• The name of the company data file or its folder name contains non-alphanumeric characters, such as apostrophe ( ‘ ), ampersand (&), dash (-) or hash (#). For example,
  F:\John’s data\QuickBooks\Smith & Jones Plumbing.qbw.
• The data operation is taking place over a network.
• Multiple workstations are configured to host the data file.
• The Windows user does not have sufficient permissions on the server.
• There is data damage in the company file.

• If you have a single-user installation of QuickBooks, stop multi-user hosting if it is turned on.
• If you have a multi-user installation of QuickBooks, perform these steps in order. After each step, try performing the operation that caused the error. If it completes successfully, the issue is resolved. If the error still occurs, proceed to the next step.

1. Update your program to the most current release on all workstations and on the server. Aspects of this issue have been resolved in the latest release for your version. If the error still occurs, troubleshoot other causes.

Note: It is important for each computer using the same company file to be on the same release of QuickBooks. To check the release of QuickBooks on any workstation, open QuickBooks and press the F2 key. The release is displayed in the upper left corner of the Product Information window.

1. If there are non-alphanumeric characters in the company file path or file name, remove them.
   1. Right click the Windows Start button (or the Logo button in Windows Vista) and click Explore.
   2. Navigate to the folder or company file containing the non-alphanumeric characters.
   3. Right-click the folder or file and select Rename.
   4. Remove the characters from the name and press Enter.

1. If you are converting a company data file to a newer version of QuickBooks over a network, or creating an Accountant’s Copy or portable company file over a network, copy the company file to a local hard drive to perform the operation and then copy it back to the original location when you are finished.

   For help copying a company file, refer to “Copy a company file using Windows.”

1. Turn off hosting on all workstations that do not host the company data file:
   1. Open QuickBooks on a computer that does not host the company file.
   2. Click the File menu and click Utilities.
      • If Stop Hosting Multi-User Access appears on the menu, click it and click Yes to confirm.
      • If Host Multi-User Access appears on the menu, stop and proceed to the next step.
   3. Close QuickBooks.
   4. Repeat steps 4.a through 4.c on all workstations that do not host the company data file.

1. Ensure the QuickBooks Database Server Manager is running and scanning the appropriate folder(s):
   1. Move to the computer that is hosting the company file.
   2. Click the Start button and click Programs > QuickBooks > QuickBooks Database Server Manager.
   3. Click the Scan Folders tab.
   4. Click the Add Folder button.
   5. Select the folder that contains QuickBooks company files and click OK. If you don’t know where files are stored, select the entire disk.
   6. (Optional) Click the Add Folder button again to add additional folders, and then click OK.
   7. Click the Scan button. The display will indicate which folders are being scanned.
   8. After the scan is complete, click Close.

1. Ensure the QBDataServiceUser(XX) user for your version of QuickBooks has full access to the folder where the company file is stored. For detailed instructions refer to one of the following:
   • Setting access permissions for QuickBooks in Microsoft Windows XP
   • Setting access permissions for QuickBooks in Microsoft Windows Vista

1. Refer to Troubleshooting and fixing data damage to check for data integrity problems with the company file.