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Mr. Slow
Guest

Posted: Tue May 20, 2008 5:13 pm Post subject: Quicken 2001 - "Unable to validate your file . . . "

I have been using Quicken 2001 (UK version) for a number of years without a problem, under platforms of Windows 2000, Windows XP Pro. and now Windows Vista Home Premium. This latest setup has been working quite happily for about 6 months but now, without warning, refuses to do so. The program starts but any attempt to open a *.qdf file fails with this error "Unable to validate your file. Contact Intuit Technical Support" Sadly, UK versions of Quicken are no longer supported or updated by Intuit. The software is obviously fairly old but has always worked well, even with Vista. I don't believe this to be a Vista issue - it worked just fine for some months before this problem. I have attempted to restore backups and validate the files, without success - same error message. However, the files are not corrupt because I can open them in Quicken installations under Windows 2000 and Windows XP. I have reinstalled the program - no change. Does anyone have any further ideas, please? -- Remove ".invalid" and replace with ".com" to reply

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Jim Jensen
Guest

Posted: Wed May 21, 2008 1:09 am Post subject: Re: Quicken 2001 - "Unable to validate your file . . . "

"Mr. Slow" <millenniumgold@btinternet.invalid> wrote in message
news:6fOdndPLrMTBXa_VnZ2dnUVZ8tPinZ2d@bt.com...

Quote:

Since the program starts, will it let you create/read a NEW Quicken
file?

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Mr. Slow
Guest

Posted: Wed May 21, 2008 3:03 am Post subject: Re: Quicken 2001 - "Unable to validate your file . . . "

"Jim Jensen" <me@privacy.net> wrote in message
news:6eGYj.677$Q57.125@nlpi065.nbdc.sbc.com...

Quote:

"Mr. Slow" <millenniumgold@btinternet.invalid> wrote in message
news:6fOdndPLrMTBXa_VnZ2dnUVZ8tPinZ2d@bt.com...
I have been using Quicken 2001 (UK version) for a number of years
without a problem, under platforms of Windows 2000, Windows XP Pro.
and now Windows Vista Home Premium. This latest setup has been working
quite happily for about 6 months but now, without warning, refuses to
do so.

The program starts but any attempt to open a *.qdf file fails with
this error

"Unable to validate your file. Contact Intuit Technical Support"

Sadly, UK versions of Quicken are no longer supported or updated by
Intuit. The software is obviously fairly old but has always worked
well, even with Vista. I don't believe this to be a Vista issue - it
worked just fine for some months before this problem.

I have attempted to restore backups and validate the files, without
success - same error message. However, the files are not corrupt
because I can open them in Quicken installations under Windows 2000
and Windows XP. I have reinstalled the program - no change.

Does anyone have any further ideas, please?

Since the program starts, will it let you create/read a NEW Quicken
file?

Jim,

Thanks for your interest. Yes, I can create/backup/restore and read a new
file. If I attempt to restore any of my old files I get a message saying
that the restore is successful but when I try to open the file, I get the
message "Unable to validate your file. Contact Intuit Technical Support".

Any clues?

--
To reply, replace "invalid" with "com"

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Marty K
Guest

Posted: Wed May 21, 2008 5:45 am Post subject: Re: Quicken 2001 - "Unable to validate your file . . . "

Mr. Slow wrote:

Quote:

settings? I don't use Vista but have read on this forum about
security settings getting in the way. Have you made any changes
to your system that may have changed access permissions to the
file that can't be used?

Just a thought.

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Advertising
Sponsor

Jim Jensen
Guest

Posted: Wed May 21, 2008 7:27 am Post subject: Re: Quicken 2001 - "Unable to validate your file . . . "

"Mr. Slow" wrote:

Quote:

I have been using Quicken 2001 (UK version) for a number of years
without a problem, under platforms of Windows 2000, Windows XP Pro.
and now Windows Vista Home Premium. This latest setup has been
working
quite happily for about 6 months but now, without warning, refuses
to
do so.

The program starts but any attempt to open a *.qdf file fails with
this error

"Unable to validate your file. Contact Intuit Technical Support"

Sadly, UK versions of Quicken are no longer supported or updated
by
Intuit. The software is obviously fairly old but has always worked
well, even with Vista. I don't believe this to be a Vista issue -
it
worked just fine for some months before this problem.

I have attempted to restore backups and validate the files, without
success - same error message. However, the files are not corrupt
because I can open them in Quicken installations under Windows 2000
and Windows XP. I have reinstalled the program - no change.

Does anyone have any further ideas, please?

Since the program starts, will it let you create/read a NEW Quicken
file?

Jim,
Thanks for your interest. Yes, I can create/backup/restore and read a
new
file. If I attempt to restore any of my old files I get a message
saying
that the restore is successful but when I try to open the file, I get
the
message "Unable to validate your file. Contact Intuit Technical
Support".

Any clues?

You might try running UAC in the quiet mode, or disabling it
temporarily, to see if that is the cause of your problem. Here is a
tool that makes it easy:
http://www.tweak-uac.com/what-is-tweak-uac/

Ads

Advertising
Sponsor

Mr. Slow
Guest

Posted: Wed May 21, 2008 11:00 am Post subject: Re: Quicken 2001 - "Unable to validate your file . . . "

"Jim Jensen" <me@privacy.net> wrote in message
news:mMLYj.21$ql2.19@nlpi061.nbdc.sbc.com...

Quote:

"Mr. Slow" wrote:

I have been using Quicken 2001 (UK version) for a number of years
without a problem, under platforms of Windows 2000, Windows XP Pro.
and now Windows Vista Home Premium. This latest setup has been working
quite happily for about 6 months but now, without warning, refuses to
do so.

The program starts but any attempt to open a *.qdf file fails with
this error

"Unable to validate your file. Contact Intuit Technical Support"

Sadly, UK versions of Quicken are no longer supported or updated by
Intuit. The software is obviously fairly old but has always worked
well, even with Vista. I don't believe this to be a Vista issue - it
worked just fine for some months before this problem.

I have attempted to restore backups and validate the files, without
success - same error message. However, the files are not corrupt
because I can open them in Quicken installations under Windows 2000
and Windows XP. I have reinstalled the program - no change.

Does anyone have any further ideas, please?

Since the program starts, will it let you create/read a NEW Quicken
file?

Jim,
Thanks for your interest. Yes, I can create/backup/restore and read a new
file. If I attempt to restore any of my old files I get a message saying
that the restore is successful but when I try to open the file, I get the
message "Unable to validate your file. Contact Intuit Technical Support".

Any clues?

You might try running UAC in the quiet mode, or disabling it temporarily,
to see if that is the cause of your problem. Here is a tool that makes it
easy:
http://www.tweak-uac.com/what-is-tweak-uac/

Jim,

I have always run Vista with UAC disabled - it's far too intrusive for
experienced computer users. I am intrigued that I can create and read a new
file but not any of my old ones. There must be a clue there somewhere!

--
Remove ".invalid" and replace with ".com" to reply

Ads

Advertising
Sponsor

Mr. Slow
Guest

Posted: Wed May 21, 2008 11:00 am Post subject: Re: Quicken 2001 - "Unable to validate your file . . . "

"Marty K" <mrmarty@attglobal.net> wrote in message news:483370b3@kcnews01...

Quote:

Mr. Slow wrote:
I have been using Quicken 2001 (UK version) for a number of years without
a problem, under platforms of Windows 2000, Windows XP Pro. and now
Windows Vista Home Premium. This latest setup has been working quite
happily for about 6 months but now, without warning, refuses to do so.

The program starts but any attempt to open a *.qdf file fails with this
error

"Unable to validate your file. Contact Intuit Technical Support"

Sadly, UK versions of Quicken are no longer supported or updated by
Intuit. The software is obviously fairly old but has always worked well,
even with Vista. I don't believe this to be a Vista issue - it worked
just fine for some months before this problem.

I have attempted to restore backups and validate the files, without
success - same error message. However, the files are not corrupt because
I can open them in Quicken installations under Windows 2000 and Windows
XP. I have reinstalled the program - no change.

Does anyone have any further ideas, please?

Sorry for your trouble but have you looked at the Vista security settings?
I don't use Vista but have read on this forum about
security settings getting in the way. Have you made any changes
to your system that may have changed access permissions to the
file that can't be used?

Just a thought.

Marty,

I haven't changed any of my Vista settings but of course, there are regular
monthly updates from Microsoft which change things behind the scenes. It is
of course entirely feasible that there has been an update which has moved
the goal posts as far as Quicken is concerned but I can create and read a
new file, but not any of my old ones. As I have said above - there must be a
clue there somewhere!

Remove ".invalid" and replace with ".com" to reply

Ads

Advertising
Sponsor

Jim Jensen
Guest

Posted: Wed May 21, 2008 4:23 pm Post subject: Re: Quicken 2001 - "Unable to validate your file . . . "

"Mr. Slow" wrote:

Quote:

I have been using Quicken 2001 (UK version) for a number of years
without a problem, under platforms of Windows 2000, Windows XP
Pro.
and now Windows Vista Home Premium. This latest setup has been
working
quite happily for about 6 months but now, without warning,
refuses to
do so.

The program starts but any attempt to open a *.qdf file fails
with
this error

"Unable to validate your file. Contact Intuit Technical Support"

Sadly, UK versions of Quicken are no longer supported or updated
by
Intuit. The software is obviously fairly old but has always
worked
well, even with Vista. I don't believe this to be a Vista issue -
it
worked just fine for some months before this problem.

I have attempted to restore backups and validate the files,
without
success - same error message. However, the files are not corrupt
because I can open them in Quicken installations under Windows
2000
and Windows XP. I have reinstalled the program - no change.

Does anyone have any further ideas, please?

Since the program starts, will it let you create/read a NEW Quicken
file?

Jim,
Thanks for your interest. Yes, I can create/backup/restore and read
a new
file. If I attempt to restore any of my old files I get a message
saying
that the restore is successful but when I try to open the file, I
get the
message "Unable to validate your file. Contact Intuit Technical
Support".

Any clues?

You might try running UAC in the quiet mode, or disabling it
temporarily, to see if that is the cause of your problem. Here is a
tool that makes it easy:
http://www.tweak-uac.com/what-is-tweak-uac/

I have always run Vista with UAC disabled - it's far too intrusive for
experienced computer users. I am intrigued that I can create and read
a new file but not any of my old ones. There must be a clue there
somewhere!

How about this:
1. Open the good file on the XP machine (It IS a separate machine,
right?).
2. Go into File/File Operations and rename the file.
3. Validate the renamed file on the XP machine.
4. Use Q backup to backup the renamed file from the XP machine to a
flash drive.
5. Use Q restore to restore the renamed file from the flash drive to the
Vista machine.
6. Open the renamed file on the Vista machine.

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Sponsor

R. C. White
Guest

Posted: Wed May 21, 2008 6:28 pm Post subject: Re: Quicken 2001 - "Unable to validate your file . . . "

Hi, Mr. Slow.

I haven't followed the whole thread so maybe I just missed it, but...

Quote:

but I can create and read a
new file, but not any of my old ones.

Have you given yourself permission to see those old files? Even with UAC
disabled, Vista is much more protective of files belonging to other users.
(Even to ourselves, in another life.) You may need to adjust your security
settings or even Take Ownership of the folders where those files are.

This is not "security" as in protection from viruses and malware, but as in
protection from authorized users who are not authorized to see these
particular files.

As just one guy with just one computer, I've never had to learn much about
permissions and such. But Vista has forced me to learn just a little about
those topics. I couldn't Import my email archives into Windows Mail or
Windows Live Mail until I took ownership of the Outlook Express Store
Folder, even though it was right here on my hard drive all along. WM simply
told me "there are no such files in that folder", but there obviously were
plenty of .dbx files there.

Another factor is that Vista now enforces rules that we were supposed to
have been following for a long time. Such as prohibiting writes to some
folders, including the Root of C: (C:\) and C:\Program Files. Your old
Quicken may have written your data files into Program Files and now Vista
can't access them without explicit instructions from you. Even with UAC
turned off. (By the way, I recommend that you turn UAC back on and learn
how to use it. It's intrusive for the first week or two, but is much easier
to live with after that.)

RC
--
R. C. White, CPA
San Marcos, TX
(Retired. No longer licensed to practice public accounting.)
rc@grandecom.net
Microsoft Windows MVP
(Currently running Quicken 2008 Deluxe in Vista Ultimate x64 SP1)

"Mr. Slow" <millenniumgold@btinternet.invalid> wrote in message
news:udOdnT3fEY0FdK7VnZ2dneKdnZydnZ2d@bt.com...

Quote:

"Marty K" <mrmarty@attglobal.net> wrote in message
news:483370b3@kcnews01...
Mr. Slow wrote:
I have been using Quicken 2001 (UK version) for a number of years
without a problem, under platforms of Windows 2000, Windows XP Pro. and
now Windows Vista Home Premium. This latest setup has been working quite
happily for about 6 months but now, without warning, refuses to do so.

The program starts but any attempt to open a *.qdf file fails with this
error

"Unable to validate your file. Contact Intuit Technical Support"

Sadly, UK versions of Quicken are no longer supported or updated by
Intuit. The software is obviously fairly old but has always worked well,
even with Vista. I don't believe this to be a Vista issue - it worked
just fine for some months before this problem.

I have attempted to restore backups and validate the files, without
success - same error message. However, the files are not corrupt because
I can open them in Quicken installations under Windows 2000 and Windows
XP. I have reinstalled the program - no change.

Does anyone have any further ideas, please?

Sorry for your trouble but have you looked at the Vista security
settings? I don't use Vista but have read on this forum about
security settings getting in the way. Have you made any changes
to your system that may have changed access permissions to the
file that can't be used?

Just a thought.

Marty,

I haven't changed any of my Vista settings but of course, there are
regular
monthly updates from Microsoft which change things behind the scenes. It
is
of course entirely feasible that there has been an update which has moved
the goal posts as far as Quicken is concerned but I can create and read a
new file, but not any of my old ones. As I have said above - there must be
a
clue there somewhere!

Ads

Advertising
Sponsor

Mr. Slow
Guest

Posted: Thu May 22, 2008 3:10 am Post subject: Re: Quicken 2001 - "Unable to validate your file . . . "

"Jim Jensen" <me@privacy.net> wrote in message
news:GCTYj.4765$7k7.3889@flpi150.ffdc.sbc.com...

Quote:

"Mr. Slow" wrote:

I have been using Quicken 2001 (UK version) for a number of years
without a problem, under platforms of Windows 2000, Windows XP
Pro.
and now Windows Vista Home Premium. This latest setup has been
working
quite happily for about 6 months but now, without warning,
refuses to
do so.

The program starts but any attempt to open a *.qdf file fails
with
this error

"Unable to validate your file. Contact Intuit Technical Support"

Sadly, UK versions of Quicken are no longer supported or updated
by
Intuit. The software is obviously fairly old but has always
worked
well, even with Vista. I don't believe this to be a Vista issue -
it
worked just fine for some months before this problem.

I have attempted to restore backups and validate the files,
without
success - same error message. However, the files are not corrupt
because I can open them in Quicken installations under Windows
2000
and Windows XP. I have reinstalled the program - no change.

Does anyone have any further ideas, please?

Since the program starts, will it let you create/read a NEW Quicken
file?

Jim,
Thanks for your interest. Yes, I can create/backup/restore and read
a new
file. If I attempt to restore any of my old files I get a message
saying
that the restore is successful but when I try to open the file, I
get the
message "Unable to validate your file. Contact Intuit Technical
Support".

Any clues?

You might try running UAC in the quiet mode, or disabling it
temporarily, to see if that is the cause of your problem. Here is a
tool that makes it easy:
http://www.tweak-uac.com/what-is-tweak-uac/

I have always run Vista with UAC disabled - it's far too intrusive for
experienced computer users. I am intrigued that I can create and read
a new file but not any of my old ones. There must be a clue there
somewhere!

How about this:
1. Open the good file on the XP machine (It IS a separate machine,
right?).
2. Go into File/File Operations and rename the file.
3. Validate the renamed file on the XP machine.
4. Use Q backup to backup the renamed file from the XP machine to a
flash drive.
5. Use Q restore to restore the renamed file from the flash drive to the
Vista machine.
6. Open the renamed file on the Vista machine.

Jim. Thanks again. Your fix didn't work, but I figured out the reason when I
started to get the same validation errors on a Win XP Pro machine. Some some
reason, the backed up Quicken files on a flash drive I was using to copy
between machines were corrupt. This is strange, because I must have backed
up Quicken files a dozen or more times to that drive in an attempt to get
this problem solved, and they were all corrupted every time. It appears it
was a problem with the flash drive which I have now reformatted and the
copied files are now working just fine on the Vista machine as well as that
running XP. Thanks again for your efforts at solving this difficult issue -
it would appear it was never a Quicken problem at all!

--
To reply, replace "invalid" with "com"

Quote:

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Mr. Slow
Guest

Posted: Thu May 22, 2008 3:15 am Post subject: Re: Quicken 2001 - "Unable to validate your file . . . "

"R. C. White" <rc@grandecom.net> wrote in message
news:asKdnWebmeUUvqnVnZ2dnUVZ_iydnZ2d@posted.grandecom...

Quote:

Hi, Mr. Slow.

I haven't followed the whole thread so maybe I just missed it, but...

but I can create and read a
new file, but not any of my old ones.

Have you given yourself permission to see those old files? Even with UAC
disabled, Vista is much more protective of files belonging to other users.
(Even to ourselves, in another life.) You may need to adjust your
security
settings or even Take Ownership of the folders where those files are.

This is not "security" as in protection from viruses and malware, but as
in
protection from authorized users who are not authorized to see these
particular files.

As just one guy with just one computer, I've never had to learn much about
permissions and such. But Vista has forced me to learn just a little
about
those topics. I couldn't Import my email archives into Windows Mail or
Windows Live Mail until I took ownership of the Outlook Express Store
Folder, even though it was right here on my hard drive all along. WM
simply
told me "there are no such files in that folder", but there obviously were
plenty of .dbx files there.

Another factor is that Vista now enforces rules that we were supposed to
have been following for a long time. Such as prohibiting writes to some
folders, including the Root of C: (C:\) and C:\Program Files. Your old
Quicken may have written your data files into Program Files and now Vista
can't access them without explicit instructions from you. Even with UAC
turned off. (By the way, I recommend that you turn UAC back on and learn
how to use it. It's intrusive for the first week or two, but is much
easier
to live with after that.)

RC

Hi RC,

Thanks for your response. I managed to figure this out - the solution is in
the thread above. Many thanks for your suggestions - I had incidentally
already tried taking ownership of the supposedly corrupt files - without
solving the problem.

I am afraid I will not be re enabling UAC; I've lived and survived without
it over the years and really don't think I need it. These are hopefully not
famous last words . . . . !

Thanks again

--
To reply, replace "invalid" with "com"

Ads

Advertising
Sponsor

Jim Jensen
Guest

Posted: Thu May 22, 2008 3:40 am Post subject: Re: Quicken 2001 - "Unable to validate your file . . . "

"Mr. Slow" wrote:

Quote:

Jim. Thanks again. Your fix didn't work, but I figured out the reason
when I
started to get the same validation errors on a Win XP Pro machine.
Some some
reason, the backed up Quicken files on a flash drive I was using to
copy
between machines were corrupt. This is strange, because I must have
backed
up Quicken files a dozen or more times to that drive in an attempt to
get
this problem solved, and they were all corrupted every time. It
appears it
was a problem with the flash drive which I have now reformatted and
the
copied files are now working just fine on the Vista machine as well as
that
running XP. Thanks again for your efforts at solving this difficult
issue -
it would appear it was never a Quicken problem at all!

It was an interesting puzzle. Glad you solved it.

Ads

Advertising
Sponsor

R. C. White
Guest

Posted: Thu May 22, 2008 7:36 am Post subject: Re: Quicken 2001 - "Unable to validate your file . . . "

Hi, Mr. Slow.

Quote:

I managed to figure this out - the solution is in
the thread above.

Yes, I read it. Congratulations and thanks for the feedback.

Quote:

I am afraid I will not be re enabling UAC;

OK. We each have our pet peeves and favorite fixes. ;^}

UAC is very intrusive at first, as we are tweaking Vista and installing
applications and migrating data and learning where everything is in this
newfangled interface. (Like when moving to a new house and stumbling in the
dark to the kitchen when we meant to go to the bathroom. Everything's
there; everything works; but nothing's where we remember it. But it soon
becomes as familiar as the old place.) And that darned indexing service
that's supposed to be working in the background takes over the CPU just when
we need to do a quickie job.

But I don't even notice UAC anymore - most of the time. Only when I want to
open an Administrator:Command Prompt window (Old DOS habits die hard and
some jobs just can't be done in the GUI.), or run Disk Management or some
other system utility. But I've chosen to not use a password, so it takes
just a single mouse-click to dismiss what amounts to only a reminder to
watch my step while working under the hood.

On the other hand, I haven't run an antivirus program in years, since Norton
took so long to update NIS to 64-bits - and I found out that I don't need
it, so long as I "practice safe hex". I still cringe when I remember all
the hours - days! - that I used to spend tweaking NIS and downloading the
frequent updates for it and wondering what all those cryptic codes really
meant and if they were even important to me. "Running bare" gives me a very
nice sense of freedom. As you so aptly said, "These are hopefully not
famous last words . . . . !"

RC
--
R. C. White, CPA
San Marcos, TX
(Retired. No longer licensed to practice public accounting.)
rc@grandecom.net
Microsoft Windows MVP
(Currently running Quicken 2008 Deluxe in Vista Ultimate x64 SP1)

"Mr. Slow" <millenniumgold@btinternet.invalid> wrote in message
news:ddqdnSDpVcRoA6nVnZ2dneKdnZydnZ2d@bt.com...

Quote:

"R. C. White" <rc@grandecom.net> wrote in message
news:asKdnWebmeUUvqnVnZ2dnUVZ_iydnZ2d@posted.grandecom...
Hi, Mr. Slow.

I haven't followed the whole thread so maybe I just missed it, but...

but I can create and read a
new file, but not any of my old ones.

Have you given yourself permission to see those old files? Even with UAC
disabled, Vista is much more protective of files belonging to other
users.
(Even to ourselves, in another life.) You may need to adjust your
security
settings or even Take Ownership of the folders where those files are.

This is not "security" as in protection from viruses and malware, but as
in
protection from authorized users who are not authorized to see these
particular files.

As just one guy with just one computer, I've never had to learn much
about
permissions and such. But Vista has forced me to learn just a little
about
those topics. I couldn't Import my email archives into Windows Mail or
Windows Live Mail until I took ownership of the Outlook Express Store
Folder, even though it was right here on my hard drive all along. WM
simply
told me "there are no such files in that folder", but there obviously
were
plenty of .dbx files there.

Another factor is that Vista now enforces rules that we were supposed to
have been following for a long time. Such as prohibiting writes to some
folders, including the Root of C: (C:\) and C:\Program Files. Your old
Quicken may have written your data files into Program Files and now Vista
can't access them without explicit instructions from you. Even with UAC
turned off. (By the way, I recommend that you turn UAC back on and learn
how to use it. It's intrusive for the first week or two, but is much
easier
to live with after that.)

RC

Hi RC,

Thanks for your response. I managed to figure this out - the solution is
in
the thread above. Many thanks for your suggestions - I had incidentally
already tried taking ownership of the supposedly corrupt files - without
solving the problem.

I am afraid I will not be re enabling UAC; I've lived and survived without
it over the years and really don't think I need it. These are hopefully
not
famous last words . . . . !

Thanks again

Ads

Advertising
Sponsor

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