Check for data-related issues

To check if it's a data issue, see if you have the same problem when opening demonstration data. 

To open demonstration data:

• Open your software and in the Select Company window select Demonstration Data then click OK

 If the demonstration data option doesn't appear, browse to C:\ProgramData\Sage\Accounts\ and delete the sage.ini file.

If the same problem doesn't occur, this indicates it’s an issue with your company data. You may need to restore an error-free backup as a new company.

If the same problem occurs opening demonstration data, continue to the next section.

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• If there are any other Sage 50 Accounts shortcuts on the desktop, try these first
• Check if you can open the software via the Windows Start menu
• If the data is held locally, ensure there's at least 1Gb of free disk space on your local drive
• Make sure none of the Sage Accounts program folders and files are locked, flagged as read-only, or hidden: If you're using a 64-bit version of Windows, replace Program Files with Program Files (x86)
  • The program directory, by default C:\Program Files\Sage\Accounts
  • C:\Program Files\Common Files\Sage SBD
  • C:\Program Files\Common Files\Sage Line50
  • C:\Program Files\Common Files\Sage Report Designer 2007
  • C:\Program Files\Common Files\Sage Shared
  • C:\Program Files\Sage EBanking
  • C:\Program Files\Sage\AccountsService
• Try logging on to the computer as a different Windows user. If this works, there is a permissions issue with the problem user. Contact your IT support for help fixing this.

To delete these:

1. Hold down the Windows key and press R, in the Open box, enter CMD then click OK.
2. Type cd\ then press Enter.
   If the drive letter displayed isn't C:, change this. To change the letter type C: then press Enter.
   Enter del sage.query.engine.datasource* /s then press Enter.
   This can take a few moments, and when the search and removal is complete the C:\> prompt is visible in the window.
3. Type exit then press Enter.

Check if you can now open the software.

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If you've already noted the path in the Company file, click Next to proceed to the next ste.

Browse to the Company file, open it with Notepad and make a note of the data path.

Version	Company file location
Sage Accounts v29	C:\ProgramData\Sage\Accounts\2023
Sage Accounts v28	C:\ProgramData\Sage\Accounts\2022
Sage Accounts v27	C:\ProgramData\Sage\Accounts\2021
Sage Accounts v26	C:\ProgramData\Sage\Accounts\2020

For Sage software to open successfully, certain files must exist in Windows. This usually happens automatically as a part of the installation routine but it's possible that this didn't happen. You can register them manually instead:

1. Check that the following files exist and if not, run a repair install to create them.

   File	Location
   Sg50Application.dll	Program directory, by default: 32 bit - C:\Program Files\Sage\Accounts 64 bit - C:\Program Files (x86)\Sage\Accounts
   msxml3.dll	System32 folder

2. Press the Windows key + E then browse to and double-click the Sg50Application.dll file.
3. Click Show apps then scroll down and click Look for another app on this PC.
4. Browse to the following folder:
   32 bit - C:\Windows\System32
   64 bit - C:\Windows\SysWOW64
   Select regsvr32.exe, click Open then click OK.
5. Repeat steps 2 to 5 for the msxml3.dll file.

If the files fail to register, proceed to the following steps.