It is important to have a backup copy of your data in case original data on your hard disk is damaged or destroyed. Quicken regularly prompts you to back up your current file when you exit the program. Intuit strongly recommends that you do so. In addition, you can make a backup copy of your data at any time. You can back up your Quicken data to a variety of external sources including CD-Rs or CD-RWs, Zip® disks, SuperDisks^TM, floppy disks, and so on.

Note: This procedure does not back up your Quicken Home Inventory data. For information about backing up your Quicken Home Inventory data, from the Quicken Property and Loan menu, choose Quicken Home Inventory. Then, from the Quicken Help menu, choose Contents, click Index, and then enter backing up your data.

To back up a Quicken data file:

1. Insert a formatted disk in the drive.
   
   Important: If you´re backing up your work on disks, the first time you make a backup copy, you should have two blank, formatted disks on hand before you begin (for floppy disks, have two sets of disks on hand). Formatting helps ensure the disks you´re using are not damaged as damaged disks can make you unable to restore a backup. For subsequent backups, alternate between the two backup disks so that neither disk is more than one backup behind the current data. If you are using a disk that you have previously used to back up your Quicken data, remember that Quicken will overwrite any file with the same name.
   
   If the disk you are backing up to is not formatted for read/write access, you´ll receive an error message stating that the disk cannot be accessed. For information about how to check file access settings, refer to the manufacturer’s instructions for your operating system.
   
   
2. From the Quicken File menu, choose Backup.
   
   
3. In the Back up your current file or specify another file below field, make sure the file you want to back up is selected (the current file is selected by default).
   
   Click Browse if you need to search for the file you want. If you need help determining where a data file is, Quicken can help you find a file.
   
   
4. Select the Add date to file name check box to add today’s date at the end of the file name. (Optional)
   
   Quicken uses the date format YYYY/MM/DD. So Quicken displays a file named QDATA saved on February 18, 2006 as QDATA20060218.
   
   
5. In the Where do you want to save your backup file area, click On my computer.
   
   
6. In the Select the disk drive and path to the backup folder field, identify the drive that contains the backup disk.
   
   Before you can back up to CD-R or CD-RW, you must configure your CD-RW drive to work like an alternate hard disk. When you´re done, you should be able to copy files from your hard disk to a CD-R or CD-RW. In addition, for many operating systems, you must install a third-party program to enable your computer to copy files from your hard disk to a CD-R or CD-RW. If you need assistance, refer to the manufacturer’s instructions that came with the CD-RW drive, or contact your computer or hardware manufacturer for more information about using the applications that came with the CD-RW drive.
   
   
7. If your operating system is Microsoft® Windows XP, select the Use Windows CD Writing Wizard check box.
   
   This check box must be selected to use the Windows XP default writing software.
   
   
8. Click OK.
   
   
9. If the file is larger than the space available on the backup disk, Quicken displays a warning message. Select the backup option you want, replace the backup disk with another disk, and click OK.
   
   Storing other files on disks you use to back up your Quicken data can take up a lot of room. You might be able to avoid using more disks than necessary for your Quicken backups by storing only Quicken data on the backup disks.
   
   
10. If you are backing up to a location that contains a file with the same name, the following message will appear: There is a file with the same file name in the backup directory or disk. Do you want to overwrite it?
    
    
    • If you choose OK, the existing backup file will be overwritten and will no longer exist.
      
    • If you choose Cancel, you will see the message: file NOT backed up, and the backup will be canceled and the existing backup file will not be affected.
    
    
11. Click OK when Quicken tells you that the backup is complete.
    
    
12. If your operating system is Windows XP, click OK when Quicken reminds you that the data file you just backed up is in the Windows XP temporary CD burning folder.
    
    For information about how to copy your data file from the Windows XP temporary CD burning folder to the CD, refer to the manufacturer’s instructions for your operating system.
    
    
13. Remove the backup disk and store the disk or disks in a safe place.
    
    

To restore a Quicken data file:

Note: Restoring from a backup file replaces your current data with the data stored on your backup disk. Be aware that you will lose any changes you have made to your file since the backup was made. If you want to preserve the current file, you must rename the current file or the file you are restoring.

1. If you are restoring from a disk, insert the disk in the drive.
   
   
2. From the Quicken File menu, choose Restore Backup File, and then select either one of the files listed or the option to browse.
   
   If you need help finding a file, Quicken can help you.
   
   If the Quicken file to be restored is on a single disk, it has a .QDF extension. If the file spans several backup disks, it has a .QB1 extension.
   
   
3. Click OK when Quicken tells you that the file is restored.
   
   
4. From the Quicken File menu, choose Open to open the restored file.
   
   
5. If you´re restoring the current file, click OK to overwrite it.
   
   If you want to preserve the current file, you must rename the current file or the file you are restoring.

• Using a Zip drive to save or restore a backup copy of your financial information
• Error messages when restoring backups
• Error: "Unable to read or write to drive A: or B:"
• Message: "Overwrite the file which is currently in use?" when restoring without overwriting