Microsoft Money reconciliation balances WAY OFF.

Question

Microsoft Money reconciliation balances WAY OFF.

Dale Webb 520

Please don't just chastise me for using an "old" app. Not sure the problem is in the app.

Been using Money for years. Reconcile bank statements every month. Money data files are stored on a network drive (SSD) attached to my router. Money is installed on my C: drive. The program is called from a batch file, viz:

@echo off

setlocal

:: Path to your Microsoft Money shortcut or executable

set "MoneyPath=C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Money Plus\MNYCoreFiles\msmoney.exe"

set "MoneyData=H:\Money\d^&KWebb.mny"

:: Launch Microsoft Money with the data file

start "" /wait "%MoneyPath%" "%MoneyData%"

:: After Money closes, run PowerShell cleanup

powershell -NoProfile -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File "H:\Money\CleanupBackups.ps1"

echo Cleanup script finished.

pause

endlocal

Because I need the "cleanup" part to delete extra backup files or they continue to pile up, even though I have Money set to save only 3.

My problem is, lately, after I reconcile the bank statement, my reconciliation is WAY OFF; thousands of dollars sometimes.

MY QUESTION IS: Is it possible that the way I call and use the program is introducing the errors? I'm sure there are safeguards in place in Windows for verifying copies to an from the drive, so I can't figure out how, but . . ..

2 answers

Your answer

Answer 1

Using Microsoft Money from a network drive can potentially introduce issues that affect the accuracy of your reconciliations. Here are a few considerations:

Network Drive Stability: If the network drive experiences latency or connectivity issues, it could lead to data corruption or incomplete transactions being recorded. This might cause discrepancies in your reconciliation.
File Access Conflicts: If multiple instances of Microsoft Money are accessing the same data file simultaneously (even if not intended), it could lead to conflicts and data integrity issues.
Batch File Execution: The way you are launching Microsoft Money through a batch file should not inherently cause errors, but ensure that the cleanup script does not interfere with the data file while Microsoft Money is still running. If the cleanup occurs while the application is accessing the file, it could lead to unexpected behavior.
Backup and Restore Issues: If your cleanup script deletes backups that are still in use or if there are issues with how backups are managed, it could lead to problems when restoring or accessing previous data states.
Data File Size and Performance: If your data file has grown significantly over time, performance issues could arise, leading to potential errors during reconciliation.

To troubleshoot:

Consider running Microsoft Money directly from the local drive instead of the network drive to see if the issue persists.
Ensure that no other processes are accessing the Money data file while you are reconciling.
Review the cleanup script to ensure it only runs after Microsoft Money has completely closed.

If the problem continues, you may want to explore the possibility of migrating to a more modern financial management application that offers better support and stability.

Answer 2

Francisco Montilla 20,665 Independent Advisor

Hi Dale,

What you are seeing is trouble when the working file lives on a network share handled by a consumer router. Money writes a lot of tiny changes and relies on strict file locking. SMB caching and hiccups on a router-attached SSD can drop or reorder some of those writes. The batch wrapper itself is not the problem. Running the .mny file across the network is.

Try to run Money only on a local working copy, then copy the finished file back to H: after Money closes.

Replace your batch with the one below. It keeps your file name with the caret before the ampersand, pulls the latest file down if needed, launches Money against the local copy, then makes a timestamped backup on H:, pushes the updated file back, and finally runs your cleanup PowerShell. Create H:\Money\Backups once before you try this.

@echo off
setlocal enableextensions enabledelayedexpansion

rem Paths and names
set "MoneyExe=C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Money Plus\MNYCoreFiles\msmoney.exe"
set "NetDir=H:\Money"
set "FileName=d^&KWebb.mny"

rem Working folder on local disk
set "LocalDir=%USERPROFILE%\Documents\MoneyWork"
if not exist "%LocalDir%" mkdir "%LocalDir%"

set "LocalFile=%LocalDir%\%FileName%"
set "NetFile=%NetDir%\%FileName%"

rem Pull latest from network to local if needed
if exist "%NetFile%" (
  if not exist "%LocalFile%" (
    copy /y "%NetFile%" "%LocalFile%" >nul
  ) else (
    rem Use robocopy to copy only if the network file is newer
    robocopy "%NetDir%" "%LocalDir%" "%FileName%" /XO /R:1 /W:1 >nul
  )
)

rem Run Money on the local working copy
start "" /wait "%MoneyExe%" "%LocalFile%"

rem Brief pause to ensure handles are released
timeout /t 2 /nobreak >nul

rem Ensure backup folder exists on H:
if not exist "%NetDir%\Backups" mkdir "%NetDir%\Backups"

rem Make a timestamped backup on H: before overwriting the main file
for /f "tokens=1-3 delims=/- " %%a in ("%date%") do set "DT=%%a-%%b-%%c"
for /f "tokens=1-2 delims=:." %%h in ("%time%") do set "TM=%%h-%%i"
set "BackupName=%FileName%.%DT%_%TM%.bak"
copy /y "%LocalFile%" "%NetDir%\Backups\%BackupName%" >nul

rem Push the updated working file back to H:
robocopy "%LocalDir%" "%NetDir%" "%FileName%" /R:2 /W:1 >nul

rem Run your existing cleanup on H:
powershell -NoProfile -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File "H:\Money\CleanupBackups.ps1"

echo All done. Money ran locally and your file is backed up and synced to H:.
pause
endlocal

If reconciliation stops going haywire when you work this way, you have your answer.If you want, I can also help tighten the cleanup to keep exactly three backups by date while keeping one weekly long-term, but first test the local-then-sync flow for a few sessions to confirm stability.

Dale Webb 520 Reputation points

2025-11-05T18:02:58.2933333+00:00

REALLY sorry to hear that the network SSD can be a problem. Have gone through hell trying to get the Windows to map and use the SSD. Really was an effort. Did it specifically to put MNY files where I could get them from both computers without repeated copying and synchronization. Really sorry that it doesn't work even though it should.
Francisco Montilla 20,665 Reputation points Independent Advisor

2025-11-06T02:02:24.6733333+00:00

I get it. The snag is not you or Money. It is that editing a single-file database over a router share is fragile. The safest way to keep your two-PC workflow and stop the reconciliation drift is to keep the share as the handoff spot, but always edit a local working copy with a simple lock so only one PC can check the file out at a time. That gives you the convenience you wanted without live network writes.
Dale Webb 520 Reputation points

2025-11-06T19:49:21.2633333+00:00

Thanks for your help. Not smart enough to understand what exactly your batch file does, but I'll give it a try.
Francisco Montilla 20,665 Reputation points Independent Advisor

2025-11-06T19:55:23.6266667+00:00

Hey Dale! Not trying to explain the whole script, but before it I included a broad idea of what does it do, so it is at least a bit understandable. Just let me know if you see some errors or if you need any extra tweak. :)
Dale Webb 520 Reputation points

2025-11-07T02:33:05.97+00:00
I'm very sorry. May I impose on you once again?

I unknowingly deleted the cleanup script, CleanupBackups.ps1 and need to regenerate a script that removes all but the last 3 backup files. Don't care if they are saved to the H:\Money\Backups directory or C:\Documents\MoneyWork directory. I'll Just have to change the backup location in Money settings.

Your batch file can call the cleanup script as a separate file or you can include it in the current batch file; whichever is easiest for you.

@echo off

setlocal enableextensions enabledelayedexpansion

rem Paths and names

set "MoneyExe=C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Money Plus\MNYCoreFiles\msmoney.exe"

set "NetDir=H:\Money"

set "FileName=d^&KWebb.mny"

rem Working folder on local disk

set "LocalDir=%USERPROFILE%\Documents\MoneyWork"

if not exist "%LocalDir%" mkdir "%LocalDir%"

set "LocalFile=%LocalDir%%FileName%"

set "NetFile=%NetDir%%FileName%"

rem Pull latest from network to local if needed

if exist "%NetFile%" (

if not exist "%LocalFile%" (

copy /y "%NetFile%" "%LocalFile%" >nul

) else (

rem Use robocopy to copy only if the network file is newer robocopy "%NetDir%" "%LocalDir%" "%FileName%" /XO /R:1 /W:1 >nul

)

)

rem Run Money on the local working copy

start "" /wait "%MoneyExe%" "%LocalFile%"

rem Brief pause to ensure handles are released

timeout /t 2 /nobreak >nul

rem Ensure backup folder exists on H:

if not exist "%NetDir%\Backups" mkdir "%NetDir%\Backups"

rem Make a timestamped backup on H: before overwriting the main file

for /f "tokens=1-3 delims=/- " %%a in ("%date%") do set "DT=%%a-%%b-%%c"

for /f "tokens=1-2 delims=:." %%h in ("%time%") do set "TM=%%h-%%i"

set "BackupName=%FileName%.%DT%_%TM%.bak"

copy /y "%LocalFile%" "%NetDir%\Backups%BackupName%" >nul

rem Push the updated working file back to H:

robocopy "%LocalDir%" "%NetDir%" "%FileName%" /R:2 /W:1 >nul

rem Run your existing cleanup on H:

powershell -NoProfile -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File "H:\Money\CleanupBackups.ps1"

echo All done. Money ran locally and your file is backed up and synced to H:.

pause

endlocal

Francisco Montilla 20,665 Independent Advisor

You are not imposing at all.

This is a clean, self-contained CleanupBackups.ps1 that keeps only the 3 newest .bak files. It defaults to H:\Money\Backups, but you can point it at any folder. It uses literal paths so the ampersand in your data file name is safe, and it sorts by the files actual last write time instead of the name.

param(
    [string]$BackupPath = "H:\Money\Backups",
    [int]$Keep = 3,
    [string]$MatchBase = "",
    [switch]$WhatIf
)

if (-not (Test-Path -LiteralPath $BackupPath)) {
    Write-Host "Backup folder not found: $BackupPath"
    exit 1
}

$files = Get-ChildItem -LiteralPath $BackupPath -File -Filter *.bak

if ($MatchBase -ne "") {
    $files = $files | Where-Object {
        $_.Name.StartsWith($MatchBase, $true, [System.Globalization.CultureInfo]::InvariantCulture)
    }
}

$ordered = $files | Sort-Object LastWriteTimeUtc -Descending

if ($ordered.Count -le $Keep) {
    Write-Host "Nothing to delete. Found $($ordered.Count) .bak file(s)."
    exit 0
}

$toRemove = $ordered | Select-Object -Skip $Keep

foreach ($f in $toRemove) {
    if ($WhatIf) {
        Write-Host "[DRY RUN] Would delete $($f.FullName)"
    } else {
        Remove-Item -LiteralPath $f.FullName -Force -ErrorAction Stop
    }
}

Write-Host "Kept $Keep newest .bak file(s). Removed $($toRemove.Count)."

Save that as H:\Money\CleanupBackups.ps1. Your existing batch line already calls it, so you can keep this exact call at the end of your batch.

powershell -NoProfile -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File "H:\Money\CleanupBackups.ps1" -BackupPath "H:\Money\Backups" -Keep 3

If you want to test without deleting, add -WhatIf to the same call. If you ever keep backups in a shared folder that holds other apps backups, you can scope it to only your Money backups by adding -MatchBase "d&KWebb.mny." so it keeps the latest three for that file only.

Dale Webb 520 Reputation points

2025-11-07T17:51:13.2433333+00:00

Very sorry, but I don't see your reply on line. Website altered formatting and I am unsure what's going on?
Dale Webb 520 Reputation points

2025-11-07T21:23:49.07+00:00

Really appreciate your help and expertise.
Francisco Montilla 20,665 Reputation points Independent Advisor

2025-11-08T21:07:58.6866667+00:00

Hey Dale, sorry for the late reply, I'm attaching an image of my last reply just in case:

Regarding the code I posted, I'm afraid to post it again here in case it disappears for you, so see my next comment to see the re-pasted code.

Francisco Montilla 20,665 Independent Advisor

This is the code:

param(
    [string]$BackupPath = "H:\Money\Backups",
    [int]$Keep = 3,
    [string]$MatchBase = "",
    [switch]$WhatIf
)

if (-not (Test-Path -LiteralPath $BackupPath)) {
    Write-Host "Backup folder not found: $BackupPath"
    exit 1
}

$files = Get-ChildItem -LiteralPath $BackupPath -File -Filter *.bak

if ($MatchBase -ne "") {
    $files = $files | Where-Object {
        $_.Name.StartsWith($MatchBase, $true, [System.Globalization.CultureInfo]::InvariantCulture)
    }
}

$ordered = $files | Sort-Object LastWriteTimeUtc -Descending

if ($ordered.Count -le $Keep) {
    Write-Host "Nothing to delete. Found $($ordered.Count) .bak file(s)."
    exit 0
}

$toRemove = $ordered | Select-Object -Skip $Keep

foreach ($f in $toRemove) {
    if ($WhatIf) {
        Write-Host "[DRY RUN] Would delete $($f.FullName)"
    } else {
        Remove-Item -LiteralPath $f.FullName -Force -ErrorAction Stop
    }
}

Write-Host "Kept $Keep newest .bak file(s). Removed $($toRemove.Count)."

And the command:

powershell -NoProfile -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File "H:\Money\CleanupBackups.ps1" -BackupPath "H:\Money\Backups" -Keep 3

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Microsoft Money reconciliation balances WAY OFF.

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