Skip to content
logo Knowledgebase

ERROR: 'Waiting to open file...' 'Access Denied', 'Internal deadlock' or 'file is in use'

Created on  | Last modified on 

Summary

How to resolve these errors in Sage 50 Accounts.

Description

There are several reasons why you receive these error messages:

  • The system incorrectly flags the file as read-only, non-existent, corrupt, or open on the server
  • Incorrect Windows permissions to open or edit the file
  • Incorrect Sage 50 Accounts licence or data from an earlier version
  • Antivirus software

TIP: Follow our File locking and exclusive program areas in Sage 50 Accounts article for help with these issues.

Resolution

Restart Sage services

TIP:

Use our Data Service Manager that makes this process easier. To find out more, visit our using the Sage 50 Data Service Manager in v31 and above article.

 

 

The most common way to resolve these issues is to restart the Sage 50 Accounts Data Service on the computer that holds your data. Use our Where is my data kept? article to locate this computer, then:

  1. Close Sage 50 Accounts on all computers.
  2. Hold down the Windows Key and press R then enter Services.msc then click OK.
  3. Right-click on the following relevant service and click Restart:
    • Sage 50 Accounts Service v33 - Where xx is the version of your software. For example, v33.

    TIP: If the service hangs in a starting or stopping state, Stop and restart the Sage Data Service and Control Service manually.


Restart your computer

Restart the computer that holds your data

 NOTE: Contact your local IT support if you need assistance with this. 


If the issue persists

First, identify the file extension in the error message, which is three letters that appear after the full stop.

TIP: For example, if the error message shows an issue with the ACCESS.DTA file, the file extension is DTA.

You can now find the file extension in the table below and click the related resolution.

File extension or file name Resolution

SETUP.DTA

Troubleshooting SETUP.DTA files

Any other DTA files, DTH or COA 

Contact local IT support to check Windows Permissions
BKC, BKI, CPI, CPC, CSI, CSC, DPC, DPI, FIC, FII, IVC, IVI, NMC, NMI, PCC, PCI, PDC, PDI, PPC, PPI, PRC, PRI, SKC, SKI, SLC, SLI, SPC, SPI Manually create the missing or damaged criteria file
SLM, PLM, NLM, BLM, ILM, CLM, DLM Troubleshooting your memo files