Quickbooks errors

[Pants]

Got a Quickbooks error I'll be working on later today.

Error code: -6000 -83

I've already printed off the troubleshooting steps for this particular error from the Intuit website.

But here are the circumstances and maybe some could give me some tips of the troubleshooting step outlined on Intuit don't work.

Secretary computer is hosting company files. Customer's computer (a different computer) is accessing the company files on secretary's PC in multiuser mode. I set it up myself and everything was working until we had a storm recently and they lost power. There are 3 company files on the secretary's computer that are being hosted.

One of the files is OK and can be accessed as normal. But the other two company files are giving me a hard time opening and I get the error message above when trying to open them from the computer that is not hosting the files. ALL company files open fine from the computer that is hosting the files.

 

[nlinecomputers]

Grab this before you head out. http://support.quickbooks.intuit.com/Support/articles/HOW12723

 

[FremontPC]

Sounds like there might have been some damage on the customer's computer. Perhaps consider a chkdsk, Crystal Disk Info (just because), and going back to a System Restore point before the storm.

If no go, can the PC in question create a new company file, locally?

 

[DataMedics]

Fortunate thing is that QB uses an auto data recovery file which is actually just a complete copy of the file renamed with a different extension (.adr). Try using the backup file and just rename it to *.QBW

 

[Pants]

If no go, can the PC in question create a new company file, locally?

What if it can?

I'll have to ask if they're willing to let me take the PCs over night to do a file system check and/or hardware check. Wondering which one I should take though. The non-server computer was not plugged into a surge protector during the storm. The host computer seems fine; It can open the company files, as they are.

 

[Pants]

Fortunate thing is that QB uses an auto data recovery file which is actually just a complete copy of the file renamed with a different extension (.adr). Try using the backup file and just rename it to *.QBW

That's good to know. But if the host computer can open the company files, doesn't that mean they're not corrupted? Just a thought...

 

[FremontPC]

What if it can?

I'll have to ask if they're willing to let me take the PCs over night to do a file system check and/or hardware check. Wondering which one I should take though. The non-server computer was not plugged into a surge protector during the storm. The host computer seems fine; It can open the company files, as they are.

I was just looking for general damage to the installation on the PC that threw the error. You probably don't need to take it overnight, just do a CDI and a checkdisk /f, should be fairly quick. If CDI raises a flag on the hdd, full stop. If not, it can't hurt to do some more in-depth HDD tests, but likely it can wait. This is in prep for going back to a System Restore point before the power outage, so you're not trying to invoke System Restore on a bad HDD or corrupt filesystem.

 

[nlinecomputers]

Run the tool I linked to before. That will tell you what is going wrong in most cases. Errors like that are often network related. Firewall or dropped network share. Also could be as simple as not in multiuser mode.

 

[Pants]

Yah I reviewed the steps to using the tool. I'll try that first. thx

 

[carrcomp]

Pants,

If you get stuck I can give you a hand.

/Pro Advisor

 

[Pants]

Pants,

If you get stuck I can give you a hand.

/Pro Advisor

Thanks.

I nailed it. Honestly I'm not sure what was wrong. I ran File Dr. and both files came back clean, and then I tried logging into the two company files and it worked.

Yesterday though, the first time I looked at it, I was only able to log into one of the company files, the other two company files seemed to be broken...hence the error codes. Maybe file Dr. fixed something? File Dr didn't say anything was wrong with the files.

I also ran a bunch of tests while I was there to make sure workstations will sync under certain conditions. I should note that the server computer has to be powered on before the workstations are powered on, in order for my script on the workstation to automatically map the drive at workstation start up (for Quickbooks access). And if the server (workstation) is restarted at any time, then the workstation will also have to restart in order for the drive to be remapped properly, using my script. I'm glad I caught that because it would have driven me crazy trying to figure out what was wrong.

 

[DataMedics]

Yeah, multi-user mode in QB is a total P.I.T.A. Randomly works, and doesn't work, whenever it wants to. That's file doctor tool, is handy though. It may have fixed an issue with Windows firewall or something without even telling you.

 

[Pants]

Both computers have McAfee Internet Security installed. Could those be mucking it up?

 

[Martyn]

Both computers have McAfee Internet Security installed. Could those be mucking it up?

<anything> Internet Security can cause problems. I would uninstall them completely and look at the problem without their interference. I had a problem with printing and scanning in one business. They has Kaspersky Internet Security installed and that was causing the problem. Reinstalled cured the problems.

 

[pceinc]

The most common fix for this error is to open the QB Database Server and scan the folder containing the QBW files.

 

[Mokester]

^ this. QB can get funky at times...I've found that if you were able to access the files from those machines previously, this usually fixes the problem in 95% of the cases. So much so...now that I run my own company...I'm thinking that maybe I should see if it's possible to make an AMP on N-able to find computers with QB Database server installed and run this as a part of regular maintenance...

 

[HCHTech]

/Pro Advisor

You are full of surprises! Were you an accountant in a previous career? I hear those exams are a pain, plus a significant revenue stream for Intuit...

 

[carrcomp]

Nope, but I did/do alot of technical support for accounting firms. The Pro Advisor membership gave me the training and tools I needed to provide them technical support when the software or data files stopped working.

Also turned into a sales revenue stream, as accountants would refer their customers to me to purchase Quickbooks desktop and online.