only backing up QFD file

A couple of days ago there was a Quicken update for something. Since that time I have noticed that when I do the Quicken backup, only the QFD file is being copied to the 'dated' set name. Previously there were 5 files in each set, even though the NPC file hadn't changed in years. Has anyone noticed anything like this or is it just me? I'm using Quicken 2009 on Vista.

Reply to
Larry Waibel
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I hate to respond to these types of posts in the negative since it sometimes brings on a rush of "not mes", but since I don't see any replies, I'll tell you "not me". I did notice the same Q update two mornings ago, but so far, in terms of the backups that I append the date stamp to, no change. I verified this after reading your post and doing my usual morning financial work.

Sorry. So far, at least in this NG, "just you".

Reply to
Andrew

Hi, Larry.

Like Andrew, I can only say "Not me".

But I don't use the dated filename backup feature. It seems to me to invite more confusion than it's worth, so long as I DO backup at least once a day, and I have the 5 sets in the automatic \BACKUP folder, with the latest set always less than a week old. After any significant transaction in my Register, I click Backup and accept the default location, which is practically always the same as last time and hasn't changed in years. Once a week (if I don't forget) I Xcopy my entire Quicken folder - including my working fileset and the entire BACKUP subfolder - to a thumb drive, which I store separately from the computer.

HOW do you do your daily backups? Step by step, including any filenames you enter?

I did get the little update a couple of days ago. My Q2009D still says R 6, so I don't know what was changed - probably just FI updates. It does seem to take one fewer click to get my One Step Update actually started, but that may be a false impression. Otherwise I don't perceive any change.

One small correction: I'm sure you meant QDF file, not QFD.

RC

Reply to
R. C. White

Just out of curiosity, what is the exact name of the Quicken data file you are backing up?

And what is the full path name to your Quicken data file and your backup file?

Reply to
John Pollard

Okay, thanks for the reply. Not sure what to do next; I don't hold any hope that Quicken support could help if it's not a common/known problem. I'll try going back to non-date/time stamped backups and see if that works.

Reply to
Larry Waibel

The file I'm backing up (and it has been the same for years and the backups have always worked until a few days ago) is '2000-2nnn.qdf' (as the OP said, I meant QDF not QFD). The full path to the data is 'd:\quickenv\data' and the backup is to 'd:\quickenv\data\BACKUP'. I've tried both with the time stamp and without. I created another directory at 'd:\quickenv\backup' and tried both ways to that as well. No matter what I do, only the .qdf file gets copied. I don't get any error message and I get the box that says backup is complete. Very, very strange and I have no idea what is wrong or what else to try.

Reply to
Larry Waibel

I don't have the answer.

I have read about this problem a few times (going back several months, at least), and my recollection is that this is usually (always?) associated with Vista.

I take it "quickenv" is not the folder where Quicken is installed (where qw.exe lives)?

Do you only have one Vista user? Do you ever run Quicken as "The" administrator, and other times as some other user? Do you run Quicken as the same user that installed Quicken?

I don't think the problem has anything to do with any recent Quicken "update". But I wouldn't rule out some sort of installation problem.

You could try reinstalling. After manually uninstalling Quicken (Control Panel), try using qcleanui.exe (Quicken CD) to insure a clean uninstall. Then reinstall to a new folder. Based on one post I read, I deduced that reinstalling helped (at least) one Vista user with this problem.

As a permanent "backup" position: a Quicken backup is nothing special. It just creates an exact duplicate copy of your data. You can accomplish the same thing with Windows "Copy"; especially easy if you have nothing in your Quicken data folder except Quicken data.

[You could also Google for "Mozy" which is a free online backup product. You can schedule it to backup designated Windows files once a day.]
Reply to
John Pollard

I renamed the file and it is now copying all of the files as it should. Yes, 'quickenv' is where I installed Quicken. When I move to Windows 7 I'm planning to do a complete reinstall of Quicken so maybe that will cleanup some of the Vista vagaries :-)

Reply to
Larry Waibel

Hi, Larry.

I'm glad John jumped in here and that you are making progress. I have just about 3 comments.

First, I'm not the "OP" (Original Poster), you are, since you started this thread. ;^}

That's not the foldername or location I would recommend for "voluntary" backups, because that's the name that Quicken uses for its automatic backups. It does little good to have two identical backups in the same subfolder. I would recommend putting manual backups into at least a separate top folder; a separate volume (partition) on the same HDD would be a little better; a separate HDD in the same computer is better still. But, all these leave you vulnerable to lightning strikes or other glitches that might knock out your computer. (I use another volume on the same HDD; do as I say, not as I do. :^{ I copy these onto a thumb drive periodically for storage separately. )

Quicken can get picky about data filenames. It's hard to argue with success since you've been using that filename successfully for years. But I try to use an all-alpha name that is no more than 6 characters - like Larry.qdf. That leaves room for Quicken to add a numeral for its automatic backups: Larry1.qdf through Larry5.qdf. If the name is too long, then Quicken has to create an "8.3" filename to comply with Windows rules, which still haven't outgrown all their MS-DOS roots. So "2000-2009.qdf" might become "2000-2~1.QDF" internally. (You'll never see that SFN (Short File Name) normally, but it's there, and if you use the Dir /x command in a Command Prompt window, you will see the SFN in a column before the LFN.) And when the automatic Backup then adds a digit, it gets more confusing. As I say, it's hard to argue with success, but your current trouble may have been rooted in the filename you were using - and just waiting for the chance to pop up.

Gotta run now. Let us know how things work out.

RC

Reply to
R. C. White

Agreed. I do use the same folder name for both manual and automatic but a different path, manual backups are done to a removable drive, automatic backups to a partition on the HD.

It sounds weird but it's worked for many years....

Reply to
XS11E

Oh, I thought OP meant 'other poster'; thanks for the education. And for the thoughts on where to store backups; I'll look into moving them. I have shortened the file name when I renamed so hopefully that'll keep working for several more years :-)

Reply to
Larry Waibel

One other alternative, Larry. I used Quicken backup to CD for years, but Intuit broke it several times with their updates. I switched to using "Karens Replicator". It is free software available for download. I have it set up so that it creates a new directory on a CD or DVD with the current date embedded in the directory name. It then copies the Quicken data files into the new directory. It works reliably, and can easily backup other files in addition to Quicken's. I also back up my "Savings Bond Wizard" files and my Thunderbird email files using the same method.

Every quarter, I take the DVD to the bank, and put it in my safety deposit box. Then, I just start another DVD. Once in a while, I crunch an old disk in my shredder.

-- Jim

Reply to
JimH

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