can't open qdf file
Liz Hill
Just used copy/paste, not back-up (.qif file). Bad move. Can't access files
anymore. Can't open/can't validate. Tried to upgrade to Quicken 2002. Same
thing. The files are big, so I know data is there, I just can't get at it.
After trying EVERYTHING on quicken's site, I called quicken support -- no
help. Said I could send in data for recovery...$75 nonrefundable plus $300
if data is recoverable.
I've tried renaming, copying to hard drive and changing properties to
archive (instead of read-only), validating, and super validating.
I can't think of anything else to do. Someone PLEASE help!!!!
Liz
John Pollard
> Quicken 2000 -- Had to reformat hard drive,
> so copied quicken files to cd-r.
> Just used copy/paste
If we are talking about *data* files, copy/paste should not be a
problem; if you copied the all the correct files. Those would be
all the files with the same name as the name you use when you open
your file in Quicken: if you open "Mydata", then you would want
all the files in that same directory with the name "Mydata"
followed by any extension.
>, not back-up (.qif file).
Quicken's backup does not create QIF files, it smartly makes
copies of all the files in the "fileset", none of which has a QIF
extension - which you could do yourself as in the above. (QIF
files are special animals, that are created by "Exporting" from
Quicken - and they will not work as backups; unless you don't mind
losing lots of stuff).
> Bad move. Can't access files
> anymore. Can't open/can't validate.
>Tried to upgrade to Quicken 2002. Same
> thing. The files are big, so I know data is there, I just can't
get at it.
> I've tried renaming, copying to hard drive and changing
properties to
> archive (instead of read-only), validating, and super
validating.
This is confusing: first you say you can not get at the files at
all; then you say you have validated and super-validated them.
Which is it - you can't validate a file unless you can "get at
it"? What specifically happened when you first thought you had
everything back to *normal* and then you tried to open your Q data
file in Q2000? And if you are getting different results now with
Q2002, what specifically is happening with Q2002?
I do not see where you say you "reinstalled" Q2000 - does that
mean you did not reinstall it? From what you said, I would think
that reinstalling Q2000, then restoring your Quicken data files
from the CD-R should have done the trick. What won't work is
restoring the Quicken application program from backup - is that
what you did?
Things are a bit more confusing now that you have installed Q2002;
but even that should not necessarily be a problem. If Q2002 is
correctly installed, if there are no erroneous references to Q2000
floating around, then Q2002 should be able to *open* (and convert)
your Q2000 data file. One way to help avoid conflicts between
current and previous versions of Quicken, is to install the newer
version in a different directory than the old one was in - an
option you get during the install process.
Bob Jones
e.g., your PC, or the Quicken installation. Do you have access to another PC
which you could do a clean installation of Q2000? Then copy the data to that
PC, remember to change the "read only" properties to "archive".
If you can't do that, do you have *any* backups to floppy disk you could
restore and try.
Failing that, create some dummy accounts, enter data etc. then close and
restart Quicken again.
By the way, what message do you get when you try to access your data file?
regards
Bob
"Liz Hill" <thehil...@attbi.com> wrote in message
news:SobI8.7993$tj5.1...@typhoon.atl.ipsvc.net...
Gene R
To check that look at the properties of the file and uncheck Read-only
attribute.
Hopefully that's it.
Normaly the "Attributes" column is not visible. To make it visible go to
View->choose columns in the Windows Explorer and select attributes column.
Liz Hill
I had Q2000 on my comp when I needed to reformat. I copied the .qdf, .qel,
.qsd, and .qtx files to cd-r. Once I reformated, I reinstalled Q2000, but I
could not restore the files.
I tried to validate the file (which I can do using file > file operations >
validate) without actually opening up the file. I copied the files to a
couple different places on my hard drive and changed the properties to
archive instead of read-only, with no luck.
Error messages include "can't open file" and "unable to validate file." I
have also gotten the message that the file restoration was successful and to
open the file using file >open, but would then just get the above "can't
open file" and "unable to validate file" messages again.
I have also gotten the message "QDF: Cannot attempt data-specific
validation. Your file is from an earlier version of Quicken." I did start
out a few years ago with quicken 98 or something, but have been using
quicken 2000 for well over a year. I could tell you the exact date, but
my quicken isn't working. ;-)
Since I am running Win ME and the quicken cd label did not specifically say
they were compatible, I bought Q2002 just to try. I uninstalled 2000
(including
references in the registry) and installed 2002, but, I still got the same
error
messages. I have since uninstalled and reinstalled both programs a number
of times.
I called quicken support to no avail. I have searched high and low on the
internet on this topic and have found nothing. I would be so grateful
if anyone had an answer for me.
Liz
Liz Hill
of Q2000?
I have since installed a new hard drive with a clean
installation of Q2000, but I still get the "can't open file" and "unable to
validate file" messages.
>do you have *any* backups to floppy disk you could restore and try.
I have an old cd-rw I was using to back-up a few months ago, but
I'm having trouble accessing it as well. UDF format and all.... I get the
message the disk isn't formatted. <sigh>
> Failing that, create some dummy accounts, enter data etc. then close and
> restart Quicken again.
I have done this, then tried to restore my qdf file. I'm asked
if I want to write over the existing file and I say yes. It then says "file
successfully backed up," and "open the file using file >open," but when I
try to open it, I am back to the "can't open file" and "unable to validate
file" messages.
I'm pretty well stuck.
Liz
Jim Garrett
wrote:
> I would be so grateful
> if anyone had an answer for me.
I don't see where you have tried changing the archive bit on the
files after copying them back from your CD/R. Have you done that? If
you aren't sure what I or the others who have made this suggestion are
talking about, please just say so. It is perhaps a bit esoteric, but
very easy to do with a little bit of explanation.
From everything you've said so far, it sounds like this may be the
problem. No guarantees, of course, but it would be nice to mark this
off the list of things you've tried.
Jim
----------
I'm here to learn, so please keep the discussion in the newsgroup.
I delete unsolicitied email without opening it!
Liz Hill
>changing the archive bit on the
> files after copying them back from your CD/R. Have you done that
Yes, I've done that.
Liz
Liz Hill
> To check that look at the properties of the file and uncheck Read-only
> attribute.
I've done that with no luck.
Liz
Han Broekman
<snip>
>
> I'm pretty well stuck.
>
> Liz
It shouldn't be that bad. As mentioned before, you could try on another
computer, preferably one that has never seen Quicken, or one that has
gotten no further than Q2000 deluxe (I assume US) to restore an old
backup from before Q2002, one that hasn't been touched by it.
Remember, Quicken likes the file attributes of all its data files to be
off, except for the archive bit - that should be on.
If the old dataset restores OK than you should validate it, then using
the Quicken menu File|file operations|copy, save the dataset to a novel
name. This will get additional space freed up and reorganizes the data
to eliminate 'dead space'* Then save the new dataset to a couple of
different places, so you can go back to an unadulterated copy.
If it doesn't restore, you should try the validate route first (on the
old Quicken copy).
Finally, if nothing works, you may have to regenerate the data somehow
from your bank's online resources and your statements. (OUCH).
* Databases most often do not rewrite the whole database if a single
record is slightly modified. The 'old' record gets marked don't use in
the index file, and a new one is written to replace the old one. The
mechanism to purge the now useless record and reclaim that disk space is
a major source of errors (I think).
--
Best regards
Han Broekman
email address is invalid
Gene R
You can let them try it on their computer. This test would eliminate your
hardware as a possible problem.
But at this point I am thinking your backup is bad or you are having problem
with your CD-ROM drive.
For the future - allways verify your backup BEFORE destorying the original
computer data.
John Pollard
I realize that you have answered the "archive bit" question and
the "read-only" question so excuse my appearing to repeat those
questions here. But several of the messages you received are
typical for not having those "bits" or "flags" set correctly.
So, just to clarify: you do know that the "archive bit" and the
"read-only bit" are two different things, correct? And you do
know that you want the "archive" check-box to have a check mark in
it and the "read-only" check box *not* to have a check mark in it,
correct?
Jim Garrett
wrote:
> >changing the archive bit on the
> > files after copying them back from your CD/R. Have you done that
>
> Yes, I've done that.
Okay. But I meant to say the Read Only Attribute. I think the
Archive bit will take care of itself. Have you verified that the
attributes are correct for all of the files in question? The R/O
attribute should be unchecked on the files on your hard drive *after*
you move the files to drive where you want to use them. Your problem
could be something else, but as John said, your symptoms are right for
the R/O attribute problem, so it might be worth double checking.
Good luck in any case. I don't have any other ideas.
Liz Hill
> "read-only bit" are two different things, correct? And you do
> know that you want the "archive" check-box to have a check mark in
> it and the "read-only" check box *not* to have a check mark in it,
> correct?
Yes. By chance, any other ideas?
Liz
Liz Hill
> If the old dataset restores OK
I get a message stating it does restore (although it doesn't show
up in my account), and to open it using file>open, but when I do that, I get
the "can't validate file" message.
>than you should validate it,
unfortunately, it doesn't work. :-(
> then using the Quicken menu File|file operations|copy, save the dataset to
a novel name.
I've tried renaming it, but no luck.
> Finally, if nothing works, you may have to regenerate the data somehow
> from your bank's online resources and your statements. (OUCH).
>
It looks like this is what I'm going to have to do. My bank has
2 months worth of data I can download, so at least I can get started pretty
quickly.
I just hate the thought of losing years of info. My bank data doesn't tell
me what I bought with my (example) $100 at Target, so I'll have to go in and
fill that out, along with expense catagories. But I won't have the last
time I bought an air filter, or got shoes for the kids, etc. I really use
this program a lot!!!
Do you know if this is an ASCII file? Is there another way to open it? How
does quicken retrieve data?
Thanks,
Liz
Liz Hill
right for the R/O attribute problem, so it might be worth double checking.
Yeah, I 've double and triple checked. I truely wish it was something that
easy. :-)
Thank you for your quick responses.
Liz
John Pollard
> > If the old dataset restores OK
>
> I get a message stating it does restore (although it
doesn't show
> up in my account), and to open it using file>open, but when I do
that, I get
> the "can't validate file" message.
Am I understanding you correctly? You run Quicken. You do File >
Restore and Quicken reports that the restore succeeded? (I do not
understand, "doesn't show up in my account" - what is an account
in this context?).
Then - following Quicken's instructions? - you try File > Open and
Quicken tells you that it could not "validate" the file? Where
did a "validate come into the picture?
I don't really understand why you would do a "restore" anyway. I
thought you had used Windows Explorer to copy the files where you
wanted them - from there you should just be able to do an "open",
as in File > Open. Although maybe this is what Quicken is
telling you, indirectly.
> >than you should validate it,
>
> unfortunately, it doesn't work. :-(
>
> > then using the Quicken menu File|file operations|copy, save
the dataset to
> a novel name.
>
> I've tried renaming it, but no luck.
>
> > Finally, if nothing works, you may have to regenerate the data
somehow
> > from your bank's online resources and your statements.
(OUCH).
> It looks like this is what I'm going to have to do.
My bank has
> 2 months worth of data I can download, so at least I can get
started pretty
> quickly.
I would resort to this only if I were certain I had:
a.) a pristine install of Q2000 (preferrably in a brand new
folder) - with absolutely no trace of other versions of Quicken
anywhere to be found. Get a registry cleaner, if necessary, to
insure this.
b.) all the data files available on the hard drive, not in the
root directory, and with the read-only and archive bits correctly
set
c.) and a plain File > Open of the QDF file failed
d.) and a File > File Operations > Validate failed
> I just hate the thought of losing years of info. My bank data
doesn't tell
> me what I bought with my (example) $100 at Target, so I'll have
to go in and
> fill that out, along with expense catagories. But I won't have
the last
> time I bought an air filter, or got shoes for the kids, etc. I
really use
> this program a lot!!!
>
> Do you know if this is an ASCII file? Is there another way to
open it? How
> does quicken retrieve data?
I seem to remember reading here that Q2000 was the last year that
Quicken data files were *not* encrypted; but I do not know where
one would get the format of them. You can pay Intuit to recover
data files - and if you have lots of old data, I suspect it would
be worth the money. They may also be able to tell you what the
actual problem is - to satisfy all our curiosities.
And lest I forget, now that we are closing the barn door; someone
else mentioned verifying that your backups were good before
formatting your hard drive, which sounds like good advice. And
making duplicate backups is not a bad idea either. And to really
protect yourself, I suggest printing complete transaction reports
for every account - manually rekeying your transactions is a pain
only exceeded by needing to do so but being unable to.
Han Broekman
$gkp$1...@nntp9.atl.mindspring.net:
<snip>
>
> And lest I forget, now that we are closing the barn door; someone
> else mentioned verifying that your backups were good before
> formatting your hard drive, which sounds like good advice. And
> making duplicate backups is not a bad idea either. And to really
> protect yourself, I suggest printing complete transaction reports
> for every account - manually rekeying your transactions is a pain
> only exceeded by needing to do so but being unable to.
I have resorted to making historical backups on an almost daily basis, and
storing them on CDRW disks. I think I can go back to more than a year ago,
if needed.
I was hoping Liz would have a 'forgotten' backup from before her escapade
to the newest version of Q, which BTW, I haven't had any problems with.
Jim Garrett
wrote:
> Thank you for your quick responses.
Please let us know if you find the answer.
Liz Hill
> Restore and Quicken reports that the restore succeeded?
Yes. It says "File restored successfully. Open the file by
choosing Open from the File menu."
> I do not understand, "doesn't show up in my account" - what is an account
> in this context?.
When I try to open the supposedly-successfuly-restored file, I
get the "Unable to validate your file. Contact Intuit Support." I press
okay, and then see "Can't open file." I press okay again and see "Unable to
open selected file."
> Then - following Quicken's instructions? - you try File > Open and
> Quicken tells you that it could not "validate" the file?
Exactly.
> Where did a "validate come into the picture?
See above.
> I don't really understand why you would do a "restore" anyway. I
> thought you had used Windows Explorer to copy the files where you
> wanted them - from there you should just be able to do an "open",
> as in File > Open. Although maybe this is what Quicken is
> telling you, indirectly.
I first tried to "open" the file. When that didn't work, I tried
restoring.
Do you know anyone who does this kind of data recovery for less
than quicken charges?
Liz
John Pollard
> Do you know anyone who does this kind of data recovery
for less
> than quicken charges?
Sorry, I don't. My sense is that Intuit closely guards the format
of their files and without the format, data recovery is pretty
difficult. I would hope that if there is someone, that they would
monitor this list and possibly contact you privately. Good luck.
Jimmy Olson
right click the files and select properties. Uncheck any of the box
properties. Then try to open again in quicken, Hope this works - I just went
throught the same thing and it did for me. Good luck!
"Liz Hill" <thehil...@attbi.com> wrote in message
news:SobI8.7993$tj5.1...@typhoon.atl.ipsvc.net...
Liz Hill
> right click the files and select properties. Uncheck any of the box
> properties. Then try to open again in quicken, Hope this works - I just
went
> throught the same thing and it did for me. Good luck!
Already did that, but didn't help. Thanks anyway.
Liz