QuickBooks Auto Data Recovery: How to Recover Lost Data

The QuickBooks data recovery tool helps restore lost or corrupted company data. This feature, known as the QuickBooks Auto Data Recovery tool, helps recover data lost due to sudden deletion or system disruption.
Note: In some cases, data loss in QuickBooks occurs due to hardware outage, power failure, malware, and a corrupted disk.

The QuickBooks Auto Data Recovery (ADR) tool was launched by Intuit for the Pro, Premier, and Enterprise versions. The purpose of the capability is to recover company files by integrating backup copies and transaction history files.
This guide outlines how the ADR tool operates and helps restore data. The following section includes the system requirements, compatible versions, and key steps for using the data recovery tool.

QuickBooks Auto Data Recovery Tool: An Overview

The QuickBooks ADR tool helps to recover corrupted or missing company data. The data recovery tool accesses the transaction log (.QBW.TLG) and company (.QBW) files. These files help to restore the recent entries and recreate the company file.

The ADR tool depends on automatic data replication and recovery solutions. This QuickBooks feature creates backup copies of the transaction and company log files for restoration. However, unlike the QuickBooks Pro, Premier, and Enterprise versions, the Accountant edition is incompatible.

Furthermore, ADR files are created in QuickBooks for company files not exceeding 1.5 GB. To ensure the ADR files are current, get the latest QuickBooks Desktop updates.

Key Reasons for QuickBooks Data Loss

Multiple issues can trigger data loss in QuickBooks, including:

• Partial company file upgrades can trigger a corrupted data issue.
• Disrupted QuickBooks updates can impact the company file data.
• Erased or damaged company files and programs can trigger data loss.
• Sudden shutdowns can damage the latest data or unsaved information.
• Company data becomes inaccessible due to corrupted database files.
• Malware can adjust, damage, or erase QuickBooks files.
• Erased company files or entries can lead to data loss.

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Steps to Restore Lost Data with QuickBooks Auto Data Recovery Tool

QuickBooks ADR recovers lost data by integrating the backup copies of the transaction log file and company file. Here are the ways the tool recovers data:

Step 1: Restore Entries by accessing the Original .QBW.adr and .TLG File

Access the latest Transaction Log file and the ADR Company file to restore the latest QuickBooks entries.

Follow these steps to recover the entries:

• Prepare a “QBTest” folder on the desktop.
• Access the folder with the QuickBooks company file. To check the company file location, click the “F2” or “Ctrl+1” keys in QuickBooks.
• Find the “.TLG” file that aligns with the company file name.
• In case the file extensions are not visible, perform the following steps:
  • Click the “Windows + E” keys to access the File Explorer.
  • Choose the “Organize” option and click the “Folder and Search Options” tab.
  • Unselect the “Hide extensions for known file types”.
  • Click the “Apply” button and then “OK”.
• Copy the “.TLG” file to the “QBTest” folder.
• Access the “QuickBooksAutoDataRecovery” folder.
• Copy the aligning “.QBW.adr” file to the “QBTest” folder.
• Right-click the “.QBW.adr” file.
• Choose the “Rename” option.
• Unselect the “.adr” extension. The file will end with “.QBW”.
• Access QuickBooks Desktop.
• From the “QBTest” folder, access the restored company file.
• Check the accountant registers to verify that QuickBooks restored the latest transactions.
• Choose the “File” option and click “Utilities”.
• Click the “Verify Data” option to validate the restored file.
• Transfer the corrupted company file to a different location.
• Now, copy the restored file from the “QBTest” folder to the actual company file location.

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Step 2: Restore Latest Transactions via the .QBW.adr and .TLG.adr Files

Access the ADR version of the .TLG and .QBW files to restore the company file. This procedure restores the latest entries except the ones generated in the last 12 hours.

Follow these steps to restore the latest transactions:

• Prepare a “QBTest” folder on the desktop.
• Access the folder that has the company file.
• Now, access the “QuickBooksAutoDataRecovery” folder. To check the company file location, click the “F2” or “Ctrl+1” keys in QuickBooks.
• Find the corresponding .TLG.adr and .QBW.adr files.
• In case the file extensions are not visible, perform the following steps:
  • Access the File Explorer by clicking the “Windows + E” keys.
  • Choose the “Organize” option.
  • Click the “Folder and Search Options” tab.
  • Uncheck the “Hide extensions for known file types” option.
  • Click the “Apply” button.
  • Finally, click the “OK” button.
• In the “QBTest” folder, paste both files.
• Delete the “.adr” extension from the files. Once removed, the file names should end with “.TLG” and “.QBW”.
• Start QuickBooks Desktop and access the restored company file from the “QBTest” folder.
• Check the account registers to verify that QuickBooks restored the entries.
• Choose the “File” option and click “Utilities”.
• Click the “Verify Data” option to validate the restored file.
• Exchange the corrupted company file with the restored file once the verification is done by QuickBooks.

Also read this: QuickBooks Tool Hub: Download, Install & Use to Fix Common Errors

Conclusion

To recover lost or corrupted company data with backup files and transaction log files, the QuickBooks Auto Data Recovery tool is used. In this guide, complete information on how this tool works and what causes data loss has been shared.

Still, if there is any query or doubt related to the data recovery tool, feel free to reach out to us. Contact our QuickBooks ADS experts at blog.accountantally.com and resolve your query today.