Solution Properties
Solution ID:
200427112210372
Last Modified Date:
Wed Mar 04 10:56:50 UTC 2026
Taxonomy Path:
Case category//I have a problem with...//opening
Author:
[email protected]
Company name missing from the company selection window
Description

When you open Sage 50 Accounts, you see a Company name replaced with one of the following:

  • INVALID DIRECTORY PATH 
  • NO DATA FOUND 

Company Selection window with invalid directory path and no data found messages under company name.

Cause
Resolution

Below are some known fixes for this issue. Complete each step until you resolve the issue.

[BCB:353:UKI - New DSM:ECB]

Restart Data Services

Restarting your data services can resolve this message if you hold your accounts data locally on the computer with the issue. 

Check where your data is stored

Check whether you hold your data on a mapped drive, UNC path, or local computer. 

  1. Open Sage 50 Accounts. 
  2. Check the Data path for the relevant company in the company selection window.
▼ The path starts with C:\

Your data is held on this local computer. Move to the step 'Check if the data path is correct'.

▼ The path starts with \\ 

You use a UNC path to connect to the data on another computer or server. Move to the step 'Check if the data path is correct'.

▼ The path starts with another letter

You use a mapped drive to connect to the data on another computer or server. 

 

Data stored on a mapped drive

  1. Hold down the Windows key  + E to open File Explorer.
  2. Locate your mapped drive and double-click it.

If the drive opens, close and reopen Sage 50 Accounts.

Use a UNC path instead of a mapped drive

Using a UNC path to connect the client computers to the data stored on the server can resolve this issue.  

Check if the data path is correct

▼If the Data path in the Company Selection window is correct

Check whethwe Sage 50 Accounts is running in compatibility mode:

  1. Right-click Sage 50 Accounts on your Desktop, then select Properties.
  2. Select the Compatibility tab and ensure the Run this program in compatibility mode checkbox is clear.
▼If the Data path in the Company Selection window is incorrect

If the path in the Company Selection window is wrong, you need to correct it. For help with finding your Sage data on your network, see our network article.

NOTE:

When following the steps below, if the ProgramData or Application Data folders don't appear, you can show hidden files and folders.

  1. Browse to C:\ProgramData\Sage\Accounts\20XX, where XX is the year of your software. For example, V32 is 2026.
  2. Locate and double-click the COMPANY file then select Open with Notepad.
  3. Amend the relevant line in the COMPANY file, then select File, then Save.
  4. Select File then Exit.

 

Create the path manually

EXAMPLE:

The path specified in the Select Company window is C:\Program Files\Sage\Accounts\Company.003 but the Company.003 folder is missing.

  1. Hold down the Windows key  + E to open File Explorer.
  2. Browse as far as you can, in this example you browse to C:\Program Files\Sage\Accounts.

    NOTE:

    When you manually browse the path, it can request a network password that you need to turn off.

     
  3. Select File, New, then Folder.
  4. Enter the name of the missing folder, for example, Company.003.
  5. Double-click the new folder.
  6. Repeat the steps for every missing folder.
  7. Once you've created the missing folders, select File then New.
  8. Choose Folder and enter ACCDATA.

Once the ACCDATA folder exists, open Sage 50 Accounts and complete the ActiveSetup Wizard. You can then restore your latest backup.

Activate Microsoft .Net Framework 4

The Invalid directory path message can occur after recent Windows updates disables Microsoft .Net Framework 4.

Follow our article to download and install Microsoft .NET Framework 4.

[BCB:19:UK - Sales message :ECB]
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