Locate and correct damaged transactions in your QuickBooks data file

If you get the “Data Has Lost Integrity” message after 2 rebuilds, look for remaining damaged transactions by performing the following steps.

 

QBWIN.LOG

1. Press Ctrl+1, then Ctrl+2. This will take you to a window called Tech Help.
2. Click on the Open File tab.
3. In the middle of the window, you will see a list of files. Highlight the line that ends with QBWIN.LOG. You may need to move the bottom arrow to the right to be able to see the file names at the end of the paths.
4. Double click on that file or click the Open File button.
5. The document you will see is in Wordpad. This may be a long document because it records and adds a new section each time your QuickBooks program crashes, each time you verify your file, and each time you rebuild your file.
6. To go to the end of the file to see the results of your file verification and the results of your rebuild, drag the button on the right side of the window to the bottom of the window. Review the Verify log and Rebuild log sections.
7. Damaged transactions in the Verify log section will be marked as Error transactions. If you find damaged transactions that were not fixed in the Rebuild process, delete the original transactions and re-enter them (see below).
8. Re-verify the file, and re-check the QBWIN.LOG “Verify” section of the log to confirm that it no longer contains error transactions.

How To Delete and Re-enter the Original Transactions

• View the log and note all of the pertinent data about the transaction, such as transaction type, transaction number, date, document number, amount, and the name
• Use the Find feature to locate and view the original transactions
• Try “re-posting” the transactions by making a simple change on each transaction such as entering a letter or phrase into the memo… This MAY take care of the problem. (To check to see if it has resolved the issue, re-run the verification process after you have made these changes.)
• If it hasn’t resolved the problem, you may need to delete and re-enter the problem transactions – BUT be sure to read the following before doing this! Advice: It may be a good idea to consult with an experienced Certified Advanced QuickBooks ProAdvisor before performing the following steps.
• If a damaged transaction affected a balance sheet account that could potentially carry a “cleared” designation (e.g., a checking account, credit card account, or loan account) find the transaction in the Register to see whether it has the “cleared” checkmark. If it is cleared, make a note to yourself to also clear the new transaction after you have entered it.
• Note all relevant information, and enter the transaction a second time using all the original information (be especially careful to use the original date!)
• After confirming that the new transaction is correct, go back to the original damaged transaction and delete it.
• If the transaction needs to be cleared, go into the reconciliation screen and clear it.
• Repeat these steps for all remaining error transactions

 

 

Regards – Diane Gilson

Related QuickBooks Data File Articles: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3

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Copyright: Diane C.O. Gilson, Info Plus ( + ) Accounting®