I would love if anyone could point me in a direction here, trying to reinstall quickbooks onto my moms laptop before it bites it and recover some data of hers. every time we try to install it, even using a newer version than the original we get this same issue. during first part of installation it starts hunting for files on a external drive we do not own anymore, this then causes installation to halt because it cant find "something" on a drive thats never been used in the last 3 years.

How do I get around an ignorant program?

 

I use QB in my business for accounting and payroll...have updated mine over the years with no problem.Are you trying to install a newer version? Where are the files that hold your data?I will try to help.

 

most the files are on her laptop, i tried installing a new version, and the original version on the laptop. both scream about some files on "diskgo edge" that was on a networked pc several years ago and shut down... perplexing to be honest.

 

Did you used to backup to that network drive?

Would your damaged installed copy of quickbooks still have a backup reference to that network drive?

 

If the disc you are trying to install is an update disc and not the original, that may be the problem. Try to locate the original disc and install it first, and the use the update disc. That is a long shot idea of the problem, but I have seen similar things happen.

 

Have you tried installing it to a new location? If you are installing to the original location, it's probably reading the original registry entries when it was installed with that external drive?

Then, look for the *.QBW file as that's the QB company file and should have all the data you are looking for. You can open it from any location, so even if it's in the original location, it'll be fine. (just go to "Open New Company" and path to the location of the *.QBW file.

Or you can move it to the new location if you like. ** new info** There maybe some additional file extensions that go with the QBW file like *.ND and *.TLG depending on what QB version you are using. These files will need to accompany the company file.

You might want to make a copy of this *.QBW file if you fear the computer is not long for this world.... Or do a backup thru QB ASAP and save it off the disk...

Good luck!

Mitch

 

Another thought, after Mitch's post. If you are comfortable working in a DOS prompt, you can rename another drive to the drive designation QB is asking for, and put the file Mitch was talking about in that location. DOS will allow you to name a drive whatever you want.

But if you can open the main menu, you should be able to name the place QB is to look for the files. It should be in the QB preferences.

 

Since I cant answer some of the questions about the original disks location, or if it would have references to the drive or why. I think I have to go along with trying to get QB to back up to a disc. We backed up to that disk-go drive one time, I dont understand QB-logic as to why that one time is sooo freaking important lol.

I Honestly didnt try installing to a new location, I will try that now. I cant remember if it gave us that option lol.

 

If you're trying to "recover" data, that data file is on your Mom's PC. If it's not there, you're not going to recover it no matter what you do.

Why not install Quickbooks on to a different PC, then copy the data file you're trying to save onto a USB drive and copy it into the new Quickbooks directory on the new PC? You shouldn't have problems installing any version of Quickbooks on another PC, such as yours.

The data file you're looking to salvage will have a ".QBW" extension. I do this all the time with Janet's QB files. I have the program on two different PCs, I enter all the updates on one, and then I just copy the QBW file to the other one. That way, if one PC goes down, I've got everything on the other. I can use either PC to work on the data and I just have to remember to sync them.

- Jack