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You receive the "Money cannot locate <filename>" error message when you try to open a Money data file

Article ID: 320193 - View products that this article applies to.

This article was previously published under Q320193

Notice

If you've been managing your finances with the help of Microsoft Money, you should be aware that Microsoft discontinued all online services and assisted support for all versions of Money on January 31, 2011. (Microsoft discontinued sales of Money on June 20, 2009.) If you're looking for an alternative program, Microsoft has made the Money Plus Sunset versions available as a replacement for the following expired programs: Microsoft Money Essentials, Microsoft Money Deluxe, Microsoft Money Premium, Microsoft Money Home, and Microsoft Money Business. For more information about Money Plus Sunset, refer to this article in the Microsoft Knowledge base: What Is Microsoft Money Plus Sunset?

(http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2118008/ )

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SYMPTOMS

When you try to open a Microsoft Money data file that was created in an earlier version of Money, you may receive an error message that resembles the following:

Money cannot locate filename or cannot open it, possibly because it is a read-only file, you do not have permission to change it, or your disk drive is write-protected. If you have chosen the correct file and it cannot be accessed, you will need to click OK and then Restore your most recent backup file.

If you are using Microsoft Money 2005, and you receive this error message after you reinstall Money, the behavior may be caused by Money not having all the required updates installed.

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CAUSE

This behavior may occur if one or more of the following conditions are true:

Your Money data file is damaged.
Your Money (*.mny) file attribute is set to read-only. You cannot view read-only files in Money. This behavior is by design.

Note This limitation is imposed by the Money Autosave feature. Autosave runs continuously in the background and maintains the sensitive nature data in Money. This aspect of the Autosave feature is not present in other Microsoft products.
You moved, deleted, or renamed the last file that was opened in Money.
You are trying to open a Money 2005 file after reinstalling Money 2005. However, you have not yet applied all of the updates to Money 2005. If you are using Money 2005, use Method 5 to resolve this behavior.

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RESOLUTION

To resolve this behavior, use the following method that is appropriate for your situation.

Method 1: Remove the read-only attribute from the Money file

Quit Money.
Right-click Start, and then click Explore.
Locate your Money data file. On a computer that is running Microsoft Windows XP or an earlier version of Windows, the Money file is typically located in the "My Documents" folder. On a computer that is running Windows Vista, the Money file is typically located in the Documents folder. If you are not sure where the Money data file is located, you can search the computer for all the *.mny Money data files.
Right-click the Microsoft Money data file, and then click Properties.
Click to clear the Read-Only check box, and then click OK.

After you remove the read-only attribute from the file, double-click the file to open it directly into Money. If this does not resolve the behavior, or if this attribute was not set on your file, go to Method 2.

Method 2: If you moved, deleted, or renamed your Money file

After you click OK in response to the error message, a dialog box appears that lets you open a file or restore a file from a backup file. Click Open an Existing file, and then follow the steps that appear to locate your data file.

You can also search the hard disk for any Money Files. To do this, follow the steps in the appropriate section.

Windows Vista

Quit Money.
Click Start
Collapse this imageExpand this image
, type *.mny in the Start Search box, and then press ENTER.
When the search is finished, double-click the data file in the Search Results window to open the file in Money.

Microsoft Windows XP or earlier versions of Windows

Quit Money.
Click Start, click Search, and then click All Files and Folders.
In the File Name box, type *.mny.
In the Look in box, click My Computer.
Click Search.
When the search is finished, double-click the data file to open the file in Money.

Method 3: Repair your Money data file

For more information about how to repair your Money data file, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

182608

(http://support.microsoft.com/kb/182608/ )

You receive error messages or notice unexpected symptoms in Money

If repairing the Money data file does not resolve the behavior, you may have to perform a deeper repair. To do this, go to Method 4.

Method 4: Run the Standard File repair

For more information about how to use the Standard File repair feature in Money, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

902466

(http://support.microsoft.com/kb/902466/ )

How to use the Microsoft Money Standard File Repair utility

If the behavior is still not resolved, your file may be damaged beyond repair. In this situation, you have two options. You can restore a backup file that does not have the damage, or you may have to create a new data file and export your existing account information to the new file. For more information about how to restore a backup file, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

178850

(http://support.microsoft.com/kb/178850/ )

How to restore a backup file in Microsoft Money

For more information about how to create a new data file and export your existing account information to the new file, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

178830

(http://support.microsoft.com/kb/178830/ )

How to export and import account information in Microsoft Money

Method 5: Update Money 2005 before trying to open a Money 2005 data file

To resolve this issue, create a new Money 2005 data file, download the updates, and then open your original Money 2005 data file. To do this, follow these steps.

Note Because of then enhanced security features in Windows Vista, you must run Money 2005 in an elevated mode for Money 2005 to update itself. To do this, right-click the Money icon, and then select Run As Administrator. Additionally, you must know the administrator credentials.

Start Money 2005.
When you receive the error message that is mentioned in the "Symptoms" section, click OK.
On the "About upgrading your Money file" screen, click File, click New, and then click New File.
In the Save in box, click a location for your new Money 2005 data file, type a new name for the file in the File name box, and then click OK.
On the "Thank you for using Microsoft Money 2005" screen, click Next.
On the "Help protect your online privacy and security" screen, click Decline.
Click Yes to continue without using a Microsoft .NET Passport.
Click to select the I don't want to use a password for my Money file check box, and then click Next.
On the "Add your accounts" page, click Next. If you use Microsoft Money 2005 Small Business, click Skip on the "Tell Money about your business" screen.

Note If you receive a message that states to update Money 2005, click Yes, follow the prompts to install the update, and then go to step 13.
On the "Choose an account type" screen, click Cancel.
Click Finish.
On the Money 2005 home page, click Yes to install the Money 2005 update, and then follow the prompts that appear on the screen to install the update.

Note If you do not receive these prompts, or if you only see a blank page, there is likely something blocking access to the download site--for example, firewall software. You may have to allow for access to the Microsoft Downloads center.
To restart Money 2005, click OK.
Click File, and then click Open.
Locate your original Money 2005 data file, and then click Open. If you are prompted to back up the data file, click Don't Back Up.