Can I remove Quickbooks Database Server Manager (SQL Anywhere Personal Service) that was installed on my laptop?

Hi azpcp!

I understand that you don't want to keep the QuickBooks Database Server Manager running. I'm here to help you.

The QuickBooks Database Server Manager is required when setting up the company file on a multi-user network. Although you're not accessing the file at the same time, uninstalling it will cause errors because it's needed to sync or share your company file with other computers over your network.

You'll want to do a clean install of your QuickBooks Desktop to fix the issue with the QuickBooks Database Server Manager. Please follow these steps on how to remove QuickBooks Desktop:

1. Open the Windows Start menu, then search and open Control Panel.
2. Select Programs and Features or Uninstall a Program.
3. From the list of programs, select your version of the QuickBooks Desktop you want to uninstall.
4. Click Uninstall/Change, then Remove and Next.  

Once done, please follow the steps in this article on how to reinstall it: Install QuickBooks Desktop.

If the same thing happens, please reach out to our Technical Support Team for further investigation. Here's how:

1. Go to Help, then select QuickBooks Desktop Help.
2. Select Contact Us.
3. Give a brief description of your issue, select Let's talk and then choose a way to connect.

Please check this link: Fix company file and network issues with QuickBooks File Doctor. This will show you more info in case you encountered other issues with your company file.

Do you have other concerns? Leave a comment below and we'll respond as soon as we can.

I don't understand what is "syncing". We are only accessing ONE file. From my laptop I am opening the file that is saved on the desktop, nothing is being saved on the laptop. It is all being saved on the desktop. I don't understand how there is anything to sync. We are opening the same file from the same location and not at the same time. I don't believe there is a difference in accessing the company file multiple times a day on the desktop, if I access it in the morning and again in the afternoon, it doesn't have to sync itself on the desktop. Why is it different if I open it on the desktop and then on the laptop?

By the way we are using same log in and password, single user. Both programs on both computers are in single user mode. Nothing is being saved on or stored on the laptop. Can you please tell me exactly what SQL is syncing from my laptop to the desktop?

There has been minimal use in the last four days, maybe five invoices created and emailed and a few payments downloaded on the laptop, that is it.

I did change the backup settings on the QB software on the laptop last night. Could that have something to do with the SQL constantly running? I set it to create a back up every time we close QuickBooks. BUT even the backups are being saved (even when I close the company file on my laptop) to the second hard drive on the desktop.  Could that be making the SLQ constantly run?

As for an "clean install." Are you saying that the install I did four (4) days ago - downloading the program directly from QuickBooks - was not "clean"? This laptop has never had any type of QuickBooks installed on it until four days ago. How much more of a clean install can you get?

Also, I didn't expressly install the database manager, it must have been installed when I downloaded and installed QB. If we have to use the database manager I believe from what I read after receiving your message is that the host computer, where everything is stored (my desktop) should be running the database manager and not my laptop? Is this correct?

@azpcp 

Consider to reinstall QB on your notebook and select “I’ll be using QuickBooks
on this computer.” This option installs the program on your computer and sets it
up for single-user access to your company file. QB Database Manager won't be install on your notebook later.

The directions, for a simple problem, do NOT address the question asked. 

How to COMPLETELY REMOVE the QB database manger and associated network file server services? 

Uninstalling QB desktop does NOT remove this service or files. 

A technician from Intuit installed our recent update. Incorrectly! And now it is a mess and cannot reliably access the actual network files, because it thinks this workstation is the database server. Keeps reinstalling the QB database manger, after manually removing all files and registry service entries. 

Is there anybody at Intuit that actually knows how this works? Why is there no removal tool? 

Thank you for joining this thread, Greggo1.

Let me guide you on how to uninstall the QuickBooks Database Server Manager on your computer.

To uninstall:

1. On your keyboard, press the Windows key + R.
2. The Run dialog box opens. Enter appwiz.cpl, then OK.
   
3. In the Program and Features window, select the QuickBooks Database Server Manager.
4. Click Uninstall/Change.
5. Complete the onscreen instructions.

I'm adding this article just in case you'll need to set up the  QuickBooks Database Server Manager again. Install QuickBooks Database Server Manager.

You can check out this link just in case you'll encounter some issue with your QuickBooks Desktop.

Please let me know how it goes or if you still have other follow up questions. I'll be here to answer them. Have a wonderful day!

How do you uninstall QuickBooks Database Server Manager when it's NOT showing up in your program? I have the same issue. I even keep disabling it in services and it keeps popping back up.

I am wondering if you found a fix for this? I have a same problem, don't even see QuickBooks Database Server Manager in programs, can't uninstall it. I even keep disabling it in services and it keeps popping back up.

Welcome back to the QuickBooks Community, Dragica. I'll share troubleshooting steps to ensure you'll be able to see the QuickBooks Database Server Manager so you can uninstall it.

The QuickBooks Database Server Manager in QuickBooks Desktop won't automatically show in the system. You'll have to set up this one so you'll be able to use it and unstill if necessary. I suggest making sure that you download and install the said feature to view the server in the program.

If the issue persists after installing the Server Manager, I suggest running the  Verify and Rebuild Data Utilities to get this sorted out. The Verify Data utility identifies any potential data damage issues that might've caused some memorized reports that don't work. While the Rebuild Data utility repairs damaged data in your company file. Before this, you'll have to secure a backup copy of your company file.

To Verify data:

1. Go to the File menu.
2. Scroll down to Utilities.
3. Select Verify Data.
4. Click OK.

To Rebuild Data:

1. Go back to the File menu.
2. Choose Utilities.
3. Select Rebuild Data.
4. Click on OK when you get the message Rebuild has completed.

For further details, you can refer to this article: Verify and Rebuild Data in QuickBooks Desktop.

If the problem continues to occur, you'll have to download and install the QuickBooks Tool Hub. This helps fix common errors. Then, I recommend using Tool Hub on Windows 10, 64-bit. You can open this article to see the detailed informaiton on how to perform the process: Fix common problems and errors with the QuickBooks Desktop Tool Hub.

Once everything is good, you can follow the steps above on how to uninstall QuickBooks Database Server Manager.

Lastly, you may refer to this article to view details on how you can fix Error H202 and H505 that are caused by blocking the multi-user connection to your server: How to fix Error H202 and H505.

Please let me know if you have further questions or concerns about this process. I'll be here every step of the way. Take care and have a great day! 

You are saying: "The QuickBooks Database Server Manager in QuickBooks Desktop won't automatically show in the system" but it's running every time I open the file and interferes with another application. I used to host multi user on this computer and no longer do. I change it in utilities but keeps changing back to host. I ran all the fixes and rebuilds and it keeps happening.  

1. On your keyboard, press the Windows key + R.
2. Type appwiz.cpl in the Run dialog box and then OK.
3. Select the QuickBooks Database Server Manager. Then, Uninstall/Change.

1. Go to your installation folder location (Example: C:\Program Files\Common Files\Intuit).
2. Press Windows key + R on your keyboard.
3. Copy and paste the location of the folder, then Enter.
4. Right-click the folder, and choose Rename. Rename the folder to .OLD.

1. Close all open programs on your server computer, including QuickBooks.
2. Open the installed file Setup_QuickBooks.exe. Then, follow the onscreen instructions. If you need to find your product or license numbers, here's how to find them.
3. Select Custom or Network Options when asks to choose an install type. Then, Next. 
4. Choose the best option for your network setup and then select Next. Both the options install the Database Server Manager. If QuickBooks Desktop is already installed on your server computer, this won’t overwrite any existing company data.
   • If you want Database Server Manager and QuickBooks Desktop on your server computer, select I'll be using QuickBooks Desktop on this computer, AND I'll be storing... We strongly recommend this option.
   • If you only want Database Server Manager on your server computer, select I will NOT be using QuickBooks Desktop...
5. Click Install.

• Resolve network issues with QuickBooks File Doctor test results.
• Resolving Potential Data Issues.

The only problem is - there is no program to uninstall, see attached

Hey there, Dragica. 

Thank you for getting back, and I appreciate the screenshot you've provided with us. Since the troubleshooting steps provided by my colleague didn't work on your end, I have another way how to locate the QuickBooks Database Server Manager and uninstall it. I'll show you how to do it:  

1. On the Start window, type QuickBooks Database Server Manager. 
2. Once you locate it, right click and tap the Uninstall. 

If the same thing happens, you can follow other troubleshooting steps in the articles provided above.  

Please know that our doors are open for any additional concerns about QuickBooks. Just leave us a message below, and I'll ensure to take care of them. Keep safe.

I found the files to delete at this location:

"C:\Program Files\Common Files\Intuit\QuickBooks\QBServerUtilityMgr.exe"

There were 4 files which started with QBServerUtility that I deleted and the shortcut in my start menu disappeared.  My program operates fine now.  Funny how many times the question was answered with a "solution" which wasn't even tested.  Hope this idea helps you.

Thank you for the "Fix"  It was a long discussion with no resolution until YOU, the user found it.  I do hope Intuit would at least put the "FIX" in the help link within the QB program to help other users. 

Diane Offutt, Enrolled Agent

Getting very aggravated with Intuit's continually increasing fees and decreasing services. 

Thank you!!! 

Here we are a year and a half after my original post finally finding a solution, by a user. Thank you!!!

Unfortunately, this seems to be the norm with Quickbooks.

Beware of using their "support" anyway.

I requested a call from the Help menu last week to ask about upgrading to the new 2022 desktop subscription. I purchased payroll for the year in January, but have to upgrade the accounting software by May 31st. I found the new 2022 subscription version including payroll from a national 3rd party seller. I wanted to know if I could get a pro-rated refund for the payroll I purchased in Jan if I purchased the software that includes payroll. Or if I should purchase it without Payroll this year and upgrade next year to the including Payroll version.  ( I believe you can get a pro-rated refund...)

The rep kept telling me if I purchased from the 3rd party I would get no product support from QB at all, zero, zip, zilch. I kept asking questions and he kept saying over and over no support on software purchased through a 3rd party. Then would try to get me to purchase the upgrade from him, right then. Which would have cost me an additional $800+ over what I've already spent this year on PR. I got stuck on the no support, it just didn't sound right. There are so many 3rd party sellers, I couldn't understand why Quickbooks would allow them to sell it if they were not going to "support" it. Finally I asked him "if I request another call and get a different rep are they going to tell me the same thing, or are you just trying to make a sale?"....he hung up on me.

I requested another call, I did not mention the previous conversation as I didn't want to influence what I would get told. She told me the complete opposite. She told me that I could get a pro-rated refund on my current payroll subscription and that the software purchased from any 3rd party seller is indeed supported the same as if I purchased it directly from Intuit. I would have spent around $800 more than necessary if I would have listened to the first rep. I am going to request a call again today and speak to a 3rd person, I feel I need to verify before I purchase anywhere, since when purchasing downloadable software you can not get a refund. 

It is absolutely ridiculous that we have to go to these lengths to get "support", especially for a product that has tripled in cost in one year. 

I'll update after my 3rd call.

---

@azpcp wrote:

I requested another call, I did not mention the previous conversation as I didn't want to influence what I would get told. She told me the complete opposite. She told me that I could get a pro-rated refund on my current payroll subscription and that the software purchased from any 3rd party seller is indeed supported the same as if I purchased it directly from Intuit. I would have spent around $800 more than necessary if I would have listened to the first rep. I am going to request a call again today and speak to a 3rd person, I feel I need to verify before I purchase anywhere, since when purchasing downloadable software you can not get a refund. 

@azpcp 

This information is correct. But if you encounter any problem during activation of your license for the first time, you must resolve it with the said third party seller.

Thank you very much for posting this fix! It's amazing how many ways they told me to uninstall a program that doesn't show up in my programs. So far so good! Appreciate it!