Someone wrote in asking about a particular error they recieved when he tried to restore a QuickBooks Portable File. The exact error message he received read something like this:
“Error in reload.sql at line #####. Sybase message: The file ‘Q:/YYYY QuickBooks/YYYY Working Copy/qbmBD31.tmp/738.dat’ is invalid when the disk sandbox feature is enabled for database ‘qbmBD52’.”
Sandbox error
If that doesn’t sound like a mouth full of hogwash, I don’t know what does. This seems to have been, and still mayl be, a frequent issue associated with the restoration of a QuickBooks Portable file or, a very similar error arises when attempting to restore a QuickBooks Accountant’s Copy file.
Intuit technical support says this problem has been resolved in newer releases of QuickBooks desktop products. While this maybe so, it also indicates the error may still exist even after updating to the latest release(s) for your particular product.
Try these steps first
Typically, users are instructed to always insure that *.QBM (portable files) or *.QBX (Accountant’s Copy Export file) are saved to their desktop. If you have previously saved either of these file types to another location, copy them from that location to the desktop.
But even when these files are located on the desktop, Intuit reports that some users have continued to experience the error(s) shown above. In these cases, Intuit suggest you first create a new file folder (Window’s directory) at the root level of your C: drive. It even suggests you call this new folder, QBTest.
Now copy the *.QBM or *.QBX file, that is the subject of the error, from your computer’s desktop and past it into the new QBTest directory.
Open QuickBooks and attempt to restore the file from the new QBTest directory, according to the instructions for the specific file type:
For a *.QBM (Portable file) type:
- Within QuickBooks, open the File menu.
- Select the menu option, Open or Restore Company
- Choose, Restore a portable file, then click Next
- When the Open a Company file dialog box appears, navigate to the new QBTest folder
- Click once to highlight the newly-copied *.QBM file and select, Open
- Restore the file to your desired location; be careful about overwriting your existing file, unless that's your intention
For a *.QBX (Accountant’s Copy Export file) type:
- Within QuickBooks, open the File menu
- Select the menu option, Open or Restore Company
- Choose, Convert an Accountant’s Copy Transfer File, click Next
- Review the ‘Overview of Accountant’s Copy’ information, click Next
- Review the "What the Accountant’s Copy Can and Can’t Do" information, click Next
- When the Open a Company file dialog box appears, navigate to the new QBTest folder
- Click once to highlight the newly-copied *.QBX file and select, Open
- Restore the file to your desired location; be careful about overwriting any existing file of the same name, unless that's your intention
Second Option
Intuit suggests you perform a Windows repair of your QuickBooks installation.
Third Option
Intuit suggests you complete remove QuickBooks and perform a clean installation of QuickBooks. Before undertaking this option, read and consider the "What Else to Try’" instructions below.
What Else to Try
If the error involves a *.QBX file (Accountant’s Copy Exchange file) that is the copy a QuickBooks user sends to their Accountant, you may want to consider the option of having the client "Remove Accountant Copy Restrictions." Then, make an entirely new Accountant’s copy (*.QBX file) and send to you.
I suggest you use some method other than the Intuit transfer service to do this. Remember the *.QBX file is the client’s data they are sending to the accountant, if the accountant has never been able to restore the *.QBX file, then no work has been performed within the Accountant’s Working Copy of the Client’s data. This is just like starting at square one again, and might save you considerable time over the "Third Option" above.
The need of restoring a *.QBM (Portable file) may not have the latitude I describe in the above paragraph concerning a *.QBX file. It all depends on why you made the *.QBM file and why you're want to restore it in the first place.
If you have lost data in your QuickBooks Company file or have suffered a severe corruption, and the *.QBM file is your backup source (even though it is not a full QuickBooks backup), you don’t have the luxury of simply starting over and making a new *QBM file.
Since there are several other options why people use *.QBM portable files, you'll have to apply some judgment.
For example, if you sent the file to someone and they can’t restore it after taking these steps outline herein, simply try sending them a newly made *.QBM file. The same would apply if you are using the *.QBM file for "round-tripping" to perhaps somewhat condense or re-index your file.
Last Resort
If all else fails, you can contact QuickBooks Technical Support.
Fake Technical Support
When contacting QuickBooks Technical Support, always make certain you're actually talking to Intuit QuickBooks Technical Support.
Web browsers and search engines find and display hundreds of non-Intuit sites (and phone numbers) purporting to be QuickBooks Technical Support.
These sites may at the very least overcharge you or take your money without doing anything. Even worse, they may "corrupt your data," "steal your data" or even "destroy your data" or computer.
Intuit QuickBooks Desktop support telephone numbers ("It's like pulling eye teeth to track these down now days on Intuit's website):
- For QuickBooks Desktop Pro/Premier, without or without a prepaid support plan (or Plus subscription) in the U.S., call 877-797-5809.
- For QuickBooks Enterprise Support in the U.S., call 866-340-7237
Of course, the more difficult it is to find the real numbers makes it that much easier for scammers and con artists to have their fake technical support numbers listed on the internet and suck in thousands of unsuspecting QuickBooks users.