Proper way to restore from backup

Funny you should ask - this just happened to me to - I accidently deleted a payroll category (I always make a backup to another drive first before screwing around like this) and the same thing happened. I did the RESTORE while in the correctly named file, and NOTHING HAPPENED it seemed. But indeed when I viewed the directory, there's were the backup was copied to. Bizarre? Do I have this all right?

(John P- can you verify this? Most strange.)

I don't use Quicken's restore, but I just did a test in Q2005 deluxe. When I tried to restore to the file I currently had open, Quicken asked me to confirm that I wanted to "overwrite" the current file. When I said "ok", I got that "loading Quicken data" message, and the newly restored file was opened ... the file I had open when I initiated the restore was gone.

"John Pollard" wrote in news:S_KCf.730477$x96.39821 @attbi_s72:

I've used this approach several (too many) times. I make sure I have a backup every day, and more if I do a lot of entering data. It has happened several times that things got royally f'ed up, especially because I still haven't gotten my Quicken (2005 DL, pretty soon 2006 something) to properly download my Vanguard and Fidelity data. They always seem to get mangled and into the wrong accounts. Whenever that happens, I just restore the most recent backup (or an earlier one if needed). Basically I use this approach as a "super" undo.

I just upgraded from Quicken Deluxe 99 to Quicken Deluxe 2006, so my answer is based on what I have done with QD99. I had problems with "restore" several years ago, but I discovered that I could simply *copy* the files from the Zip disk that I use for backups directly into the Quicken folder and answer "yes" when asked if I want to overwrite. It opens perfectly every time (but make sure that you have more than one backup, just to be on the safe side).

MaryL

True enuf MaryL, but a potential problem with this approach (which we've discussed on a number of occasions) is that when you do this, you're now second guessing Quicken in terms of its file structure.

You need to know that Q does not just have one file, but many files (data.qdf, data.qel, data.qdx, data.qsd, etc.). And perhaps it also is dealing with other items that one doesn't even know about! So, as much as I understand your approach (in fact, that's what I ended up doing myself), one really needs to be careful when going outside of Q's internal services and methods in manipulating the data.

This isn't so much a critique of your post, but more of a warning to others who might be tempted to use it without fully understanding the ramifications.

Thanks. That's helpful information, so I'll first try Q's restore next time I need it and only "secondly" go back to my "system."

MaryL

I think the point here is that Intuit will, at their discretion, change the files that constitute a complete database. In database terms, this is called "changing the schema". There's really nothing basically wrong with manually backing up and restoring files. It's important, though, to be sure you are backing up (and restoring) all the required files. Plus, IMNSHO, it's just easier to use the built-in backup/restore function.

If you do want to manually backup (e.g., with a batch file), use the Q backup and check the files that they copy, That should be the list to use (at least until the next upgrade)...

I was using the files that were on my Zip disc as a result of a backup. However, that does not include all of the files that were mentioned here (but always worked well for me). Incidentally, I seldom had any reason to do a real backup, but I copied them to my laptop each summer when I wanted to carry records with me.

MaryL

Interjection!

I use Karen's Replicator extensively for backing up. It is freeware, obtainable here:

You can set Replicator to automatically back up to any mapped drive/directory at predetermined times with regular intervals you set. Specify source directory and "filter" for the files you want to back up, then set the target path and directory where you want the files to go, with or without an automatic extension (such as date/month/year). This would give you historical backups that do *not* overwrite each other. Of course there are an almost unlimited number of separate "jobs" that you can schedule independently of one another. Scheduling is not required, you can set up a job that you only do manually.

Andrew's caution is a good one, but I think you can virtually eliminate the possibility that this will cause you any problems. Put your Quicken data (both current and any backups) in folders that contain only your Quicken data. You can use Windows to move, copy, delete or do whatever you want to those folders and be assured of having all your data. (And if you use Home Inventory, be advised you must treat its file separately ... the regular Quicken backup/restore knows nothing of the Home Inventory file. I would put that file - default: QHI.IDB - in the same folder with my regular Quicken data fileset).

Thanks! I'm going to look into this. Most backup programs today seem to be automatic only -- that is, cannot configure different backups for separate purposes and then run them manually, if desired. I used to be able to do that with the old Iomega program. Now it's impossible (and their tech support says that is by design "to help us").

MaryL

Thank you. That sounds logical -- and easy to accomplish.

Another thought occurred to me: I do not use Quicken to download (or upload) data to the Internet (although I did connect to download updates as recommended when I installed 2006). In a case like mine, is there even any potential problem such as what was described earlier -- that is, if I do not use Intuit's Internet connection, what possible changes could Quicken make to the file structure other than what I enter myself? Or is it simply that I do not understand the process?

Thanks, MaryL

I can't imagine that Intuit would create a new release to an existing version that would change the format (or expect a changed format) for existing files. You can have as many Quicken "filesets" as you like - a new format in mid-version would require a conversion of all your filesets; I just don't see that happening. New file formats generally come with new year versions of Quicken I think.