Some Quickbooks Files Don't Open

dsliesse · ‎June 20, 2023

I've found a few discussion on this topic that are several years old but none of the solutions are working, so I'll raise this anew.

We're using QB Desktop Accountant 2022. All workstations are up to date, in terms of both Quickbooks and Windows (Windows 10 Pro 22H2); files are kept on a file server running Windows Server 2016. QBDB Manager is running on the server. We haven't yet moved to QB 2023 only because we haven't had enough down time to update all machines at the same time.

Some data files are acting properly, others won't open -- the old "start Quickbooks, open the file, Quickbooks crashes" scenario. Other files work perfectly fine. I've run File Quick Fix from both the workstation and the server (pointless, since it doesn't even ask what file needs to be fixed). Same with File Doctor, which always reports that no problems were found. The error message suggests the server manager isn't running, but since some files are accessible in both single- and multi-user mode this doesn't make sense, either (and it is, in fact, running).

When I try to open the currently misbehaving file normally, from within Quickbooks, I get the QB termination. If I open it by double-clicking on the file in Windows Explorer then the first time I get an error message but it disappears too quickly to be able to read what's probably the useful part. Subsequent attempts get the same closure of QB.

Neither renaming nor deleting the .nd and .DSN files has any effect.

Since this happens only on some of the files, I've run out of ideas for troubleshooting. On at least one of the data files the problem occurs only on one workstation, and I already spent a full day fixing Quickbooks there (hint for anyone having trouble reinstalling QB: you need to delete Microsoft's pointer in the "Recents" folder before a new install will work). Any suggestions?

dsliesse · ‎June 23, 2023

Tested all the files on another workstation which wasn't in use today. Some files were okay on both workstations, some generated errors on both workstations (but not always the same one), some were okay on one workstation but not the other, one introduced a new error message entirely, and another gave two different messages on two different attempts. Gotta love troubleshooting things like this!

Solution turned out to be to repair the Database Manager Server on the file server. Get everybody out of Quickbooks, then go through the Windows Control Panel to the Programs and Features window. Select the database server manager and select Repair rather than Uninstall.

I haven't tested all 29 files, but I have looked at the most critical and they're all working fine (the one that previously kicked me out generated an error once, but worked on a retry; the others worked the first time).

I post the full solution here because the support agent had trouble finding relevant articles; if he hadn't had the same problem with another customer just last week, or I'd ended up talking with someone else, we might still be on the phone.

View solution in original post

LieraMarie_A · ‎June 20, 2023

I'm aware of how inconvenient it is for you to have trouble opening some QuickBooks files, @dsliesse.

It seems like you've already tried several troubleshooting steps without success. I recommend reaching out to our Customer Care Support team directly for further assistance. They can take a closer look at this issue and provide further troubleshooting steps. They can also create a ticket to our data services team if necessary.

Here's how:

Select QuickBooks Desktop Help from the Help menu.
Click Contact Us.
Type in a short description of your concern, then Continue.
Choose a way to connect with support.

You can also reach them through this link: Contact Support.

Additionally, you may find this article helpful in resolving issues in QuickBooks Desktop: Tool Hub.

Don't hesitate to respond if you have any more questions. We're always available to assist you.

Fiat Lux - ASIA · ‎June 20, 2023

@dsliesse

How big is the file size?

dsliesse · ‎June 22, 2023

We have 29 databases. The one that kicks me out is 31MB.

I have no trouble logging into 13 databases. Two give me -6123,-0 errors, and 13 give me -6000,-832 errors.

There are two additional databases that generate -6000,-832 if I go through the "Open or Restore Company" option but open fine if I select them from the "No Company Open" screen (they're in the list of recently used databases), which is even more bizarre.

As much as I hate calling Support, I'll be doing so as soon as I have a block of time when it's safe to work on these things (i.e., I won't be interfering with other people's work).

dsliesse · ‎June 22, 2023

Oops, mistyped -- the two strange ones are included in the 13, so the total really is 29.

Fiat Lux - ASIA · ‎June 22, 2023

Your file size should be fine. Open your company file, create a backup file, and restore it with a new name. If the same error persists, your files may be corrupted. You should ask Support to look into it or get a second opinion from a third party service provider.

dsliesse · ‎June 23, 2023

Tested all the files on another workstation which wasn't in use today. Some files were okay on both workstations, some generated errors on both workstations (but not always the same one), some were okay on one workstation but not the other, one introduced a new error message entirely, and another gave two different messages on two different attempts. Gotta love troubleshooting things like this!

Solution turned out to be to repair the Database Manager Server on the file server. Get everybody out of Quickbooks, then go through the Windows Control Panel to the Programs and Features window. Select the database server manager and select Repair rather than Uninstall.

I haven't tested all 29 files, but I have looked at the most critical and they're all working fine (the one that previously kicked me out generated an error once, but worked on a retry; the others worked the first time).

I post the full solution here because the support agent had trouble finding relevant articles; if he hadn't had the same problem with another customer just last week, or I'd ended up talking with someone else, we might still be on the phone.

FritzF · ‎June 26, 2023

Hello, dsliesse.

I appreciate you sharing the steps you've done to resolved the issue you've encountered. This will definitely help other users as well in the future. Please keep on posting here in the Community.

Stay safe and have a great rest of the day.

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Some Quickbooks Files Don't Open