How to Locate the Correct Data File in QuickBooks
Published 11/28/2012 | 
We are running QuickBooks Enterprise 11.0. Two computers use the data. The host and workstation.
The work station went down with a virus. We had the computer sent out to our repair tech to get fixed. We used the host computer for the last week. We got back the workstation today and put it back into the network. Some how during the day today all of the data from the last week until today was lost.
The QuickBooks file was written over with the “old file” that the workstation had. There is no QuickBooks data stored on the workstation. We need you to recover all of the data that we entered for the last week.
Can you do this?
Thanks
The easiest way to find the path is to go to File > Open Previous Company.
You can also search your network for all QuickBooks files be searching for *.qbw. This will bring up a list of all files ending in .qbw.
This article is provided for informational purposes and is not intended to be construed as legal, accounting, or other professional advice. For further information, please consult appropriate professional advice from your attorney and certified public accountant.
Written by +Ruth Perryman, CMA, CFE, CFM, MBA
Ruth is the president of The QB Specialists, an Intuit Premier Reseller that offers huge savings and expert advice on QuickBooks POS and QuickBooks Enterprise. She is an Advanced Certified QuickBooks ProAdvisor and a member of Intuit’s Trainer/Writer Network. She is also certified in QuickBooks POS and QuickBooks Enterprise and has provided expert QuickBooks help to thousands of businesses all over the world since 1996.
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Hi, we had a similar issue, and are now dealing with one more repercussion from it. Which file is the correct file? What would be your advise in determining the correct file, as both files seemed to have been worked in at least once since the seperation, and both may have data the other does not. is there a way to consolidate the file? or possible import the missing data? More importantly, how do i find the missing data/transactions in one file from the other whene there are over 6,809 lines in excel when I export the audit trail for this fiscal year? Alot of questions and I do apologize for that,but I am sure you can understand our feeling of desperation.
Thank you, and help you could lend or suggestions you make to this end woudl be greatly appreciated!
Hi Reginald,
Unfortunately, if you’ve entered transactions in both files neither is the correct file.
I’d choose to use the larger file going forward, since it probably has the most transactions. Unfortunately, there’s also no easy way to determine which transactions are missing other than reconciling your bank and credit card accounts.
You can use Karl Irvin’s Data Transfer Utility to transfer transactions from one QuickBooks file to another.
Once you have one file with all your transactions, remove all the other QuickBooks files so they aren’t accidentally used again. I’d back them up to a thumb drive first, just in case you ever need to reference them again though.
Ruth