Money: Default Money Data File Locations

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To minimize confusion, back up your files to the default folder.

Default Locations

If you use Money 99 or later, the default folder for the Money data file is the My Documents folder. If you use Money 98 or an earlier version, the default folder is the Money program folder.

Note Data files should not be restored to the Windows desktop. Restoring files to the desktop causes confusion between shortcuts to data files and actual data files.

Support personnel should restore data files to the default location, unless the data file is stored in a centralized data folder other than where the Money program resides. For more information see the "Central Documents Folder" section later in this article.

Finding the Default Location

Use either of the following methods.

Method 1

1. Start Money, or if Money is already running, quit and restart it.
   
   This makes sure that the current directory of Money is reset.
2. On the File menu, click Open.
3. In Windows Explorer, verify the name of the Look In folder.
   
   Typically this name is Microsoft Money in Money, read the line under Directories to find the default location. Restore Money data files to this folder.

Method 2

Note Because there are several versions of Windows, the following steps may be different on your computer. If they are, see your product documentation to complete these steps.

Use the appropriate method for your operating system.

Windows 95 and Windows 98:

To find the Money default location in Windows 3.x, follow these steps:

1. Click the Start button, point to Find, and then click Files Or Folders.
2. In the Named box, type msmoney.exe.
3. In the Look In box, click My Computer.
   
   Make sure that the Include Subfolders check box is selected, and then click Find Now.
   
   The default location is in the In Folder column of the search results.

Typical Installations

A typical installation of Money 5.0 or later on a system without an earlier version of Money results in a default installation folder of C:\Program Files\Microsoft Money.

Central Documents Folder

Storing data files from multiple programs in a central Documents folder is an exception to storing the data file in the program folder. If you use a central Documents folder, please restore the Money file to it. The benefits of centralized data file storage include less search time to find a file and easier backup of more files with less effort.