that from what I have learned, this issue is very difficult to fix. The only solution I found was to restore a backup that doesn't have the issue.

If that is not possible, then the only thing I can think of is to create a new checking account and copy or move transactions from the old account to the new one (excluding the transaction with the issue). Then the old checking account with the issue can be deleted. The issue with that is if you are using Quicken 2017, I am not sure if you have the Move command or even the Cut, Paste transaction commands. Without those commands, moving transactions from the old to new account would be very laborious.

Lovemyfarm

@CaliQkn SIGH! I went to other computer - to see if I could delete, void) that $20 whatever they put in there - but NOPE! But the $20.47 had changed to $14.78. That is what is so odd - is each time you go to that entry - it changes . It is almost like it is hacked some way. I would think better of Quicken to allow this. Never had this with "MS Money" or "Quickbooks" I use Bit Defender which has been excellent antivirus/ etc. Also - router with VIN - etc. There again - what upsets me is I go back to 1990 - (entries) And who sits and scrolls back thru their check register 10 yrs ago? 5 yrs ago - even 2 yrs ago! Once you balance you go forward. But I have had issues like I said with balancing my statements, there was a duplicate of C/C from 2020 in there - Quicken won't let me delete or void that. Then Going back to 2022 - I noticed my Checkbook was off $3,000 and something - so I had quicken auto correct that - cause again - it wasn't anything on MY PART! Just crap they are changing, throwing in there. For 2 - 3 yrs now - my check book will be off $477 - So I have it fix it - so my balance matches statement. The next month - Quicken start balance - is again - wrong - and off $477. So we play this game for a few months - then all of a sudden - the starting balance is CORRECT when I open it up. It will be correct for a couple months - then back to being off $477. back and forth again. So me not being CPA - flunking Accounting in COLLEGE - I enjoy the ease of MS Money - QUicken for dummies. I had this notion if I couild see what the number 9 million whatever Quicken has put in there - I'd do an entry to try to take it out. But all it shows me is Asterics **** Every once in awhile it will show this 9 million whatever. But since those numbers seem to change each time I open Quicken - that may not work. Like how did the $20.47 - go to $14.78 and I did NOTHING but close Quicken - then open it today. And then sometimes in Payee or memo is odd stuff that makes no sense. The dates seem to change to crazy numbers. It is really like someone has planted some type bug - when Quicken did update - set it up. But there again it isn't touching my other checking accounts .

I really appreciate your help - and it is sad Quicken doesn't seem to want to address this issue - if this has been happening. There again - I could see it if I used on line banking - bill paying. But this is why I LOATH paying Quicken, Quickbooks these fees - by me buying the program out right - just using it in my home - you don't have these problems it seems. Cause these problems didn't start till I had to go to their yearly fees. When I owned the program - it did pretty good. I threatened to move everything to Quickbooks, but their yearly fees is crazy can't afford - so I can't update with them anymore. It is just a mess. I dont' know if it would be worth my time to call Quicken help line and get someone in India that I never can understand them and I'm not giving them remote control to my computer. And when I kept trying to google in community and help - nothing comes up about this issue. Like it never happens - so not sure how you were able to find this has been an issue. But what a mess I"m in - not knowing what to do at this point m, it is useless to keep entering checks - if I can't see balance. And the time I have spent for days on this issue - is taking a toll. But I appreciate your help and suggestions. If you find anything - just let me know. I'll just sit here and see what I can figure out.

CaliQkn

@Lovemyfarm sorry to hear that you continue to have issues. I can see how frustrating the situation is.

What version of Quicken do you have? I was assuming it was Quicken 2017 because that is what your profile says.

With all of the issues you are encountering, I suspect you may be dealing with file corruption. I think you indicated that you tried the file validate and that didn't change anything. There is something else you can try to fix some file corruption, if that is the issue.

A "File-Copy" process can clean up some file corruption. It entails making a copy of your data file. Click on File→Copy or backup file, and select "Create a copy or template. On the next screen, leave all the defaults but you will need to create a new name for your file. By default, Quicken adds "cpy" to the end of your existing file name, but you can change it to anything you want.

Click on "Save Copy" and follow any prompts to create the new file. The only caveat to going through this file copy process is that it disconnects online services for all your accounts. But I think you mentioned that you don't connect to your bank, so I think that is not an issue. But if you do use online connections, they would need to be re-setup.

After the copy of your data file is created, switch over to it and see if the issue has been fixed in your checking account.

Lovemyfarm

@CaliQkn I just called HELP LINE - got a nice helpful guy - - and he helped me. Couldn't fix corrupted file - so he walked me thru in how to make a copy - from Jan. 1, 2025 till today! So we did that and fixed the problem. "BUT" if I need to access "OLD" entries , I'll have to open up "OLD" back up on external hard drive or C drive to find what I need. Which is a major PIA. It was just nice to be able to scroll back looking for old checks / payments to people from years ago. I wish Quicken could have found that entry for 9 million or whatever and gotten rid of it. Fixed it. But it is what it is. You are correct, I don't use on line banking…. so that is not an issue. I thought when Quicken was going to stop serving the old Quicken programs like 17 and went to Subscribing only I was forced to download from Quicken web sight their subscription edition. Mine says "Quicken Classic Delux" Not knowing enough about computers, I guess I could have used my Old Quicken 17 and just never had it updated, bugs fixed. Don't know if that is a good thing or not. Prob. doesn't matter if I don't do on line banking. To me, can't beat Windows 95 and the old programs - like MS Money, etc. They worked like a charm. With new technology it seems it gets more and more complicated with more bugs and issues. Doesn't make sense. "THANKS! -

CaliQkn

@Lovemyfarm glad you got it working. Hopefully you won't need to access your old transactions too often. Sometimes these issues happen but I have found that there is always a way to get around them. Quicken is a complicated program. It works smoothly most of the time, but when there are issues, they sometimes can be doozies.

Lovemyfarm

@CaliQkn: Yea - I just couldn't spend all my days on this. Not being a computer person, it is very frustrating. And I'm not sure how far back it goes when I first started having issues , but I remember getting bank statement and the starting balance had been changed. I sat her stumped. And Like I said - that kept happening, then would stop - then start again. Then getting a new Windows 11 - computer last week - has been the test of everything for me, with hating these new computers and all the security, spending hours trying to figure out how to stop this computer from wanting face ID, password, etc. I don't work in a security place. Just me at home! GEEESH! I don't need networks with computers and stuff attached to this computer. So dealing with that nightmare, googling for hours - trying to learn how to stop all that. Then to open Quicken after I thought everything was perfect - to see this entry (Thanks to you) - helping me find it went back to 2022. I always thought computers were to make things easier for folks. But that is far far from it. They are making life miserable, complicated and needing a 4 yr degree in computers. Tossing and turning I wish I could understand how files get corrupted out of no where, with little things happening like you said. Makes no sense. Seems it would be cut and dry. Back up to external hard drive - take to new computer and restore and bingo. DONE! And it did work for a day….. I saw I had a couple window 11 updates - so I let it do that, took over 90 mins. Then…. maybe that seems when the problems started. I thought if I go back in and undo that update maybe my Quicken would work! But didn't. So better to not do updates possibly. Updates in phones and computers just screw everything up royally! You're a great help to the community! I appreciate it more than you know.

Lovemyfarm

@CaliQkn OMG! FYI Got my checking statement today - excited to see how that goes. I go in and as usual, the starting balance is "OFF" For a couple years or so it has been $477 (off) - but Feb. and March it was perfect. So just now, my starting balance was off $1,879.41. I have no clue - I sat looking for that amount anywhere - nothing came up. I went to old computer - and looked for that amount - going back to the 90's of course. NOTHING found. So it looks like even tho I have started fresh - Jan. 1, 2025, Quicken is still going to mess with me each month - putting in a new starting balance. I really don't get why when I balance my check register and I let Quicken "Adjust" with whatever amount it is off, the next month - the starting balance "WILL NOT" be what we ended on month prior. Once month it will be the amount "over" next month that exact amount "under" Then like I said - for some reason Feb and March - I open up to balance and they decided to keep my starting balance correct. This has never happened with my other accounts. Only my main checking account that we use the most, is the one giving me a fit. The other checking accounts - we don't write many checks if any - on those. So I'm sitting here just beyond frustrated in "WHY" ?

CaliQkn

@Lovemyfarm - reconciling and balancing is sometimes more of an art than science. After awhile you get a "gut' feel as to where the differences are. In your case, I would just print out a register report and compare it to your bank statement, ticking off matches. The difference then hopefully will drop out. Your differences could be a simple as a pending item, or a check that hasn't cleared. Since you enter transactions manually, it could be a transaction that was missed. I think you are close, and once you get completely reconciled, hopefully it will be easy to keep in balance going forward.

Lovemyfarm

It isn't me tho! It is Quicken. If i get a statement for my checking and Feb. I balanced with my statement, lets say $2,000 ending balance. Then I get March statement in the mail. I open Quicken and Quicken SHOULD have my beginning balance as $2,000. But 5 out of 10 times - Quicken will have a whole other number as my starting balance. I have taken pictures - because for over a year it has driven me mad - with how could Quicken keep changing my beginning balance, if quicken and I balanced perfectly the month before. The crazy thing is I don't write many checks, debits out of this account - so there isn't much to deal with. So finding any errors on my part is a piece of cake. But if Quicken keeps changing my beginning balance - I don't understand why! Cause I'm not doing on line banking. But a beginning and ending statement balance should NEVER change. It is SET IN GOLD - I thought. But the crazy thing is the guy helping me on the phone , we did a new copy starting Jan. 1, 2025. When I got my statement yesterday - Quicken had my starting balance off over $2,000. So Today - I decided to go in and re-do new books - going back to Jan. 1, 2023. so after doing that, I had to go back in and balance my checkbook statement (AGAIN) and this time when I opened up to reconcile - the starting balance on this copy was correct. I sat just dumb founded. But I went ahead and reconciled the books - it came out perfect. I'd rather use this newest copy - going back as far as I could before the corrupted file in Nov. 2022. But you mark my word - come May, when I go in to reconcile, Quicken will have a WHOLE new number (Possibly) for me to start with. (beginning balance) That is my big beef. It isn't anything that I am doing, it is Quicken. I'd love to know how in any way - can Quicken "CHANGE" my beginning balance. It seems to me if my ending balance is $1,000 - the next month it should be $1,000 to start. Correct. Then if the ending balance for next month should be $3,000 - that should be the beginning balance the following month. Over a year ago - I had come to community - asking and looking for hours - if anyone else was having issues with Quicken changing their beginning balances when you go into Reconciled. But never could find answers. SO I just learned to go along with Quicken and tell it to "ADJUST" it each month. And you'd THINK adjusting it ONE month - would fix the problem. But Oh Noooo the next month - Quicken decides to be off that same amount again and again and again. Till a few months in a row - Quicken decided to start with the correct starting balance. It is always a surprise with what Quicken will do with this one account. I have used Quickbooks for my business for many years and never had issues. But when they went to subscription, I said no! Way too expensive for a small business. I was going to move my personal stuff to Quickbooks, but Quicken was a bit easier and not as complicated.