Quickbooks - How to open QBWin.log

By admin

QuickBooks uses the Qbwin.log file to store messages about unforeseen conditions, fatal error messages, and other QuickBooks messages, as well as information created by the Verify Data and Rebuild Data utilities. It does NOT show General Protection Fault or Invalid Page Fault messages or messages or errors from other programs.

QuickBooks creates the Qbwin.log file the first time any of the following occurs:

• A “C=” error is generated.
• The Verify Data or Rebuild Data utility are run.
• A company data file is converted from another version of QuickBooks.

The Qbwin.log file is located in the QuickBooks folder. If you have several versions of QuickBooks on your computer, each will have its own log file. New entries and errors are added to the end (or bottom) of the log file.

To open the Qbwin.log file

• In QuickBooks, press Ctrl+1 and then press Ctrl+2 to open the Tech Help window.
• Click the Open File tab.
• In the list of files, double-click Qbwin.log.

If you see full path names, for example C:\Program Files\Intuit\QuickBooks…, rather than just filenames, click the Path On/Off button for a clearer view.

Note: You can also open the file by searching for Qbwin.log through Microsoft(R) Windows(R) Explorer. The file will be in the QuickBooks directory. This method is helpful if you have multiple versions of QuickBooks installed, as multiple program versions cause multiple Qbwin.log files to be created.

• The first time you attempt to open Qbwin.log, you may be asked which program you want to use to open the file. Select Microsoft(R) Windows(R) WordPad or Microsoft(R) Windows(R) Notepad. If the file is too large for Notepad, WordPad will be suggested instead.

To examine the Qbwin.log file

• Since recent information is written to the bottom of the file, press Ctrl+End to go directly to the end of the file.
• Locate the results from the last time the Verify Data utility was run. (Date and time are provided with each log entry to help you identify the most recent one.
• Write down the exact messages generated in the log file during the Verify Data utility.
• Search the knowledge base for articles that provide solutions for specific messages.

To troubleshoot the Qbwin.log file or the Verify Data utility

If the Qbwin.log file doesn’t open, or if you’re unable to find information from the most recent Verify Data utility:

• Rename the Qbwin.log file to Old.log.
• Re-run the Verify Data utility to create a new Qbwin.log file containing only the latest information.
• Open the new Qbwin.log file (see steps above) and examine the file.