How Do I Rebuild a Damaged Company File?

QuickBooks includes a utility to rebuild a company file in the event the file becomes damaged. Rebuilding a company file is an appropriate step in these circumstances:

• verifying the company file (.qbw) failed
• the verify utility returns a b-check error
• payroll forms display incorrectly

In QuickBooks 2004 and 2005, a company file can be rebuilt without first being opened. Beginning with QuickBooks 2006 and thereafter, a company file must first be successfully opened before it can be rebuilt. That limits the functionality of the Rebuild Data utility to files where the damage does not prevent the file from opening.

To rebuild your QuickBooks company file, do the following:

1. Run the rebuild by visiting the File->Utilities->Rebuild Data menu selection
2. Follow the steps outlined below to backup your data
3. Leave the rebuilding process uninterrupted until completion

Once you’ve started the Rebuild Data utility, QuickBooks will prompt you to make a backup of your company file before continuing. Follow these steps to backup your data:

Step 1 – Click Ok to backup your data

Step 2 – Choose the type (online or local) and options

Step 3 – Choose the location for your backup

Step 4 – Leave your computer uninterrupted while QuickBooks rebuilds your company file

Step 5 – Click Ok when QuickBooks has finished rebuilding your company file

Some problems benefit from running the Rebuild utility several times in succession.

Rebuilding procedures are also outlined in this Intuit knowledge base article.

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