Windows update ate my company file

Rob_9593369

And my .QBB as well. My only available backup is 3 months old. Yeah … I know about the cloud … now 🙄. Tried Restore, and several Recover programs. Everything seems to have evaporated, along with most of my life. Does Reckon keep a secret backup somewhere in Windows 11?

Kris_Williams

have you searched for *.qbb and *.qbw on entire computer? Looked in recycle bin?

I understand your anxiety, unfortunately it means work, but you’ll never not backup again- and in more than one place, USB’s and other folders.

Rob_9593369

Thanks Kris - yeah I've learned my lesson. I'm so angry with Microsoft though - apparently it's a common problem after updates … and they offer no solution.

GerryWinter

What actually happened for you to lose all your details?

Rob_9593369

I found it one morning with a dialogue box saying something like ****.ini is a system file. If you delete it Windows may not work correctly. Are you sure you want to delete it? So I clicked no, and that's when I discovered the folder that I kept all my current stuff in, as well as the QBB and .QBW file was empty. Odd thing was all of its sub-folders were still there, but empty. And it was the only folder that was affected - 8 other folders on the desktop unaffected - system running fine.

Rav

Morning @Rob_9593369

Really sorry to hear this has happened. I can't say I've come across this before but it certainly sounds pretty distressing.

Which specific Windows update did you install?

Has this affected other files/folders on your PC other than your Reckon Accounts folder? I see you've mentioned there are 8 other folders on your desktop which are still intact but are there any other application files that you've noticed have been altered?

Did the dialog box that appeared asking you to delete a .ini file appear when you launched, or were using, Reckon Accounts or did it just appear out of the blue?

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Rob_9593369

Thanks Rav,

I didn't install anything - it was one of those infernal automatic ones I think. I've checked the log files and it doesn't really show an update around that time - just a heap of warnings and errors. But I'm sure I saw a notification that there'd been an update.

It's just the one folder on my desktop thats been cleaned out. The folder remains on my desktop, but it's empty except for any sub folders that also had sub folders. It had maybe 50 sub and sub/sub folders - one of which held my company file and its backup. As far as I know, no other apps have been affected.

I'd left the computer on overnight - Reckon was closed. When I returned to it next morning is when I saw the dialogue box.

I've tried all the obvious. Searched C drive for the files. Tried system restore, previous version. I've checked I'm not logged into a temporary profile. Done searches with recovery programs. Nothing.

Thanks again, Rob.

GerryWinter

It seems to me like you had too many files on the desktop itself, not in the preferred location that reckon or myself recommend. I find its easy but not the best place to place all your files.

Rob_9593369

So where does Reckon recommend that the company file be stored? Be it the desktop or elsewhere, it's all just a folder on the C drive.

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Kris_Williams

I always save the file in My Documents, or in a Reckon folder in My Documents. There used to be a default folder called Intuit in My Documents but I don’t know if that still happens.

As Gerry suggests I don’t actually store files on the desktop on a permanent basis but I do have shortcuts to say My Documents or any other folder that is often used.

My main mantra for over 30 years is backup, backup, backup. Weekly, monthly and always after doing a bank reconciliation. I once read years ago that when you have done enough work that you think you would not like to have to do again, it’s a good idea to backup, to an external drive

Rob_9593369

Thanks Kris - My understanding is the Desktop is just another folder on the C drive, so it really shouldn't make a difference. Thanks for reminding me about backing up Mum 😅🤣 I'm a reformed man now. Running a USB external drive, & got my head around the cloud and syncing, so it shouldn't happen again. Although I dunno … that cloud is run by the same people that ate my files! Call me a conspiracy theorist, but the esteemed Mr Gates just won another $11/month cloud account out of it 🤔 Only about 3 months worth of data entry & reconciling, once I get my suppliers to resend their accounts. Sometimes I wonder what happened to snail mail, pencil and paper and one of those huge old Kalamazoo books 😅

Acctd4

@Rob_9593369 I have "Reckon Files" folders on my C Drive that I keep mine in.

I create a new subfolder for each year & copy the files across before upgrading them each year (You wouldn't need to do that though, I only do it so I can access a client's older files, if required 😊):

I try to only ever save shortcuts on my Desktop (for any file) as an IT guy once told me if something happens, you're more likely to be able to recover files from a folder than from the Desktop itself (as you've now discovered 😢) … because the Desktop can't be easily backed-up by default 😬

Rob_9593369

Thanks Shaz - what do you keep in them? .QBB or .QBW? Or both?

Acctd4

.QBW company files.

I have separate "Client" folders for each of my clients & inside each one, I have an "RA Backups" subfolder, where I save their .QBB backups 😊😊

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