QB-quickFix: Unrecoverable Error when opening QuickBooks file

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If you encounter an Unrecoverable Error when attempting to open your QuickBooks file and the error message reads “QuickBooks has encountered a problem and needs to close”, QuickBooks has experienced a ‘critical application fault'.  This type of error typically displays one of 50 different numeric error codes, each containing 10-digits in a “5-digits space 5-digits” (#####  #####) sequence.  Many times this type of Unrecoverable Error occurs upon start-up because you had too many windows open when you last closed the file. Because the “My Preference" for preserving 'desktop settings' is User driven, one user may be able to log-in to the file, while another user may not be able to log-in.

One fix is to prevent QuickBooks from attempting to re-open all the windows (left open at the last log-out) during the start up process; to do this:

1. Double-click on the QuickBooks Icon while pressing the Alt key.

     If you are prompted for your User password:

     a. Release the Alt key on your keyboard;

     b. Enter your password, click OK;

     c. Now press the Alt key again while the file continues to open.

2. Release the Alt key only after the file is completely open.

(Note: Once the file opens you should consider changing the “My Preference” setting for saving your desktop, or simply learn to always 'close all windows' inside QuickBooks before you log out.)

If your Company file still cannot be opened using any user’s log-in, the next thing to try is to see if QuickBooks can open a 'sample' file. With QuickBooks closed:

1. Double-click the QuickBooks icon, and then immediately hold down the CTRL key on your keyboard.

2. Keep the CTRL key held down until QuickBooks opens the No Company Open screen.

3. Once you are at the No Company Open screen, click the Open a sample file button,

4. Now choose any of the sample company files in the list. (Note: If you are asked to restore and update the sample file, click Yes.)

If your company file never opened, but any of the sample files open, this typically means that your Company (QBW) file is damaged; however, in some cases it could be a problem with either the QBW.tlg or the QBW.nd files (that are companions to your Company file); however these problems are usually reported with an error message other than an Unrecoverable Error. We will address QBW.tlg , QBW.nd and QBW file issues in future editions of Intuitive Accountant.  Best of luck!