QuickBooksHelp
Intuit

Fix Error: Server Busy. This action cannot be completed because the other program is busy

Learn how to fix Error: Server busy in QuickBooks Desktop.

If there’s too many programs running in the background, QuickBooks will prompt you with this error. Here’s how you can resolve it so you can get back to business.

User-added image

Solution 1: Close open programs

To let QuickBooks run smoothly, you have to close other programs running in the background. Or close QuickBooks then reopen.

  • Make sure there are no dialog boxes open in other programs. For example, Microsoft Word may have a dialog box open that asks you to save a document.
  • Configure your firewall and antivirus.
  • Make sure to close Google Desktop, Windows Defender, Vista Security, and Pivot Software Control.
  • Temporarily disable Spy Sweeper, or run it in Gamer mode while using QuickBooks Desktop.

Solution 2: Check for Windows update

Look for any windows update or if it needs to be installed. Learn more about Windows update.

Solution 3: Use the Quick Fix my Program

The Quick Fix will shut down any open background processes QuickBooks may be using.  It will run a quick repair on your program.

Step 1: Download and install the QuickBooks Tool Hub

The QuickBooks Tool Hub helps fix common errors. You'll need to close QuickBooks to use the tool hub. For the best experience, we recommend you use Tool Hub on Windows 10, 64-bit.

  1. Close QuickBooks.
  2. Download the most recent version (1.5.0.0) of the QuickBooks Tool Hub. Save the file somewhere you can easily find it (like your Downloads folder or your Windows desktop). Note: If you've installed Tool Hub before, you can find out which version you have. Select the Home tab. The version will be on the bottom.
  3. Open the file you downloaded (QuickBooksToolHub.exe).
  4. Follow the on-screen steps to install and agree to the terms and conditions.
  5. When the install finishes, double-click the icon on your Windows desktop to open the tool hub.

ToolHubIcon_QBDT_US_Ext_051320.jpg

Note: If you can't find the icon, do a search in Windows for QuickBooks Tool Hub and select the program.

ToolHubSearch_QBDS_US_Ext_051320.jpg

Step 2: Run the "Quick Fix my Program"

  1. In the QuickBooks Tools Hub, select Program Problems.
  2. Select Quick Fix my Program.
  3. Open QuickBooks Desktop and your company file.

Solution 4: Turn off QuickBooks Automatic Update

If there’s QuickBooks update and other program is running in the background, you need to turn off QuickBooks automatic update.

  1. On your keyboard, press Ctrl+Alt+Delete.
  2. Select Task Manager, then Startup tab.
  3. Select QuickBooks Automatic Update, then select Disable.
  4. Turn off shared updates in QuickBooks Desktop:
    1. Go to the Help menu and select Update QuickBooks.
    2. Select the Options tab.
    3. For the Share Download option, select No.
    4. Select Close.

Solution 5: Repair QuickBooks

Solution 6: Clean install QuickBooks Desktop

Completely uninstall your QuickBooks Desktop. Or if you have Intuit ProSeries installed on your computer, you have to rename it. Here’s how.

  1. Check the Windows Task Manager for qbpsevntXXr.exe (wherein XX is the year of the Intuit ProSeries software). Note the year of the executable (the XX), in the file name.
  2. Open Windows Explorer.
  3. Locate then open Intuit ProSeries folder for that year. This is usually C:\ProWinXX (the XX being the year of the Intuit ProSeries).
  4. Open the 32bit folder.
  5. Locate the qbpsevntXXr.exe, then right-click and select Rename.
  6. Add ".old" to the end of the file name.
    Example: qbpsevnt18r.exe.old
  7. Close Windows Explorer.

Additional steps

If the solutions didn’t resolve the error, try these with an IT professional:

  1. Boot Windows to SafeMode with Networking, then start QuickBooks Desktop and restart Windows to normal mode.
  2. Run QuickBooks Desktop in Windows Selective Startup.
    Note: Make sure to stop IntuitFCS.
  3. If you run QuickBooks Desktop on a network, restart your computer, and then reconnect your computer to all mapped drives.
  4. If a backup software is running on the server or network, it may scan the hard drive and block access to QuickBooks Desktop files.
    • Temporarily disable the software.
    • If the error still recurs, there’s  conflict with the scanning software. You can ask help from your system or network admin, from where you purchased the software, the manufacturer's or software developer's website, or a local computer consultant.