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

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.

Restart Sage services

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.