Unable to create destination data file

eats1108 · February 2020

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I just upgraded to Quicken subscription on a new computer. When I try to open a backup QDATA file (, it is "unable to create destination data file." I tried installing Quicken 2004 as well as Quicken 2013. Neither worked. I spent an hour on the phone with the Quicken rep, and they told me it's an issue with my PC. I called HP, and they said it's definitely an issue with Quicken. Has anyone solved this issue already?

NotACPA · February 2020

Is that your ONLY backup? Because it sure sounds like it's corrupted. Have you tried restoring from another backup?

thecreator · February 2020

Hi @eats1108 ,

Use this procedure: https://community.quicken.com/discussion/7844658/installing-reinstalling-windows-quicken-subscription-editions

You can't open a Backup, you need to read the procedure.

eats1108 · February 2020

When I was on the phone with the Quicken, they had me all of these steps already. I tried it again just now, and am still unable to restore my backup file.

Rocket J Squirrel · February 2020

"New computer" are two scary words. You need to figure out what is different between your new and old computers. Maybe the old one had an older operating system than the new one, and the new one has more security features with which you're not yet familiar. HP almost certainly has nothing to do with this. Microsoft Windows might.

Post full details of what is different between your old and new computers. Tell us the full path names, starting with C:\, of your Quicken data and backup files.

thecreator · February 2020

eats1108 said:

When I was on the phone with the Quicken, they had me all of these steps already. I tried it again just now, and am still unable to restore my backup file.

Hi @eats1108 ,

Did you delete the folders and run CCleaner Free?

Is it an actual Manual Backup File?

Extension: 2-31.QDF-backup

Or is it simply a copy of your Quicken Data File?

Extension: 2020.QDF

Path for location of the Quicken Data File:

I:\My Documents\Quicken 2020 Data

What is your Windows operating system? If Windows 10, what is the Build Number?

The Quicken Data Folder can be located on any internal Hard Drive partition.

The Program Files are on the C:\ operating system partition.

My Documents are located on its separate partition.

In case the operating system became corrupted and could not boot into the operating system, I can simple either:

Restore an Acronis Image of the operating system.
Reformat and reinstall the operating system.
Reset this PC.

In either scenario, I lose nothing, except a little time.

So, use File Explorer Options and choose to View Extensions of files.

Then, still using File Explorer, locate your Documents folder. Highlight Documents and create a New Folder and rename the New Folder, like Quicken 2020 Data.

It works fine.

eats1108 · February 2020

Yes, I deleted the folders.
Yes, I ran the cleaner file.
Yes, it is a manual backup file.
Yes, the path for location is in C:\Users\eats1108\Documents\Quicken 2020

Edition: Windows 10 Home
Version: 1909
Installed on: 1/30/2020
OS Build: 18363.592

No, it doesn't work fine.

eats1108 · February 2020

> @"Rocket J Squirrel" said:
> "New computer" are two scary words. You need to figure out what is different between your new and old computers. Maybe the old one had an older operating system than the new one, and the new one has more security features with which you're not yet familiar. HP almost certainly has nothing to do with this. Microsoft Windows might.
> Post full details of what is different between your old and new computers. Tell us the full path names, starting with C:\, of your Quicken data and backup files.

Info on my new computer:
Edition: Windows 10 Home
Version: 1909
Installed on: 1/30/2020
OS Build: 18363.592

My previous computer, which I no longer have, is from 2013.

New path for file: C:\Users\eats1108\Documents\Quicken 2020
Restoring back from external drive: \\WD\Public\My Documents\I Wanna be a Billionaire\Quicken Backup

NotACPA · February 2020

See if renaming that "Quicken 2020" data file to simply "Quicken2020" (removing the space) helps.

Q sometimes chokes on spaces or punctuation in file and folder names.

Use Windows to make this change, then try the File, Restore again.

eats1108 · February 2020

> @NotACPA said:
> See if renaming that "Quicken 2020" data file to simply "Quicken2020" (removing the space) helps.Q sometimes chokes on spaces or punctuation in file and folder names.Use Windows to make this change, then try the File, Restore again.

It was worth a shot! I still got the error message: "unable to create destination data file"

Rocket J Squirrel · February 2020

Let's try something different. Instead of trying to restore your Quicken backup file directly from your WD network drive, use Windows to copy it from the WD to your C:\Users\eats1108\Documents\Quicken2020 folder.

If the file extension is .QDF-backup, change it to just plain .QDF. Windows may warn you about this but do it anyway.

Then double-click the newly-renamed .QDF file. Quicken should open it if your running version of Quicken is compatible with it.

eats1108 · February 2020

> @Rocket J Squirrel said:
> Let's try something different. Instead of trying to restore your Quicken backup file directly from your WD network drive, use Windows to copy it from the WD to your C:\Users\eats1108\Documents\Quicken2020 folder.If the file extension is .QDF-backup, change it to just plain .QDF. Windows may warn you about this but do it anyway.Then double-click the newly-renamed .QDF file. Quicken should open it if your running version of Quicken is compatible with it.

It still didn't work. Maybe my 10/2/2019 backup file is corrupt. I tried "Validate and Repair," but it's telling me install Quick 2004 (which I tried again, and still didn't work).

thecreator · February 2020

Hi @eats1108 ,

Start with additional information.

What was the Quicken program (Complete Name) you were using with the old computer?

Why do a Manual Backup to a Public Folder?

You wrote above: "\\WD\Public\My Documents\I Wanna be a Billionaire\Quicken Backup"

From what version of Quicken is your 10/2/2019 Backup file from?

Answers are needed, because we are trying to help and we don't know.

eats1108 · February 2020

> @thecreator said:
> Hi @eats1108 ,
> Start with additional information.
> What was the Quicken program (Complete Name) you were using with the old computer?
> Why do a Manual Backup to a Public Folder?
> You wrote above: "\\WD\Public\My Documents\I Wanna be a Billionaire\Quicken Backup"
> From what version of Quicken is your 10/2/2019 Backup file from?
> Answers are needed, because we are trying to help and we don't know.

I had Quicken 2017 on the old computer.
I keep manual backups on an external drive in case my computer completely dies (like this last one just did).
The back file was for Quicken 2017.
Happy to provide info, as I am trying to solve something I don't know.

NotACPA · February 2020

Is that your ONLY backup? Because it sure sounds like it's corrupted. Have you tried restoring from another backup?

thecreator · February 2020

Hi @eats1108 ,

Glad to know that Quicken 2004 or Quicken 2013 are not needed

There is no File Data Conversion, because Quicken 2017 and Quicken Subscription program Data Files are interchangeable.

You are mentioning an External Hard Drive.

Is the External Hard Drive, a USB Hard Drive plugged into the computer?

Is it an External Hard Drive, in a Network-Attached Storage Unit that is plugged into your Router?

Your Backup Path: "\\WD\Public\My Documents\I Wanna be a Billionaire\Quicken Backup"

My Backup Path is : Z:\Quicken Backup\Creator 2020-2020-02-05.QDF-backup

Z:\ is a Mapped Hard Drive from a Network-Attached Storage Unit plugged into the Router.

Z:\ is not Shared, publicly. The Backups are not buried in a tree.

Answers, please.

eats1108 · February 2020

> @thecreator said:
> Hi @eats1108 ,
> Glad to know that Quicken 2004 or Quicken 2013 are not needed
> There is no File Data Conversion, because Quicken 2017 and Quicken Subscription program Data Files are interchangeable.
>
> You are mentioning an External Hard Drive.
> Is the External Hard Drive, a USB Hard Drive plugged into the computer?
> Is it an External Hard Drive, in a Network-Attached Storage Unit that is plugged into your Router?
> Your Backup Path: "\\WD\Public\My Documents\I Wanna be a Billionaire\Quicken Backup"
> My Backup Path is : Z:\Quicken Backup\Creator 2020-2020-02-05.QDF-backup
> Z:\ is a Mapped Hard Drive from a Network-Attached Storage Unit plugged into the Router.
> Z:\ is not Shared, publicly. The Backups are not buried in a tree.
>
> Answers, please.

My external hard drive is connected to my router.
The folder named "Public" may be deceiving, as it was the default when I set up my external hard drive. My wifi network is secured with a password.

eats1108 · February 2020

> @NotACPA said:
> Is that your ONLY backup? Because it sure sounds like it's corrupted. Have you tried restoring from another backup?

I was able to restore a file from 2/2018.

thecreator · February 2020

Hi @eats1108 ,

Thanks.

You can make your setup, better, if you Map your Hard Drive to the operating system.
Once mapped, you can use a Drive Letter like Z:\.
Create a New Folder called Quicken Backup.

Now you can actually shorten the path to your Quicken Backups.

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/6031128/uploads/editor/je/mlpmm5ptn157.jpg

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/6031128/uploads/editor/5b/xcchuo810k05.jpg

When you run a Manual Backup, after finishing your work in Quicken, you want to see:

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/6031128/uploads/editor/sl/b1jxox9zykts.jpg

Never check the box above. If you Close Quicken, before you see backed up successfully, your Backup may not be able to be restored.

I only do Manual Backups and after making changes, before closing Quicken.

eats1108 · February 2020

> @thecreator said:
> Hi @eats1108 ,
>
> Thanks.
>
> You can make your setup, better, if you Map your Hard Drive to the operating system.
> Once mapped, you can use a Drive Letter like Z:\.
> Create a New Folder called Quicken Backup.
>
> Now you can actually shorten the path to your Quicken Backups.
>
> (Image)
>
>
>
>
> When you run a Manual Backup, after finishing your work in Quicken, you want to see:
>
> (Image)
>
>
>
>
> Never check the box above. If you Close Quicken, before you see backed up successfully, your Backup may not be able to be restored.
>
> I only do Manual Backups and after making changes, before closing Quicken.

Thanks. I don't think it is a network issue, as I was able to restore a backup file from two years ago.

Unable to create destination data file

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