Advanced Data File Troubleshooting to Correct Problems With Quicken for Windows
Before you begin: It may be best to restore a backup from a date prior to when the issue began. You can find steps to restore a backup here. Once restored, see if the issues you were experiencing are resolved. If not, follow the steps below.
Overview
Although data integrity problems do happen, often what is thought to be a data integrity problem turns out to be an issue with preferences or misinterpreting the data Quicken is displaying.
First, review your settings and preferences
- Has the sort order been changed in the register? Confirm that the Sort Order in your account is by Date; just click the top of the Date column in your account register. It's possible the transactions are in your register, but not where you thought they should be.
- Click the Reset button at the top of the register, to confirm that there's no filtering in your account register.
- If a week (or more) of information is missing, verify you opened the correct data file.
Second, ensure you are on the latest release of the program
For instructions to download and install the latest release, click here.
Third, Copy your file and Validate
After re-opening your main data file, try the listed Validate steps with that file.
Note: You can also restore a backup and Validate if you're not able to open your data file.
When should I follow the Validate steps below?
The Validate process in this article should only be used when experiencing one or more of the following issues:
- Categories or numbers wrongly associated in reports when all report settings are correct.
- Dates missing from reports when all report settings are correct.
- Missing categories or tags.
- Inability to assign categories in split transactions.
- Data file backups that cannot be restored.
- Severe slowness with just one account or unexpected data.
If you are not experiencing one of these issues, the steps will not help.
Copy and Validate instructions
Always make a backup before performing complex procedures. This ensures that you have a "fallback" file you can use to get back to where you were when you started.
- Go to File > Copy or Backup File and select Create a copy or template (do not choose Year End Copy for this procedure).
- Please note, a file copy is disconnected from online services, such as transaction download. Online services would need to be reconnected if you wish to use them in the file copy.
- Leave all the settings, including file name and checkboxes, at their default (change nothing on this screen). Simply click Save Copy.
- After the Copy is complete, choose to Open New Copy.
- In the New Copy, go to File > Validate and Repair File and select the Validate file option. This is to ensure there are no lingering issues with the data in this file.
- If your issue was with Investment account(s) slowness or other data issues with an investment account, be sure to also select Rebuild Lots during this procedure.
- After the Validation process is finished, you will see the Data_Log appear in a Notepad window. This file is a summary of the Validation results.
- Review the Data_Log.txt for messages pertaining to the quality of your data and resolve any that are advised with instructions you should follow. This may require that you delete, edit, or reenter transactions manually.
Example of Data Integrity Issues in Data Log
In the example above, further instructions are given advising to review and set the categories correctly.
- If you receive the message "Damaged data block" in the Data_Log after the Validation completes, the file is not repairable. We recommend restoring a backup from prior to the date listed on this message.
- Test your regular procedure(s) to see if the issue you were encountering is now resolved. If the issue is resolved, continue using the new, repaired data file.
Note: Quicken saves a backup copy of this file before you Validate. This file is located in the Validate folder in the same location as your Quicken data file.
If the issue persists
If you are still experiencing issues (such as severe slowness that cannot be resolved by the Validate process or other conditions that indicate a data integrity issue) contact Quicken Support for assistance with additional troubleshooting.
If you've recently upgraded to a new version of Quicken
If you have purchased and installed a new version of Quicken and there are issues with your data (such as missing or incorrect totals), there may have been a problem with the conversion. Try completing the Validate steps above in the prior version first, then convert the file. Also, depending on what version of Quicken you're upgrading from, an intermediate version may be needed during the conversion process. For more information, click here.