You may encounter the QuickBooks Alt Key suppress error when trying to open the company file by suppressing QuickBooks after seeing the unrecoverable error or bypassing the error itself using the Alt key. The QuickBooks unrecoverable error occurs when you:
- Open or close a file
- Save a copy (backup or portable copy)
- Choose any menu option, button, or link in QuickBooks
- Update QuickBooks (program or payroll update)
- Run file utilities (Verify, Rebuild, or Collapse)
If you experience the same and are wondering what to do, this guide will help you. Read this detailed guide that explains when you might encounter Alt key press errors and troubleshooting steps to help fix even unrecoverable errors.
Table of Contents
What Causes an Unrecoverable Error in QuickBooks?
The QuickBooks Alt Key Suppress error occurs when trying to bypass an unrecoverable error; the underlying cause for both is the same. Let’s discover the possible reasons causing the failure to open QuickBooks, company files and hamper other processes:
- Running QB processes in the background
- There might be some damage to your company file
- QuickBooks Desktop might not be up-to-date with the latest release
- Damaged or corrupted QuickBooks user
- The file might be long, or the folder holding the company file might be damaged
- Any damages to your QuickBooks program or installation is corrupted
Learn How to Troubleshoot QuickBooks Alt Key Suppress Error
Since the Alt Key Suppress Error occurs when a user fails to bypass the unrecoverable error using the Alt key, dealing with the underlying factors causing an unrecoverable error is required.
The section below covers the suitable steps to address the error and the Alt Key Suppress issue or you can contact QuickBooks professionals at TFN.
Prequisites Before Troubleshooting
Before moving ahead, make sure to
1. Update QuickBooks Desktop to the latest release
2. Create a QuickBooks company file backup
- Launch QB Desktop and go to the File menu.
- Select Switch to Single-user Mode and move back to the File menu.
- Hover over Back up Company and click on Create Local Backup.
- In the prompted window, choose Local backup and then Next.
- Move to the Local Backup Only section.
- Click Browse and choose the location to save the backup copy.
- Now, you can set the number of backup copy you want (optional).
| Note: You don’t need to pencil it in on your calendar. Simply choose the option in the Online and Local Backup section to set backup reminders. |
- This will run a test to the backup if it’s in good shape before saving.
- When it’s done, click OK.
- Choose Save it now and Next.
1. Open QuickBooks with all windows closed
QuickBooks will re-open any windows when closing the company file. If you have a large report or several windows to open automatically when starting up, the QuickBooks program may crash with an unrecoverable error.
Try again to open QuickBooks with all windows closed in the background:
- Launch QB Desktop.
- Choose your company file in the No Company Open.
- Press and hold the ALT key and click Open to bypass the unrecoverable error. Keep the Alt pressed until the file opens. You might be asked to sign in, release the key and enter the password. Press and hold the Alt key again and click OK.
You may fail to bypass the error due to the QuickBooks Alt Key suppress error, which means the Alt key to suppress the windows in the background might not work, as discussed earlier. Proceed with the below steps to fix the Alt Key Suppress and unrecoverable error.
2. Use a different QuickBooks user
The QuickBooks user might be damaged; try to open your company file or QuickBooks with a different user:
- Go to Company> Set Up Users and Passwords, then click Set Up Users. Enterprise users: Select the Company menu> Users then select Set Up Users and Roles.
- Click on Add User…, type the username and password then select Next.
| Note: Make sure not to use the damaged user. |
- Customize the QuickBooks user as required and then select Finish.
- Navigate to File and click on Close Company/Logoff.
- Sign in to the company file using the new credentials.
- If this helps you to open the company file and QuickBooks, then delete the user you are having a problem with and create them again.
| Note: If you see any error when opening the company file as an admin user, run the QuickBooks File Doctor. |
You must download and install QuickBooks Tool Hub to access the utility, then run the File Doctor.
- In the QB Tool Hub, select Company File Issues.
- Hit on Run QuickBooks File Doctor. The tool might take one minute for the file doctor to open; wait until then.
| Note: If you fail to open the File Doctor, search for QuickBooks Desktop File Doc and open it manually |
- Now, choose your company file from the dropdown menu. If you don’t see the company file, click on Browse and search to find your file.
- Tap on Check your file (middle option only) and then Continue.
- Enter the QuickBooks admin password to allow the tool to run the scan> Next.
The scan time depends on the company file size and may take 10-15 minutes. It may say the scan is unsuccessful, even if it is. Once the scan finishes, launch QuickBooks and your company file.
3. Open a sample company file
A sample company file helps you identify whether the problem is in your company file or in QuickBooks.
Let’s open a sample company file:
- Press the Ctrl key; don’t release it yet.
- Double-click on the QB program icon.
- Hold the Ctrl key until the No Company Open window appears.
- Select Open a sample file from the window.
- Choose any of the sample files from the list.
If the sample company file opens and you don’t see the error, the company file might be damaged, or the folder is. Consider using a recent backup copy or ADR to restore your file.
4. Move your file to a different folder
Move your company file to a new folder to verify if the folder you opened the company file from is damaged.
Copy the company file to a different location:
- Right-click anywhere on your desktop and choose New.
- Select Folder and name this folder QBTEST.
- Open the folder in the same location as your company file.
- Right-click on the data file and select Copy.
- Paste the file in the QBTEST folder.
- Now, try to open the company file from the QBTEST folder.
If you don’t see an error when opening the company file from a different location, the company file folder might be damaged, or the path is too long. To fix the issue, you must create a new company file to save the company file.
5. Run Quick Fix my Program
The Quick Fix my Program shuts down the QB processes in the background and performs a quick repair on your program.
- Launch QuickBooks Tool Hub and click on Program Problems.
- Hit on Quick Fix my Program.
- Open QuickBooks Desktop and try again to open your data file.
If you still see any unrecoverable error or the QuickBooks Alt Key Suppress error, run the QuickBooks Install Diagnostic tool to fix the installation issues. The utility will automatically diagnose and fix the issues with Microsoft components the QuickBooks program uses.
- Open the QB Tool Hub.
- Select the Program Problems menu.
- Hit on QuickBooks Install Diagnostic Tool. The tool might take up to 20 minutes; let it run until it completes.
- Once done, restart your computer and launch QuickBooks again.
6. Re-install QuickBooks Desktop
Re-installing QuickBooks Desktop renames the QuickBooks file folder and fixes the associated issues triggering the QuickBooks Alt Key suppress error or an unrecoverable error.
Before you start, make sure to download the installer of the same version as QuickBooks and keep the license number handy.
| Note: You can also find the license details from your account management portal. |
a. Uninstall QuickBooks
- Click on the Windows icon on the Taskbar.
- Search for Control Panel and hit Enter.
- Hit on Programs and Features or Uninstall a Program.
- Select the QuickBooks Desktop version you want to remove from the list of programs.
- Choose Uninstall/Change, Remove and then Next.
- If you don’t see any of the options, sign out and sign in back to Windows as an admin.
b. Install QuickBooks again
- Make sure your computer has an active and strong internet connection.
- Locate to QuickBooks program file QuickBooks.exe.
- Select Express install – This will install over your old version of QuickBooks and save all of your preferences. To get your old version back, you’ll have to reinstall it using custom install. Custom and Network Options – This allows you to leave older versions installed and install the latest version somewhere else. The new version does not include your previous version choices.
- Select Next and Install.
- When it finishes, click Open QuickBooks.
Summary
The QuickBooks Alt Key Suppress Error is an issue that comes when you fail to bypass the unrecoverable error with the Alt key. The above article covered everything about the problem and the troubleshooting steps to address it. The solution will even help you deal with unrecoverable errors in different scenarios.
For further assistance or professional help, contact our QuickBooks support team on +1-866-500-0076. The experts are able to deal with the issue on your behalf and help you get back to the process.
Frequently Asked Questions
An unrecoverable error is an interruption to the process or a mistake that immediately terminates the process. This can cause data loss and damage to your program, which cannot be recovered.
Since an unrecoverable error can be caused by mistakes on your system, consider repairing Windows components and keeping the operating system and QuickBooks program up-to-date. Run the Verify and Rebuild Data utility to fix damaged data. Also, consider fixing system problems by restarting it.
Run the QuickBooks Install Diagnostic Tool to fix common installation problems:
• Launch QB Tool Hub and click on Program Problems.
• Select QuickBooks Install Diagnostic Tool. The tool usually takes upto 20 minutes; wait until then.
• After this, restart your computer and launch QuickBooks Desktop.
When a user fails to pen QuickBooks or company file and encounters an unrecoverable error, it abruptly shuts down the program; you can bypass or suppress the problem by using the Alt key. When you fail to do so the situation is a QucikBooks Alt Key Suppress Error that can cause data damage or program problems.
The Verify tool verifies our company file data, and the Rebuild utility runs a rebuild for found data damage or related issues:
• Go to the File menu> Utilities.
• Click on Verify Data.
• If you see the results and the data damage is found, you must rebuild it.
• Move back to the File menu and click on Utilities.
• Select Rebuild Data.
• Wait until the tools repairs the company file data.