You receive the "Money cannot locate <filename>" error message when you try to open a Money data file (320193)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Money 2007 Deluxe
  • Microsoft Money 2007 Home & Business
  • Microsoft Money 2007 Premium
  • Microsoft Money Deluxe 2006
  • Microsoft Money Premium 2006
  • Microsoft Money Small Business 2006
  • Microsoft Money Standard 2006
  • Microsoft Money 2005 Deluxe
  • Microsoft Money 2005 Premium
  • Microsoft Money 2005 Small Business
  • Microsoft Money 2005 Standard
  • Microsoft Money 2004 Deluxe
  • Microsoft Money 2004 Premium
  • Microsoft Money 2004 Small Business
  • Microsoft Money 2004 Standard
  • Microsoft Money 2003 Deluxe
  • Microsoft Money 2003 Deluxe and Business
  • Microsoft Money 2003 Standard
  • Microsoft Money 2003 Suite
  • Microsoft Money 2002
  • Microsoft Money Deluxe 2002
  • Microsoft Money Deluxe & Business 2002
  • Microsoft Money Suite 2002
  • Microsoft Money Essentials
This article was previously published under Q320193

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. For more information about how to resolve this issue, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

890393 You receive the "Money cannot locate <filename>" error message after you reinstall Money 2005

Additionally, you may receive an error message that resembles the following:
Money cannot locate 'C:\...\name of your file' or cannot open it, possibly because it is a read-only file 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 open your most recent backup file.

If the file is being used in another application, close it in the other application and click OK to try again.
Money cannot locate 'C:\...\name of your file' or cannot open it, possibly because it is a read-only file or your disk drive is write protected. If you have chosen the correct file and it cannot be accessed, you will need to open your most recent backup file.

If the file is being used in another application, close it in the other application and try again.

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.

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

  1. Quit Money.
  2. Right-click Start, and then click Explore.
  3. Locate your Money data file. The Money file is typically located in the My 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.
  4. Right-click the Microsoft Money data file, and then click Properties.
  5. 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 these steps.
  1. Quit Money.
  2. Click Start, click Search, and then click All Files and Folders.
  3. In the File Name box, type *.mny.
  4. In the Look in box, click My Computer.
  5. Click Search.
  6. 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 How to diagnose and repair damage in a Money data file

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 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 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 How to export and import account information in Microsoft Money

Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:7/3/2006
Keywords:kbRepair kbui kberrmsg kbprb KB320193 kbAudEndUser
©2004 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.