Verifying your company data file with the Verify Data utility

The Verify Data utility (Verify) is your primary tool for detecting data damage in your company data file. rebuild data error, . Verify looks at each transaction in your data file and records a message in the Qbwin.log file for any damaged transactions. rebuild data error, . Verify also detects damaged list items. rebuild data error, . While Verify detects many types of data damage, it does not detect all of the damage that might be in your file.

You should run Verify in single user mode and you should not run Verify across a network connection.

Difficulty Level: 2/5 (some technical knowledge required).
Time Required: From 15 to 60 minutes depending on file size, computer resources and skill level.

You should run the Verify Data utility if:

• You receive error messages when working in QuickBooks.
• QuickBooks shuts down when you click to save a transaction.
• Discrepancies appear on reports, e.g., invoices or bills that post with a negative value.
• Payments that have been deposited show up in the Payments to Deposit window.
• Balance sheet reports are not showing all accounts.
• Names are missing from lists.
• Transactions are missing.
• You experience power surges or dropouts, abnormal shutdowns, computer crashes, "Company file in use, please wait," messages.

As part of your company data file back up routine, you should run a manual back up with full verification.

After running the Verify Data utility, check the Qbwin.log file for error messages.

Running the Verify Data Utility

1. Exit and restart QuickBooks to create a new Qbwin.log file.
2. In the QuickBooks menu bar, select Window and then select Close All.
3. In the QuickBooks menu bar, select File and then select Utilities.
4. Select Verify Data.
   • If you see "QuickBooks detected no problems with your data," your data is clean. rebuild data error, . Click OK to clear the message.
   • If your see"Your data has lost integrity..." your data file is damaged. rebuild data error, . Run the Rebuild Data utility to repair the damage. rebuild data error, . You may need to run Rebuild two or more times to repair all of the damage. rebuild data error, . Rerun the Verify Data utility again to verify that the errors have been corrected.
   • If your see "A data problem prevents QuickBooks from continuing..." then your data file has a structural problem. rebuild data error, . Running the Rebuild Data utility will not fix your issue. rebuild data error, . Your options are to restore an undamaged backup or send in the file to Data Services for recovery.

Viewing the Qbwin.log file:

1. In QuickBooks, press the F2 key (or Ctrl +1) to display the Product Information window.
2. Press the F3 key (or Ctrl + 2) to display the Tech Help window.
3. In the Tech Help window, click the Open File tab.
4. Double-click Qbwin.log to open the file in NotePad.
5. Press Ctrl + F on your keyboard to open the Find window.
6. Type in "Begin Verify" and click Find Next.
7. You will see the Verify Log that begins with:
8. • ============ BEGIN VERIFY LOG =============
9. And ends with:
10. • ============= END VERIFY LOG ==============
11. Scrolling through the Verify Log you will see:
12. 1. The file path for your company.
    2. The date and time that you ran the Verify Data utility.
    3. Any error messages that the utility wrote to the Verify Log file.

If you are unable to repair your file, it may be possible to recover information by sending it to Intuit Data Services.  Please note that fees may apply. rebuild data error, . For information on the fee schedule and turnaround times, refer to our Data Recovery page.

To request data recovery service from Intuit Data Services, contact QuickBooks Technical Support. rebuild data error, . The agent will give you a  user name and password, which will let you log in to the Intuit Data  Services website. rebuild data error, . The agent will also give you a case number. rebuild data error, . Be sure to write this information down.

If this solution does not resolve the issue, you can read discussions and post messages and questions relating to your issue on the Intuit QuickBooks Community site.

You can also review other available QuickBooks support options for additional guidance.