How to Fix QuickBooks Error 6000 83 (Company File Error)?

QuickBooks error 6000 83 generally arises when the accounting software attempts to use the company file. 

This particular issue is related to the 6000 series error and is generally linked to the company file. It is quite likely that the user may have come across this problem when trying to open, restore, or take a backup of the QuickBooks company file.

To help you comprehend this issue in the best way possible and resolve this problem for good, in this article, we will be sharing the causes, symptoms, and solutions to fix this issue 6000 83.

What is QuickBooks Desktop Error Code 6000 83?

Encountering QuickBooks error Code 6000 83 can disrupt the process of accessing or restoring data files. Commonly referred to as a company file error, this glitch might also surface when users attempt to create backups for their company files. The root causes of this issue include misconfigured hosting settings and the presence of damaged company or backup files. The error typically emerges with a warning message stating, “An error occurred when QuickBooks tried to access the company file,” clearly indicating a breakdown in communication between QuickBooks and the server device.

Steps to Resolve QuickBooks Error Code 6000, 83:

The steps for troubleshooting this error are contingent upon the specific action taken when the error occurred. Please choose from the scenarios provided below and follow the recommended troubleshooting steps:

Scenario 1: Accessing the QuickBooks Company File on a Windows Server

If you encounter this error while working with the QuickBooks company file on a Windows Server, you might discover that copying the QB company file to your computer for error resolution is a more effective approach than resolving it over the network. After resolving the issue, you can then copy the QB file back to its original network location.

Solution 1: Utilize QuickBooks File Doctor for Error Resolution

To address errors in the QB company file or network, employ the QuickBooks File Doctor tool.

• Begin by obtaining the tool from this source, then proceed to install and execute it on your system.
• The tool will systematically scan and automatically rectify server errors.
• Upon completion, simply reboot your computer system.

Solution 2: Disabling Hosting on Network-Accessible Workstations

If you utilize QuickBooks Desktop on multiple computers, designate just one as the host for the QB company file. Implement the steps below to deactivate hosting on all other workstations

• Launch QuickBooks Desktop.
• Click on the “File” icon, then navigate to the “Utilities” tab.
• Review the options:
  • If you encounter “Host Multi-User Access,” it signifies that the computer isn’t hosting the QB company file. Proceed to the next workstation.
  • If you come across “Stop Hosting Multi-User Access,” select this option and then:
• Within the “Stop hosting multi-user Access” window, confirm by clicking the “Yes” button.
• In the subsequent “Company file must be closed” window, click “Yes” to proceed. Now you can move on to the next computer.

Solution 3: Manual Resolution for Error 6000, 83

If the QuickBooks File Doctor is unable to run successfully on your system, you can follow these manual troubleshooting steps. If you prefer a hands-on approach, consider implementing the following solutions:

1. Update QuickBooks: Ensure you have the latest QuickBooks release installed. Keeping your software up-to-date can often resolve various issues.
2. Configure Firewall and Anti-virus: Please note that Intuit does not provide support for firewall-related problems. However, you can configure your firewall and internet security settings to allow QuickBooks Desktop updates and network access. Consult your firewall manufacturer’s website for instructions on permitting internet access to QuickBooks files across all devices.
3. Verify Company File Access Permissions: To ensure proper permissions are in place, review the setup folder(s) and file(s) permissions for sharing QuickBooks company files. If you need to adjust permissions, refer to the guidelines on setting Windows access permissions for sharing QB company files.

Scan the QuickBooks company files

By examining the designated folders where these files are stored. This action creates ‘Network Descriptor’ files with the *.nd extension. These files store information about the hosting machine. Begin by clicking on the “Windows” or “Start” menu. Navigate to the “Programs” section and select ‘QuickBooks.’ Then, access the QuickBooks Database Server Manager (QBDSM).

1. Find the “Add Folder” option in the QuickBooks Database Server Manager. Use this to locate and include folders that contain QuickBooks company files (QB files). Once all relevant folders are added, initiate the scanning process by selecting the “Scan” icon.
2. You will find the data files under the “QuickBooks Company Files” section. Visit each folder that holds QB company files. Ensure the .qbw and .nd files are created for each QB company data file.

Verify Hosting on Computers:

If you’re employing the QuickBooks Database Server Manager (QBDSM) on the server within a network environment, the server computer should be the sole machine with hosting activated. Enable hosting on the server computer and scan QB company files.

To do this, launch the QuickBooks application. Proceed to the “File” menu and choose the “Utilities” tab. From the provided list, note the following:

1. Host Multi-User Access indicates that the machine isn’t hosting the QB company file. Move on to the next machine.
2. Stop Hosting Multi-User Access: Select this option. On the ‘Stop hosting multi-user Access’ screen, confirm by clicking “Yes.” Close the company file window and respond “Yes” to continue. Proceed to the next computer as needed.

Server

Click on the “Taskbar” window and select the “Task Manager” tab. Navigate to the ‘Image Name’ column and search for QBDBMgrN.exe. To organize the list alphabetically, click on the column heading. If QBDBMgrN.exe is not visible in the list, ensure that the QuickBooksXX service is present on the computer and running. Log into the system as a Full Administrator (Contact the administrator for full admin access if needed).

Click on the “Start” or “Windows” button and then select the “Run” option. In the “Open” field, type in “services.msc” and click on “OK.” Locate the appropriate service for your QuickBooks Desktop version from the list below:

• QuickBooks version 2020: QuickBooksDB30
• QuickBooks 2019: QuickBooksDB29
• QuickBooks version 2018: QuickBooksDB28
• QuickBooks 2017: QuickBooksDB27
• QuickBooks version 2016: QuickBooksDB26

Ensure that you select “Automatic” as the startup type and confirm that the service is currently running. If the service is not running, right-click on it and choose “Start.” Double-click on the service if the startup type is not set to Automatic. In the Startup type drop-down, select the “Automatic” option.

• Review the QBDBMgrN.exe file entries in a sequence and verify the accuracy of the entries in the “User Name” column:
• Review the QBDBMgrN.exe file entries in a sequence and verify the accuracy of the entries in the “User Name” column:

Accessing the QB company file from a different location involves the following steps:

1. Utilize the host computer to initiate the opening/accessing of the QB file.
   • Navigate to the machine where the QB company file is stored initially.
   • If the hosting computer exclusively contains the Server installation and storage, opt for the ‘Copy file’ function to relocate the file to another location.
   • Launch the QuickBooks Desktop application and open the QB Company file displaying the error warning.
     • If opening the QB company file from this machine succeeds, scrutinize the file for issues.
     • If unable to open the QB company file, proceed to step B.
   • If prompted by QuickBooks to rebuild the QB company file, follow the instructions accordingly.
   • Note: Should the QuickBooks Desktop application confirm the absence of problems with the QB company file but the error or issue persists, advance to Step B.
2. Duplicate the QB file to a Different location.
   • Navigate to the folder containing the QB company file.
   • Right-click on the ‘filename’ and select the “Copy” option.
   • Then, right-click on an empty area of the desktop screen and choose “Paste.”
   • Launch the QuickBooks Desktop application and open the QB company file from the desktop. Please be aware that if you encounter a QB error warning message, it could indicate file corruption. In such a scenario, you have three choices:
     • Restore the backup of the QB company file.
     • Retrieve lost QB data using ‘QuickBooks Auto Data Recovery.’
     • Forward the QuickBooks company file to the QuickBooks Data Recovery Team.
     • You must contact technical support to avail of the QB data recovery service from official Intuit Data Services. (Charges may be applicable.)
3. If the QuickBooks company file opens without issues, copy the QB file(s) back to its original location.
4. Important Note: Before proceeding, ensure that you rename the original QB Company file to a different name. This should be done before copying the freshly opened file from the computer. Be cautious not to overwrite the existing QuickBooks company file with the new one. Follow these steps:
   • Access the folder(s) containing the original (damaged) QB company file.
   • Rename the file by adding either “OLD” or “DAMAGED” at the beginning of the file name. For example, if the original QB company file was named ‘CompanyFile’, rename it to ‘OLD_CompanyFile’ or ‘DAMAGED_CompanyFile’.
   • Close the QuickBooks application.
   • Copy the QB company file(s) from the computer.
   • Paste the copied file(s) into the folder where the file was originally saved or stored.
   • Open the QuickBooks application.
   • Access the QB company file from its initial location.

Following these steps, you can safely preserve the original file while working with the new one and prevent accidental overwriting.

Solution 4: Modifying the Hosts File

To address the issue, you can edit the Windows hosts file(s) on your desktop computer with the accurate IP address and Windows Server name. It’s important to note that host files mainly handle static IP addresses. If your network employs dynamic addressing, this approach could lead to problems if the server reboots and obtains a different IP address than what’s configured in the Hosts file. To prevent this, ensure the Windows server maintains a consistent address on the network.

Follow these steps:

1. Close QuickBooks Desktop if it’s open.
2. Begin by accessing the Start menu and opening “Computer” on the server.
3. Navigate to the following paths, one at a time:
   • C:\Windows\System32\Drivers\Etc
   • C:\Windows\Syswow64\Drivers\Etc
4. In these locations, locate the host’s file and double-click it.
5. If prompted to choose a program to open the file, select “Notepad.”
6. Enter the IP address followed by the computer name. For the server, use the workstation’s IP address and computer name, and for the workstation, use the server’s IP address and computer name.
7. While entering these details, utilize the Tab key to separate the IP address and computer name instead of the space bar.

By correctly updating the hosts’ file, you can establish the necessary IP address and server name associations. Keep in mind the static vs. dynamic IP addressing considerations to avoid any potential issues.

Scenario 2: Access the QuickBooks Company file located on a Linux server.

Important Points to Keep in Mind: The resolution outlined below for addressing (QuickBooks Error 6000 83) should be executed by a proficient system administrator well-versed in navigating the Linux operating system. Furthermore, the administrator should possess a comprehensive understanding of network operations and the necessary permissions to ensure accurate installation during the configuration of the QuickBooks Enterprise Solution Linux Database Server Manager.

Solution 1: Verifying Connection

To ensure proper connectivity, follow these steps:

• Configure the ‘Initord.conf’ File on the Linux Database Server Manager to specify the appropriate directory.
• Restart the QuickBooks Enterprise Solutions application on the Windows client machine.
• Ping the server:
  • Press the “Windows+R” keys simultaneously to open the ‘Run’ window.
  • Type “CMD” and click “OK” to access the command prompt.
  • In the command prompt, type “Ping (Name of Linux Server)” and press “Enter”.

Solution 2: Modifying the Hosts File for Linux Server Connection

To address the issue, you can follow these steps to edit the hosts file and ensure proper access to the QB Company file from a Windows client while considering the case-sensitive nature of the Linux file system:

1. Close the QuickBooks Desktop application.
2. Press the “Windows” and “E” keys simultaneously to open the ‘Computer’ window.
3. Navigate to the Local Disk (usually ‘C:’).
4. Go to the ‘Windows’ folder icon, then access the ‘System32 folder’ and subsequently the ‘drivers folder’.
5. Locate and open the ‘etc’ folder.
6. Use ‘Notepad’ to open the ‘hosts’ file.
7. Find the last listed IP address in the file and either edit or add the IP address of the server.
8. Press the “Tab” key and enter the Linux server name.
9. Save the changes to the hosts’ file. 10. Now you can launch QuickBooks and open the QB company file.

By following these steps, you’ll ensure the correct case sensitivity while specifying the QB Company file name, and you’ll be able to access the file smoothly through the Windows client after editing the host’s file with the appropriate IP address and server name.

Scenario 3: If you are in the process of creating a backup, please follow these steps:

1. Generate a fresh file folder at the root directory of the C drive.
2. Assemble a manual backup of the required files and store it within the newly created folder.
3. For more comprehensive understanding of the backup process, you can refer to the QuickBooks Company file backup instructions. If you are using the QuickBooks application, access the Help window by pressing the “F1” key. In the Help window, search for ‘Back up Company Files Overview’.
4. An alternative method involves copying the QB company file to a Windows PC and utilizing the ‘QuickBooks File Doctor’, as elaborated in the ‘Windows’ section.

Scenario 4: Resolving QuickBooks Error 6000 83 through Company File Restoration

An effective approach to tackle QuickBooks Error 6000 83 is to restore the QuickBooks company data file. Here’s a recommended solution:

Solution 1: Adjusting the QuickBooks File Extension

When attempting to restore a QuickBooks company file, it generates a QB company file with a “.qbw” extension as a suffix. However, if the backup process generates a QB file with either a “.qbm” or “.adr” extension, the following steps should be taken to rectify the situation:

1. Rename the QB File Extension:

• In order to open/access the renamed QB file, change the QuickBooks file extension from “.qbm” or “.adr” to “.qbw”.
• Example: Rename “My Company Name.qbm” to “My Company Name.qbw”.
• If necessary, adjust Windows settings to display QB file extensions.

2. Obtain File Location:

• Open the QuickBooks Company file and press the “F2” key to access the Product Information screen.
• In the “Location” section under “File Information,” copy the file location and paste it in a system notepad.

3. Multi-User Environment Consideration:

• If operating in a QB multi-user environment, close the QuickBooks application on all computers using the QB Company file(s).

4. Navigate to the File:

• Right-click on the “Windows” or “Start” icon and select the “Explore” option.
• Locate the QB company file location noted in step 2.

5. Rename the File:

• Right-click on the “File Name” and choose “Rename.”
• Enter the new QB company file name and press “Enter.”

Note: When prompted to confirm the QB file renaming, ensure that the new QuickBooks filename is accurately typed and saved.

6. Confirmation:

• Click “Yes” to confirm the renaming of the QB file

By following these steps, you should be able to resolve QuickBooks Error 6000 83 by correctly restoring the QuickBooks company data file and adjusting the file extension if necessary.

Solution 2: Troubleshooting QB File Name and Path Issues

When performing a backup restoration in QuickBooks, it’s crucial to address any problems related to the QuickBooks file name and file path. To ensure a smooth process, steer clear of excessively long paths and special characters. Here’s a breakdown of acceptable and unacceptable practices:

1. Acceptable Path: C:\Users\Fred\My Documents\QuickBooks data\Company Name.qbw
2. Unacceptable Path: Business\Fred\Fred’s Documents\My Business $.Business – In the unacceptable example, both the usage of the quotation mark (”) and the dollar sign ($) as special characters is problematic. To rectify this, make sure to rename both the “Fred’s Documents” folder and the “My Business $.qbw” file.

Additional Considerations:

1. If you intend to restore a backup to a network location, start by restoring it to your local computer first.
2. Once the backup has been successfully restored on your computer, you can then proceed to copy the restored file to the desired network location.
3. Follow these steps to restore your backup:
   • Access the “File” menu and select the “Open or Restore Company” option.
   • Opt for “Restore a backup copy” and click on “Next.”
   • Choose the “Local backup” alternative and proceed to the next step.
   • Browse for the backup QuickBooks file named [Companyname].qbb and select “Open.”
   • On the “Open and Restore a Company” screen, click “Next.”
   • Navigate to the “Save Company File” screen. Make sure to remove any special characters or spaces from the “File Name” section.
   •  Select the “Save” option to complete the process.

By complying with these guidelines and best practices, you’ll ensure a seamless backup restoration process and mitigate any potential file name or path-related issues in QuickBooks.

What are the Causes that Trigger the QuickBooks Error Code 6000 83?

The 6000 83 error is a file-related issue that is categorized under the 6000 series error. Here is the list of the factors that may be responsible for the rise of this file-related error:

• Partial or wrong installation: In case QuickBooks is installed in the right manner or if some installation files are damaged or not available, it can trigger this issue.
• Damaged Folder: In case the folder that has the company file is damaged, it can also trigger this error.
• Enabled Hosting Mode: Hosting mode that can be used on several systems can also cause this issue.
• Corrupted or damaged company file: In case the company file (.QBW) is corrupted or damaged, QuickBooks is likely to experience problems using it, triggering the Error code 6000 83.
• Server Access Problems: In case the server access for the file is not right, it can trigger this error.
• Malware Restrictions: This issue can be triggered by inadequate permissions for Windows users or when the particular file is protected by security software or a firewall.
• Wrong File Extension: This issue may also occur because of the incorrect QuickBooks company file extension, like .qbb or .qbm, instead of .qbw.

How can We Identify the Presence of QuickBooks Error 6000 83?

Here is a list of the signs and symptoms that identify the presence of the QuickBooks error code 6000 83:

• QuickBooks freezes or crashes when trying to use the company file.
• QuickBooks is unable to change to multi-user mode or experiences problems when using the company file in multi-user mode.
• The Windows operating system may become very slow and the inputs from keyboards and mouse become unresponsive.
• The error notification shows a 4-digit error code like 6000, 80, 77, 82, 301, etc.
• QuickBooks becomes sluggish when working on a particular company file.
• This file error can also trigger periodic freezing of QuickBooks Desktop or the system.
• This QuickBooks error can also cause data corruption or loss of the company file.
• This issue can stop you from opening the company file, which can trigger work delays.

Final Words

In this article, we have shared all the crucial information about the QuickBooks error code 6000 83. We have shared the symptoms, causes, and effective troubleshooting steps to fix this issue. Still, if you have any doubts, you can reach out to QuickBooks experts at Smbaccountants.com.

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