FAQs: Restoring a Money or MSN Money backup file

Which file is my default backup file?

How do I restore my default backup file?

How do I restore a different backup file?

How do I know which file to choose?

How do I move my Money file or MSN Money file to a different computer?

What if the file I've restored doesn't look like the most current one I backed up?

I'm trying to restore a file from a disk or CD, and I'm having problems.

What if Money or MSN Money says that the backup file I'm trying to restore is corrupted?

What if I've changed my Money password or Windows Live ID password since the backup file was created?

When I restore a backup file, will I still be able to view my Money data from any computer?

Can I restore a backup file from a previous version of the MSN Money Portfolio Manager?


Which file is my default backup file?

Your default backup file is the last backup file you created. Money and MSN Money automatically save your information as you work and creates a backup file when you exit the program (unless you turn off automatic backups). Money also prompts you to back up to your hard disk or to a floppy disk when you exit the program.

Unless you specify another location for the backup file, Money and MSN Money save the backup file to the My Documents folder on your hard disk.

How do I restore my default backup file?

To restore a default backup file from Money:

  1. On the File menu, click Restore Backup.
  2. Click Restore from a backup file, and then click Next.
  3. Click Restore from default backup file, and then click Restore.
  4. Change the file location if you want, and then click Restore again.

To restore a default backup file from the MSN Money Portfolio Manager:

  1. Under Other Tasks, click More, point to File options, and then click Restore Backup.
  2. Click Restore from a backup file, and then click Next.
  3. Click Restore from default backup file, and then click Restore.
  4. Change the file location if you want, and then click Restore again.

Make sure you give the newly restored file a new name so that it will not over-write any existing files.

Important If you've made electronic payments or you've downloaded transaction records since you last backed up the file, you may want to download recent transactions to make sure your records are up to date.

How do I restore a different backup file?

If you don't want to use the default backup file, you can restore another backup file by browsing to it.

To restore a backup file from Money:

  1. On the File menu, click Restore Backup.
  2. Click Restore from a backup file, and then click Next.
  3. Select whether you want Money or MSN Money to find all possible backup files for you or whether you want to browse to a specific backup file yourself.
  4. Follow the instructions on the screen.

To restore a backup file from the MSN Money Portfolio Manager:

  1. Under Other Tasks, click More, point to File options, and then click Restore Backup.
  2. Click Restore from a backup file, and then click Next.
  3. Select whether you want Money or MSN Money to find all possible backup files for you or whether you want to browse to a specific backup file yourself.
  4. Follow the instructions on the screen.

Make sure you give the newly restored file a new name so that it will not over-write any existing files.

Important If you've made electronic payments or you've downloaded transaction records since you last backed up the file, you may want to download recent transactions to make sure your records are up to date.

How do I know which file to choose?

Your default backup file is probably the best candidate for restoration. To create the default, Money or MSN Money simply copies your file to your hard disk.

You may not want to use your default backup file if you have backed up to a floppy disk or CD more recently than you have backed up to your hard disk. If you have multiple Money or MSN Money files, make sure that you are restoring a backup of the file you want.

If you want to restore a file from a disk or CD, select Let me browse for a different backup file during restoration, and then browse to your floppy drive or CD drive to find the file you want. If you have multiple backup files, review the dates they were last modified and select the most recent.

How do I move my Money file or MSN Money file to a different computer?

First, back up your Money or MSN Money file to a floppy disk or CD by following the instructions below. Open Money or MSN Money on the computer you want to use, and then follow the instructions for restoring a backup file.

To move a file from Money:

  1. On the File menu, click Back Up.
  2. Follow the instructions on the screen.

Notes

You can set Money to automatically create a backup file every time you close Money. Automatic backups are turned on by default.

Just in case something happens to your computer's hard disk, it's a good idea to periodically save backup files to a CD, DVD, or a floppy disk.

To move a file from the MSN Money Portfolio Manager:

  1. Go to the Portfolio Manager
  2. Under Other Tasks, click More, point to File options, and then click Back up.
  3. Follow the instructions on the screen.

Notes

You can set Money to automatically create a backup file every time you close Money. Automatic backups are turned on by default.

Just in case something happens to your computer's hard disk, it's a good idea to periodically save backup files to a CD, DVD, or a floppy disk.

If you want to create a backup file on CD, you first need to create a backup on a floppy disk or your hard disk. Then, copy the backup file to a writable CD. You must have a read/write CD drive and the correct software to write to a CD.

What if the file I've restored doesn't look like the most current one I backed up?

You can try the restoration process again. If your default backup file isn't the most recent, try one or more of the files that you may have backed up to a disk, CD, or a different location on your hard disk.

I'm trying to restore a file from a disk or CD, and I'm having problems.

Try copying the backup file from the diskette or CD to your hard disk. Then, try restoring the file from there.

What if Money or MSN Money says that the backup file I'm trying to restore is corrupted?

Sometimes, disks can become damaged. Try restoring either the default backup file on your hard disk or the most recent file you backed up before the corrupted file.

What if I've changed my Money password or Windows Live ID password since the backup file was created?

If your Money or MSN Money file is protected by a Money password or Windows Live ID, then the backup file will be protected by the same password or Windows Live ID. To restore a backup file, you must enter the Money password or Windows Live ID password that you were using when the backup was created.

When I restore a backup file, will I still be able to view my Money data from any computer?

If you configured your Money file so that you could access it from any computer, this setting will be preserved when you restore a backup file.

Can I restore a backup file from a previous version of the MSN Money Portfolio Manager?

If you were using a previous version of the MSN Money Portfolio Manager, a backup file would have been created with an ".inv" file name extension. You can restore this backup file with the current version of the MSN Money. For more information, see the above entry titled "How do I restore a different backup file?".