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    Money saves data with the extension .mny and .mbf.  What is the difference between these two files? The .mny file contains 16,3 MB but the .mbf contains 18.6 BM. When I install Money on a new computer which file should I transfer from my old computer the .mny or the .mbf? Or should I transfer both of them? In the forum I saw that most users used the .mny file. I’ve done the same but I’m wondering if I should install both files.

    Thursday, March 10, 2016 11:13 PM

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    .mny is a Money data file. .mbf is a Money backup file created by the application. If you open the .mbf, Money will confirm you want to restore it and will, if you agree, create a .mny from it.

    You should copy both files to the new computer just in case you need to restore from the old backup.

    Friday, March 11, 2016 12:18 AM
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    and also keep dated copies of these files somewhere separate and safe so if you mess things up you can go back to a properly working version. But I'm sure you thought of that!

    Dr AS

    Friday, March 11, 2016 9:34 AM
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    Thank you for your help. I have Money 2005 UK version. I installed money on my windows 10 laptop and then copied the mny file from my old computer to the documents folder of my new computer where Money is located. I clicked on mny file and Money opened smoothly. However, when I tried to do the same with the mbf file it didn’t work. I clicked on the mbf file, Money opens with a window to create and name the mny file but an error message comes up saying “The file name is invalid. Please use a valid file name.”  I’m sure others have experienced this problem, I’ve tried to find a solution on the forum but I can’t. Of course I can work only with the mny file but as you say (i didn’t know about it) both files the mny and mbf file should be installed on the new computer.  In an earlier post DominicP and Cal helped me with that but then I didn’t know that the mbf file also needs to be installed on the new computer. I can have both files copied on my new computer but if I open Money with the mny file I suppose the mbf file won’t update.

    Sunday, March 13, 2016 9:50 AM
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    Relax, I think. You only need the *.mny file to run MSMoney. The *.mbf file won't open because it is a backup file. It would only 'open' if you selected the 'restore backup' option from the File menu and you probably don't need to do that. Open your *.mny file and if you are happy with the contents do a backup and you will have a *mbf file once more.

    Dr AS

    Sunday, March 13, 2016 10:02 AM
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    When you install Money on a new system, you can either just copy your old .mny file and open it or copy the .mbf file and restore from it. If you restore from the .mbf you are prompted for a location to create the .mny file: the default location is the same as on the old system. Use one, but not both, options.

    Money's default setting is for Money to create a .mbf file in the same location as the .mny file every time Money closes, and to back up to floppy every 14 days. These options can be changed in Money's settings.

    If you have more than one disk - not just more than one partition - it is advisable to save the .mbf to a different disk in case of sudden disk failure. The floppy save option is now best turned off.

    Sunday, March 13, 2016 10:51 AM
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    Thank you both of you. It did work. I'm wondering what i would do without your help.
    Sunday, March 13, 2016 11:31 AM
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    Hi,

    I have a money mbf file but I do not get the confirmation popup and no mny file is created. I've tried several times with varying error messages.
    I have no idea how to extract the data. I installed an old copy of Money 99 on a new Windows 7 computer. This prompts a number of setup questions (answering them leaves me one option (close program). I never have access to the actual "file" menu in Money. I can't figure out why it isn't working. I tried as many options online as I could find (even software that is supposed to "open" mbf files but my security software declared it unsafe and deleted it.) Can any one out there help? I'll gladly supply more information. I'm doing this in preparation for using a newer type of personal finance software.

    Thanks for your help.       
    Thursday, August 3, 2017 1:41 AM
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    Did you successfully install Money 99 on the Windows 7 machine?  If you double-click on the Money icon, does Money start?  If not, what error message do you receive?

    A way to test your Money installation is to use it to open the sample.mny file that was created when you installed Money 99.  It's probably located here:

    C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Money Plus

    Double-click on it and see if it opens.

    Another possibility is that the mbf file was created with a more recent version of Money.  In that case you will need to install a Money version that is for the same geographic area (US, UK, etc,) and that is the same or newer than the version that created the mbf file.  Post back with your region and a guess about what version of Money created the mbf file.


    Bill Becker

    Thursday, August 3, 2017 3:29 AM
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    Money does startup (Money 98 instead of 99...error on my part) but I receive an error message stating "Money cannot locate 'C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Money\My Money Backup 1' or cannot open it, possibly because it is a read-only file. You can change the read-only attribute in the Windows Explorer. If you have chosen the correct file and it cannot be accessed, you will need to open your most recent backup file. I have not used a later version.

    If the file is being used in another application, close it in the other application and try again. I hit OK.

    I then get three choices; Open file, Restore Backup, or Exit Money.
    I tried opening the file (My Money Backup 1, which is an mbf file; I cannot find an mny file.) It is asking for an mny file so I cancel that option.
    Next I hit 'Restore Backup'. I enter the path to the file; 'C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Money\My Money Backup 1.mbf' (it wants an mny file however)
    I then hit 'Restore' and Money asks for the path where I want the file restored. "The Save as type" box is still defaulting to a mny file. I use a new file name as requested in the file name box using .mny ( am restoring in the same location as above 'C:\Program Files (x86)...) and Hit Restore. It says my file is either corrupted or is not a data file (be sure to use an mny file. I know the data is in this mbf file because of its size. Why won't it open (it is a backup file)?  

    Monday, August 7, 2017 2:58 AM
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    Money does startup (Money 98 instead of 99...error on my part) but I receive an error message stating "Money cannot locate 'C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Money\My Money Backup 1' or cannot open it, possibly because it is a read-only file. You can change the read-only attribute in the Windows Explorer. If you have chosen the correct file and it cannot be accessed, you will need to open your most recent backup file. I have not used a later version.

    If the file is being used in another application, close it in the other application and try again. I hit OK.

    I then get three choices; Open file, Restore Backup, or Exit Money.
    I tried opening the file (My Money Backup 1, which is an mbf file; I cannot find an mny file.) It is asking for an mny file so I cancel that option.
    Next I hit 'Restore Backup'. I enter the path to the file; 'C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Money\My Money Backup 1.mbf' (it wants an mny file however)
    I then hit 'Restore' and Money asks for the path where I want the file restored. "The Save as type" box is still defaulting to a mny file. I use a new file name as requested in the file name box using .mny ( am restoring in the same location as above 'C:\Program Files (x86)...) and Hit Restore. It says my file is either corrupted or is not a data file (be sure to use an mny file. I know the data is in this mbf file because of its size. Why won't it open (it is a backup file)?  

    Do not put your *.mbf or *.mny within the Program Files folder. Move those files to your Documents folder and try again.

    I am not saying that is going to cure your problems, but to put those files with Program Files will cause problems.

    Make a copy of your *.mbf file in other media in case something goes wrong.

    Monday, August 7, 2017 3:22 AM
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    If Cal's suggestion doesn't help, please tell us your region (US, UK, etc).

    Also, did you try opening the sample.mny file?  If that opens and you do Help>About Microsoft Money, what is the version number you see?

    Is it possible that the mbf file was created by a more recent version of Money than Money 98? Maybe you upgraded years ago and have lost track of the disk or download?

    Bill Becker

    Monday, August 7, 2017 3:39 AM
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    When you install Money on a new system, you can either just copy your old .mny file and open it or copy the .mbf file and restore from it. If you restore from the .mbf you are prompted for a location to create the .mny file: the default location is the same as on the old system. Use one, but not both, options.

    Money's default setting is for Money to create a .mbf file in the same location as the .mny file every time Money closes, and to back up to floppy every 14 days. These options can be changed in Money's settings.

    If you have more than one disk - not just more than one partition - it is advisable to save the .mbf to a different disk in case of sudden disk failure. The floppy save option is now best turned off.

    The thing is, if you back up to a USB key Money thinks it is a floppy which is fine. But not if you turn the floppy option off.
    Saturday, August 12, 2017 8:52 PM