How did my data become corrupt?

Question

Using Quicken Classic Premier Version R64.35, Build 27.1.64.35.

On Oct 28, 2025 I notice that my checking account balance was quite a bit off. I traced it down to the fact that my opening balance, set on Jan 25, 2007, had somehow changed from $7,396.48 to $11,292.63, an increase of $3,896.15. I know I did not scroll back 18 years and make that change myself and no one in my household has been near my computer since long before Sept 28, 2025 when I know the account was OK.

I corrected this data corruption and everything seems fine. Quicken sqealling  at me about being sure that I want to change the opening balance really confirmed for me that I could not have accidentally made the change. I ran chkdsk and it showed no errors.

This is scary! Any ideas how this could have happened?

Thanks

Jim

jdparker225 · Answer

Good to know that I am not alone. I am guessing that what would be rare is a change in something other than the opening balance. I am going to record all my opening balances. I was lucky that I could get it for this one.

Thanks

Jim

Jim_Harman · Answer

Quicken sometimes changes the opening balance when you reset or reconnect an account. I think it is trying to force the account's current balance to match the downloaded Online Balance. This may make sense the first time you connect an account, but it makes little sense for an account that has been connected and reconciled for years.

For some reason they have not been able to correct this behavior, or have chosen not to change it.

One way to make it easier to recover from this is to record the correct opening balance in the Memo field of each account's Opening Balance transaction. Then when Quicken changes it, you know what the correct amount is.

Tom Young · Answer

It isn't all that uncommon that an Opening Balance gets changed, for reasons - as far as I know - that have never really been explained.  There have been some periods when lots of people start seeing this happen and then long periods of time where reports like yours are pretty infrequent.

One thing that has been suggested is to go back to all the "good" Opening Balance entries in all your Accounts and enter the correct Opening Balance again in the Memo field.  I've done that and even gone as far as creating a new $0 balance transaction on the same date as the original Opening Balance transaction with that same opening balance repeated again in the Memo field.

Then anytime you're having problems reconciling an Account you first go back to that Opening Balance to see if that's the culprit.