Many QuickBooks users have reported encountering the QuickBooks error 6000, -83 while working on the application. One of the user queries is:
“Computer crashed and I need to restore company backup on a new computer. I can’t restore the company file and am receiving a 6000, -83 error. There is not a server. 1 PC crashed. I installed QuickBooks Desktop on new PC and tried to restore last company backup and cannot restore it.”
The QuickBooks error 6000, -83 can occur when you try to restore backup on a new system (workstation) after a system crash. You can also see this error while opening QuickBooks company (QBW) file or creating a backup (.QBB) file. It may appear due to various internal or external reasons. In this article, we will discuss the solutions to resolve the error.
Causes of QuickBooks Error Code 6000, -83
This error can occur due to one of the following reasons:
- Name and extension of the backup file are incorrect.
- Backup file is corrupted.
- Company file is damaged or corrupted.
- Hosting mode is enabled on the workstation.
- Restoring a backup file located on a network drive, having network issues.
- Missing or corrupt .ND (Network Data) files.
- Firewall settings blocking QuickBooks from accessing the QBB/QBW file.
Solutions to Resolve QuickBooks Error Code 6000, -83
This error may occur if your QuickBooks Desktop version is not up-to-date. You can check the version-related information in the Product Information window. To open the Product Information window, press F2 in QuickBooks. If the version is outdated, then download and install the latest updates in QuickBooks. Also, check the Firewall settings to ensure that firewall is not preventing from opening the QuickBooks company file. If these basic troubleshooting steps fail to resolve the problem, then follow the below solutions.
Solution 1: Edit your Windows Host File
In a multi-user environment, QuickBooks relies on the Windows Host file to establish communication between the server system and workstations. If this file is corrupted or misconfigured, the application will fail to locate the address of server hosting the company file, leading to the error -6000,-83. If such a case, you can edit your Windows host file. To do this, you require the names and IP addresses of the server and workstation systems. For this, open Command Prompt and type “ipconfig /all” and then press the Enter key. Next, edit the host file on Windows by following the steps below:
Note: Perform the below steps on both the server system and workstations.
- First, close your QuickBooks application.
- Go to the Windows Start menu and select This PC.
- Follow the path C:\Windows\Syswow64\Drivers\Etc.
- Find the host file, double-click on it, and then select Notepad.
- Now, enter the IP address, followed by the system’s name you recently noted.
Note: In the workstation host file, there should be server system’s IP and system name. In the server host file, there should be workstation’s IP address and computer name.
- After applying all the changes, name the file as “host” and save it.
- Find the saved file, right-click on it, and then select Copy.
- Next, go to C:\Windows\Syswow64\Drivers\Etc, search for the host file, and rename it as host.old.
- Now, paste the new host file at this location. Click Continue, if prompted.
Solution 2: Check and Assign Folder Permissions
You may encounter the QuickBooks error code 6000, -83 while opening or restoring the QuickBooks company file, if you do not have permissions to access the company file folder. You can check and grant permissions to resolve the issue. Here’s how to do so:
- Locate the Company file folder and right-click on it. Click Properties.
- In the Properties window, under the Security tab, click Advanced.
- Click QBDataServiceUserXX and choose Edit.
- Next, check if the following settings are allowed:
- Traverse Folder/Execute File
- List Folder/Read Data
- Read Attributes
- Read Extended Attributes
- Create Files/Write Data
- Create Folders/Append Data
- Write Attributes
- Write Extended Attributes
- Read Permissions
If the permissions aren’t set correctly,
- Again go to Properties > Security and click on the Edit option.
- Choose QBDataServiceUserXX, select Full Control, and then Allow.
- Select Apply > OK.
Solution 3: Turn off Host Multi-User Access Option on Workstations
Incorrect hosting settings on workstation system is one of the major reasons behind the QuickBooks 6000, -83 error. You can open the workstation system to check and change the hosting settings. Here’s how to do so:
- On a workstation system, click the File option and then click Utilities.
- Disable Host Multi-User Access option (if it is enabled).
Repeat the same process to check and change the settings on all the workstations.
Method 4: Check the Backup File
If you are experiencing the error while restoring the backup file, then make sure you are selecting the correct backup file with the .QBB extension. Also, ensure that the backup file name should not contain special characters, symbols, etc.
Method 5: Repair your Company File
Corruption in the QBW file could also be the reason behind this error. You can repair a QuickBooks company file using the QuickBooks Verify and Rebuild tool. If this tool fails, then you can use Quick Fix My File and QuickBooks File Doctor in the QuickBooks Tool Hub to repair the QBW file. Here are the steps to use these tools:
- Download, install, and launch the latest version of QuickBooks Tool Hub.
- In the QuickBooks Tool hub, click Company File Issues.
- Select Quick Fix My File.
- Click OK once the process is complete.
If the issue persists, then open the tool hub again and run the file doctor by following the given steps:
- In the tool hub, select Company File Issues.
- Select Run QuickBooks File Doctor.
- In the QuickBooks File Doctor wizard, choose the desired company file.
- The tool prompts you to enter the QuickBooks® Admin password. Enter the password and then select Next.
- It may take some time, depending on the QBW file size.
- After the process is complete, open your company file.
These tools can repair QuickBooks company file with minor corruption issues. Also, the QuickBooks file doctor has file size limitations. It may fail if the company file size go beyond 2 GB. To overcome the limitations and to quickly repair the QuickBooks company file, you can use a professional QuickBooks repair tool, like Stellar Repair for QuickBooks. This reliable tool can efficiently repair QBW file with severe corruption and without any file size limitations. It maintains the structural integrity of the data and shows preview of recoverable data after repairing the QBW file. It saves the repaired file data in a new QBW file, thus helps in resolving corruption-associated errors.
Prevention Tips to Avoid QuickBooks Error 6000, -83
- Save one copy of your backup file on your local drive before transferring it to a network drive.
- Avoid restoring the backup file directly from the network drive. It’s recommended to first transfer the file to your local drive and then restore the backup.
- Before restoring or creating the backup, make sure the folder containing the backup file or the folder in which you are trying to create a backup has all access permissions.
- If you are accessing the company file in a multi-user environment, then make sure hosting settings are enabled only on the server system.
- Keep your QuickBooks Desktop application updated to the latest version to prevent compatibility issues.
- Firewall configuration should have exception for QuickBooks and related processes.
Conclusion
The QuickBooks error code 6000, -83 is usually associated with issues in the company file or backup file. It may also occur due to network issues, corrupt ND files, and more. This error can prevent you from restoring your company file. Above, we have explained the methods to resolve this error and restore your company file without hassle. If the corruption in the company file is triggering this error, then you can use a professional QuickBooks repair tool, like Stellar Repair for QuickBooks. It’s a user-friendly yet powerful tool designed to quickly repair corrupt QBW/QBB files.
