Expert Tips to Fix Unrecoverable Error When Opening a QuickBooks Desktop File

Ella Ben
May 1, 2023
3 min read

This error may show up if the QBCF monitor service is up on a workstation that doesn’t host the company file. This blog post will discuss the troubleshooting steps to fix QuickBooks Unrecoverable Error when opening a QuickBooks file.

Before you start performing the troubleshooting steps, you should ensure that your accounting software, QuickBooks, is up to date. Also, if there are more than one QuickBooks users and the company file and other data gets stored on one particular computer, ensure that hosting must be turned on in your main computer/ server. In order to avoid this error from reoccurring, make sure that the hosting on just the server.

Solutions to Fix QuickBooks Unrecoverable Error

Solution 1: Repair your QuickBooks Desktop

Back up all your company data and run the repair tool.
Restart your computer so that no programs affect the repairing process.
Go to the Windows Start menu and then select Control Panel (If you're using Windows 8 or 8.1 version, search "Control Panel" in the Start menu).
Click on Programs and Features and then Uninstall a Program.
Click on QuickBooks from the list of Programs and then Uninstall/Change.
Select Continue/ Next followed by Repair, and Next.
QuickBooks Desktop repair shall start immediately and the process shall take a while to finish. Wait until the repairing process is over and select Finish
Restart your computer for changes to get saved
You should also keep your QuickBooks Desktop updated to the latest release in order to receive the most recent fixes and security update

Solution 2: General troubleshooting for unrecoverable errors

Before you proceed to follow the troubleshooting steps that we are going to describe, make sure your QuickBooks Desktop is updated to the latest release and you have a back up of your QuickBooks files.

Situation 1: Troubleshoot the QuickBooks Desktop Application

Repair QuickBooks Desktop.
Go to QuickBooks Tools Hub, click on Installation Issues and then QuickBooks Program Diagnostic Tool.
Clean Install Tool under QuickBooks Tools Hub.
Now, repair Microsoft components manually. If you are not aware of the ways to manually repair your operating system, contact Microsoft support or an IT Professional.
You will have to repair or reinstall: Microsoft .NET Framework, Microsoft MSXML, and Microsoft Visual C++.

Situation 2: Create a new Windows Administrator

For Windows 10

Click on the Start menu and open Settings.
Click on Accounts and then Family & other users.
Select Add Someone Else to This PC under Other Users.
Choose I don't have this person's sign-in information and proceed to add a user without a Microsoft account.
Enter the name of the new account member and press Finish.
You can set a password to the new account to keep it secured.
Select the account you just created and select Account Type.
Choose Administrator and OK.

Windows 8.1

Open the Run window (Windows+R).
Type Control Panel and select OK.
Select User Accounts, then Manage another account, followed by Other accounts and Add an account.
Click on Sign in without a Microsoft account (not recommended) and proceed to select Local account.
Put in the user name, password, password hint, and select Next.
You will be sent back to the Manage Other Accounts screen where you will have to click on the newly created account and then Edit.
The new user will itself be set to standard user .
Select Administrator in the drop-down menu and select OK.

Windows 8 and 7

Open the Run window (Windows+R).
Type Control Panel and select OK.
Select User Accounts and then Manage another account.
Select Create a new account and put in the name for the new account.
Select Administrator and Create Account.

Windows Servers

Windows Server 2012

Servers are usually handled by authorized computer technicians. Consult your IT professional before you proceed to perform the following troubleshooting steps.
Open Server Manager, select tools and then Computer Management.
Expand Local Users and Groups and click on Groups.
Double-click on the Administrator Groups and open the Administrator Properties window and choose Add.
In the Select Users, Computers, Service Accounts or Groups window, type in the account you want to add to the local admin groups and press OK.

Windows Small Business Server 2011 and 2008/R2

Run the Windows SBS (2011/2008) console.
Choose Users and Groups followed by the Users tab.
Go to the Tasks pane and select Add a new user account to run the Add a New User Account wizard.
Enter the details and select the role for the new user.
Put in a password for the new user.
Click on Add user.
Follow the prompts and select Finish at the end.

We hope that you find this post helpful. If the issue persists even after trying all the solutions mentioned herein, please contact our QuickBooks experts at +1800-615-2347.