error message

I just want to bump this. I wish it had been the top hit on google, because it took me an hour to get here. Run As Administrator. This was necessary after I ran an update.

This error message has been causing problems for about 8 months now.  It appears on all of our QuickBooks users logins and creates chaos for people who have nothing to do with payroll; nor do they have payroll rights. I've usually advised them to keep selecting ok or try holding down the enter tab until it finally completes. Many times their computers just get completely locked up and require a hard shut down only to have to repeat the process even though I may have gotten through and downloaded the update through my login on my computer. I often end up needing to go to each desktop to perform the run as administrator "fix", which is only temporary until the next payroll update comes through. Please find a permanent fix for this issue.  Thank you.

Hi Heating01,

We'll want to ensure use QuickBooks without any error.

You can download the QuickBooks Tool Hub to help fix this.

1. Close QuickBooks.
2. Download the QuickBooks Tool Hub file. Save the file somewhere you can easily find it (like your Downloads folder or your Windows desktop).
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.

Once done, use the QuickBooks Install Diagnostic Tool.

1. Open the QuickBooks Tool Hub.
2. In the tool hub, select Installation Issues.
3. Click QuickBooks Install Diagnostic Tool. Let the tool run. It can take up to 20 minutes.
4. When the tool finishes, restart your computer.

Here's an article for more information: Fix common problems and errors with the QuickBooks Desktop Tool Hub.

For more information about update errors, please check out this article: Fix QuickBooks Desktop Update Errors.

Let me know if you have any other concerns about QuickBooks. I'd be glad to help.

After downloading and running the diagnostic tool, I'm still getting the error message of

"The file you specified cannot be opened. Make sure that it is not currently being used by another program or a read only file. The Windows error was 'The system cannot find the path specified.".

As another user said, I can click on OK dozens of times and it will eventually go away, but this is not ideal. I don't know if it's going to work! I moved our QB Desktop 2012 to a Win10 machine. Did I not move the files correctly? 

I then get a message of Either there is no default mail client or the current mail client cannot fulfill the messaging request." 

Please help me understand if I've moved this correctly to the new computer!

Is it possible that these are the 2 files it feels are open & conflicting? If so, which one should I delete? 

Hi there, SunshineBe77829.

I'd like to verify some information. Did you copy the folder from the old computer to the new one? If so, you'll want to delete the copied folder. 

Upon installing QuickBooks to the new computer, the system will automatically create new folders for the new installation. There is no need for you to move the QuickBooks folder from one computer to the other. What you need to prepare is the backup copy that you can restore to the new computer

Also, let's make sure that your QuickBooks Desktop meets the system requirements by checking it out here. When running the diagnostic tool, you'll have to close all open QuickBooks Desktop program.

If your QuickBooks Desktop did not meet the system requirements, then you will encounter some error messages. Otherwise, we can uninstall and reinstall your QuickBooks Desktop. You can download the file here: Downloads & Updates

Once downloaded, prepare the backup copy and restore it. Note: Make sure to run QuickBooks as the master admin.

Here's how:

1. Go to the Windows Start menu and search QuickBooks.
2. Right-click on the QuickBooks version and year you're using. 
3. Select Run as administrator.
4. After that, close QuickBooks and reopen it.

I've also got these articles for reference:

• Back up your QuickBooks Desktop company file
• Restore a backup of your company file

Feel free to leave a comment on this thread if you have any additional questions. Thanks.

Thank you so much for your reply and for the help!! It’s SO refreshing to find someone who will give generously of their time and knowledge! Yes, the new laptop (Lenovo Thinkpad) meets the system requirements. To be clear, before I posted my first message, here are the steps I took: I made a backup of QB on the old Dell laptop and copied 5 QB files onto an EHD. Then on the Lenovo, I went to the Downloads site you referenced and downloaded the ‘U.S. QB Desktop Premier for 2012’ to the Lenovo. Sometime during the installation it asked which version, and we use the Nonprofit Edition, so I chose that one (could those be the files in my previous msg pic?).

After it finished downloading, it sounds like this is where I may have gone wrong (?), from the EHD, I copied the following 5 files onto the Lenovo, in a separate folder than the download. Note, I did not copy the zip file over, I just couldn't edit it out of the photo:

To make sure I’m understanding clearly, it sounds like I should not have copied those files over. After the download finished, I should have opened the download, right clocked and Run as administrator, let it do whatever it needed to do, closed it, reopened it, and chosen "Restore backup"?

At this point, do I need to do the following?

• uninstall QB from the Lenovo
• delete all the files I copied over

Then

• re-download QB from the Download site
• Open the download
• Right click and run as admin
• Will it do something at this point that I need to watch for?
• Close QB
• Reopen QB
• Do I choose:
  • File: Restore Previous Local Backup OR
  • File: Open or Restore Company 
• From there are there any other steps I need to take?

We actually have another very small company in there. I’m guessing I should do the same for that one? Again, thank you very much for answering.   

Hi @SunshineBe77829,

You may need not move your folder as mentioned by my colleague @RenjolynC. Once you're done installing the program you can open QuickBooks, run as admin, and then restore your back up file. Let me guide you how.

1. Follow the above steps to run QuickBooks as the master admin.
2. In QuickBooks, go to File and then Open or Restore Company.
3. Select Restore a backup copy. Then, Next.
4. Choose Local backup and search the location of your back up file.
5. Click Open and follow the steps that'll guide you through the rest.

You'll want to do the same steps with your other company file. Please see this article for details: Restore a backup of your company file.

That'll do it. Don't hesitate to reach out anytime if you need help with anything else. The Community is always here to lend a hand. Thanks for posting and have a wonderful day.

@SunshineBe77829 

I read your older posts. Do you wish to install QB 2012 on Win 10? I am not sure you will be able to do that. You may try installing it in Compatibility Mode Win 7 on Win 10. Another option, put your license and data files on a 3rd party cloud hosting running on Win 7.

Hi ShiellaGraceA,
Thank you so much for your kind words and help! I do have another question. You say I may not have to move the folders, but I already did, before I was asking the questions. So should I now delete those folders I moved over? And should I delete the QB I downloaded on Monday to the new laptop and re-download it?
Thank you!

Hi ShiellaGraceA,
Thank you so much for your kind words and help! I do have another question. You say I may not have to move the folders, but I already did, before I was asking the questions.

So should I now delete those folders I moved over? And should I delete the QB I downloaded on Monday to the new laptop and re-download it?
Thank you!

Thank you for offering to help! Yes, I was able to download to the Win10 laptop, at least it seems so in my non-technical perspective.

Very curious, where does one find Win7 compatibility mode on the Win10 laptop? 

Apologies, your suggestion of 'put your license and data files on a 3rd party cloud hosting running on Win 7' is over my head! I wouldn't know how to present that to the org I work for!

Let me help you from here, SunshineBe77829.

You can delete those folders. Once you QuickBooks is installed, new folders will be created for the installation.

You may not need to uninstall and reinstall the program. You'll just have to restore the backup. You can follow the steps provided by ShiellaGraceA at the top. Or, just open the link I've provided. 

If you have more questions, please feel free to get back to this thread.

I found the Compatibility mode you mentioned, and it seems to have solved the problem!! Thank you SO much.

Thank you to everyone who weighed in on this issue. You helped me greatly.

Anyone reading this thread, please do try the Compatibility mode that was briefly mentioned by Fiat Lux ASIA. I think that's the key that really stopped the error message, although I did the restoring from the backup at the same time, so I can't be sure which one - or maybe a combo of both!

THANK YOU!

tried this and does not change anything

Hi there, @RosieSpecial.

I appreciate you doing the steps about the Compatibility mode mentioned by Fiat Lux Asia. 

But since it didn't work on your end, I suggest contacting our phone support team. This way they can further check your QuickBooks and provide alternatives to fix your concern. 

Here's how:

1. Go to the Help menu.
2. Select QuickBooks Desktop Help.
3. Click Contact us at the bottom of the window.
4. Enter a brief description of your concern, then choose Search.
5. Click Start a Message to process your request and have an available agent for you.

Also, I've added this article to learn the different types of support we offer at Intuit and its availability: Support hours and types.

Just click the Reply button if you have anything else to add. I'd be glad to assist you. Have a pleasant day.

@RosieSpecial 

Which QB year version and Windows OS do you have?

I tried this step with no luck.Whatt is next step also the case#[removed] was opened trying to solve but got disconnect

@Lynn57 

Which QB year version and Windows OS do you have?

Have you reinstall and run it on compatibility mode?

We have the same problem. Our hard drive crashed, replaced the hard drive, reinstalled Windows 10 and Office 365. Installed QB Pro 2012. Each time I open the company file, I get the same message as every body else "The file you specified cannot be opened............The Windows error was 'the system cannot find the path specified'".

I performed the Quickbooks Tool Hub repairs. Did not fix the problem.

The only thing that works is to click 20 times like a woodpecker on the "ok" button. After 10 "OK" I get a new message "The Windows error was 'access denied'". The Pop Up error messsage window  reappears after half an hour.

Please help.

Thanks, 

@ischram 

Try reinstall your QBD 2012 in compatibility mode Win 7 on your Win 10.

Hi there, @ischram.

I appreciate you letting us know the result of the troubleshooting steps you've performed on your end. I want to ensure this issue is resolved, so you can get back to business.

Currently, there's an open investigation where customers are getting the error you encounter. Our engineers are currently researching why these errors are occurring. They are requesting log files and system details from users that are experiencing these errors. That said, I recommend you contact our QuickBooks Customer Care Team if you haven't yet. They can add you to our list of affected users, and you'll receive an email notification once an update is available.

Once requested log files and systems details are sent, here's some resolutions steps that you can try:

Solution 1. Run as Administrator:

1. Open the Windows Start menu.
2. Type “QuickBooks” into the search.
3. You should see your results listed in the Search window.
4. Right-click on the QuickBooks version and year you wish to open.
5. Select Run as administrator.
6. Run the payroll update.
7. Once complete, close QuickBooks and open it normally (not running as admin).

However, if the error persists, proceed to Solution 2 on this article: How to fix payroll errors: “The file you specified cannot be opened” and “The file exists”.

Please let me know how things go on your end. I'll be here to keep helping. Have a great day.