Trying to setup QB Pro 2013 on new Windows 11 Desktop PC

Try to find *.QBW, *.QBB, *.ADR files on your drive. If you can't find any of it, your tech service probably missed recovering the file. You can also purchase a one-time license of QBD 2021 to upgrade your version.

Let me share some insights on how you can retrieve the file, jvstevens.
 

I agree with Fiat Lux - ASIA's suggestion. Since you've mentioned that all the data has been transferred, you can perform a wildcard search for all company files by typing one of the following into the Windows search bar:

• *.qbw (Working files)
• *.qbb (Back-Up file)
• *.qba (Accountants Copy)
• *.qbx (Accountants Transfer)
• *.qby (Accountants Change)
• *.adr (Auto Data Recovery)

Be sure to include the asterisk symbol before the extension type to ensure the search works correctly. Once the file is found, take note of the location and then open it in QuickBooks Desktop. Here's how:

1. Open QBDT, then go to the File menu.
2. Select Open or Restore Company.
3. Choose Open a Company File or Restore a Backup File, then click Next.
4. Select the company file or local backup.
5. Follow the on-screen instruction to complete the process.

However, if you're unable to locate the file, I'd recommend reaching out to an IT professional. They can help you recover the file from your old computer.

You may also need to purchase and install a supported version since QuickBooks 2013 isn't compatible with Windows 11 operating system. You can visit our website or talk to our Sales Team to help determine what plan suits your business needs. 

Moreover, your company file won't immediately work after switching to a newer version of QuickBooks. You can contact our technical supports so we can prepare and upgrade your company file.

Lastly, here are some resources that you can read to help set up your company and know more about the new features of the QBDT 2023:

• Get started with QuickBooks Desktop
• New and improved features in QuickBooks Desktop Plus 2023

Let me know in the comment section if you have additional questions about restoring company files. Have a good one.

Thanks everyone for the replies.  I do have an update, and its good news.  I purchased a hard disk drive reader for about $40 on Amazon so I could see if my QB files were still on the old hard drive.  Sure enough, when I scanned it for .qbw files, I got multiple hits.  And as hoped, my company file from the day the PC crashed was there.  Evidently, the computer repair shop didn't transfer the QB files over like they said they did.  When I initially tried to have QB load my company file, I got some file opening errors and QB "froze" requiring me to get into Task Manager to end the process.   With a little bit of luck and some playing around, I finally got it to open, and have been entering "hours worked" data and creating & sending invoices all morning.  So far, the QB 2013 seems to be working fine with my Windows 11 machine and I have not encountered any "bad behavior". from either QB or Windows.  I am so relieved to have gotten this far!

At this point, I am trying to figure out what my options are going forward.  I am going to continue using QB 2013 on this machine for the next few days so I can get my business caught up, and I'm making frequent backups in case of disaster.  But I am thinking that I should upgrade to a Windows 11 compatible QB product, for peace of mind, if nothing else.  My preference is not to go with any of the subscription based QB products, as they seem a little too costly for my small, simple one man business. So, what would be the QB product recommendation for my situation?  And how much can I expect to spend?

Hello, jvstevens. 

Version 2013 is too old and is no longer compatible with the new Windows system. That’s why you encountered an problem when opening your backups. I suggest contacting our QB Desktop Support so they can help you with your file and also they can suggest which product suits the small business like you.

1. Click on Help and choose QuickBooks Desktop Help.
2. Select Contact Us at the bottom.
3. Type in your concern and click Continue.
4. Select Message an agent or Get a callback.

You can check out this article to know more about file compatibility in QBDT: Company file limitations when upgrading to another product.

Additionally, visit our QuickBooks Community help website for references if you require guidance or tips in the future: QuickBooks Help Articles page.

If you have further questions or concerns, let us know. We're available to help you 24/7.

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@jvstevens wrote:

My preference is not to go with any of the subscription based QB products, as they seem a little too costly for my small, simple one man business. So, what would be the QB product recommendation for my situation?  

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@jvstevens 

As I mentioned earlier, QB Desktop 2021 is the last version you can purchase for a one-time license. Contact me in private and we will share a trial version to make sure it works on your computer.

I was able to install QB Desktop 2013 Pro on Windows 10. I have my download file from 2014 and license/product info. On the 1st attempt the installation hung on installing Flash.  Let it run for an hour before aborting.  2nd attempt to install was to perform installation in Windows Compatibility mode (selected Windows7). Installation completed in about 2 minutes, not the 15-20 minutes claimed on the splash screen.  Amazing what 10 years and SSD's do for speeding things up. I did the installation as a regular Windows user and input Administrator credentials when needed. As Administrator (after installation complete and a reboot) I changed the executable for QB2013 to also run in Windows Compatibility mode for Windows-7.   Working on migrating data from old Windows 7 PC to Windows 10.  Is there a settings file that has all the data the user enters into QB2103 when they first open the program??.  I either have to tell the user to re-enter it but I would like to transplant another file from the old computer that has this data in it.  7-July-2024

Let me help you migrate your company file to QuickBooks Desktop, @Xbanderradio.

To begin with, please ensure you create a backup copy of your company file. This will be used when installing QuickBooks on the new computer from the old PC Windows 7 to create a backup file and save it on a thumb drive.

To complete the process, you can restore the backup copy you've made from the old location to the new computer. Here's how:

1. Go to the File tab.
2. Choose Open or Restore Company.
3. Select Restore a backup copy, then Next.
4. Choose Local Backup, then Next.
5. Pick the location of the backup file from the Look In drop-down.
6. Click the backup file from the folder. The file name should appear as [Company Name].qbb.
7. Select Open, then Next.
8. From the Save in drop-down, choose the location where you want to save the restored file.
9. In the File name field, type a new file name.
10. Select Save.

To learn more about this, please refer to this article: Restore a backup of your company file.

As a workaround, if you don't want to create a backup company file, you can move your entire QuickBooks folder. Here's how:

1. Open QuickBooks and the company file you want to move.
2. Press F2 (or Ctrl+1) to open the Product Info window.
3. Look in the File Information section. This tells you where your company file is saved on your hard drive.
4. Open the Windows Start menu and then open File Explorer.
5. Find the folder that has your company file.
6. Right-click the folder and select Copy.
7. Open the external device you use to move the files or open the new location on your hard drive. Then select Paste.

You have successfully created a copy of your entire folder. You can now transfer it to your new computer or a different location on your hard drive. After that, open QuickBooks and choose Open or Restore an existing company. Look for the folder you just copied on your computer and open the copied company file.

Additionally, I've added an article to learn more about company file compatibility to avoid issues and errors when you upgrade: Company file compatibility with QuickBooks Desktop when upgrading.

If you need additional help regarding restoring your company file. Please don't hesitate to leave a reply. I'm more than willing to help.