Simplified ways to fix QuickBooks error 1904

QuickBooks is one of the trustworthy accounting software which is used by many small and mid-size businesses. The software ensures accurate management with its advanced features. Apart from having features and functionality, many users have reported QuickBooks Error 1904.

QuickBooks error 1904 occurs when the system becomes unstable and if critical system files gone missing. This error usually comes and will continue to appear if the system doesn’t get maintenance updates frequently. The problem needs to be fixed as soon as it can because if you avoid the warning it may do additional damage to the system and its files.

Some possible causes of QuickBooks Error 1904

1. Due to having low maintenance of the system, some internal programs got damaged or corrupted.
2. Missing or Damaged Microsoft Components programs like MSXML, Microsoft C++, and the .NET Framework
3. Windows or the QuickBooks Desktop not updated with the latest version.
4. Windows Installer got corrupt
5. There might be some issue in the hard drive that causes the error

Recommended to read: QuickBooks Error 6155

Steps to Fix QuickBooks Error 1904

Solution 1: Download and Run the QuickBooks Install Diagnostic Tool from the QuickBooks Tool Hub.

Step 1: Download and Install QuickBooks Tool Hub

Using QuickBooks Tool Hub helps in fixing the common QB errors. For the best user experience, we recommend you to use the QB Tool Hub on Windows 10, 64-bit

1. First, close the QuickBooks Program
2. Make sure to use the latest version of QuickBooks Tool Hub. Save the downloaded file someplace you can effortlessly find (like the downloads folder). If you have already installed Tool Hub earlier, you can easily find out the version. Select the “Home” tab. The Tool Hub version will be shown on the bottom right or you can click on ‘About’ to view the version.
3. Open the downloaded file (QuickBooksToolHub.exe)
4. Now follow the on-screen steps to install the program and agree to the terms and conditions
5. After the installation finishes, double click on the icon to open the QuickBooks Tool Hub.

Note: If you aren’t able to find the icon, do a search from windows search bar for QuickBooks Tool Hub and choose the program.

Step 2: Run QuickBooks Install Diagnostic Tool from the Tool Hub

Now QuickBooks Install Diagnostic Tool will automatically diagnose and fix the issue with Microsoft components the QB program.

1. Open QuickBooks Tool Hub
2. From the Tool Hub Menu, select Installation Issues
3. Choose QuickBooks Install Diagnostic Tool. Let the tool run for a while, it can take up to 20 minutes to complete
4. When the tool finishes, restart your computer and open QuickBooks

If you are able to open and work in QuickBooks, everything is fixed. But in case if you are still seeing error 1904, move to solution 2.

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Solution 2: Manually Fix Windows components

If the QuickBooks Install and the update didn’t resolve the error, you can manually repair specific windows components yourself.

We only recommend you to do these troubleshooting steps if you’re an IT professional, confident Windows user, or working with the experts from Microsoft support.

Step 1: Repair or Reinstall Microsoft .NET Framework

In Windows 10, 8.1, and 8:

1. Close all running programs
2. Press the Windows key to open the start menu
3. Type “Control Panel” into the search box to open the C Panel
4. Select “Programs and Features”
5. Click on “Uninstall a Program”
6. Now select “Turn Windows features on or off.
7. Find the .NET Framework on the list

Check .NET Framework issue by enabling and disabling

1. Open the windows features box menu
2. Select the box to turn.NET Framework on and select ok
3. Restart your computer

Uncheck the .NET Framework box if it’s already checked.

In Windows 7:

1. Close all programs running in the background
2. Press the Windows + R key to open the Run command
3. Type Control panel into the search box and press enter
4. Click on “Uninstall a Program”
5. Now select “Turn Windows features on or off.
6. Find the .NET Framework on the list

Check .NET Framework issue by enabling and disable

1.Click on the checkbox to turn on .NET Framework.

2.Select OK to save the changes.

3.Restart your computer.

4.Select the checkbox to turn off .NET Framework. Don’t turn it back on.

5.Select OK to save your changes.

6.Restart your computer.

To Repair the .NET Framework

1. Open Programs and Features window, and select Microsoft .NET Framework.
2. Right-click on the program and select Uninstall/Change
3. Now Select Repair and then select Next
4. Follow the on-screen steps
5. After the repair finishes, restart the computer

After restarting the system, try to open QuickBooks again. If everything works fine, the error is fixed.

Step 2: Repair Microsoft MSXML

1. Open Windows start
2. Type “Programs and Features” or type “APPWIZ.CPL” and press enter
3. Right-click on MSXML from the list and select “Uninstall/Change”
4. Follow the on-screen instruction to uninstall MSXML
5. Now, download the msxml.msi file again
6. Double click on the msxml.msi file to continue the installation
7. After the installation finishes, Install and run QuickBooks desktop.

Solution 3: Change Windows account settings

Switch to Windows Administrator Account

1. Press the Windows key to open Start Menu
2. Type “CMD” into the search, when it appears right-click on it and select Run as Administrator.
3. Type “net user administrator/active:yes” in the command window and press Enter. After the command is fully executed, close the command window
4. Again open the windows start menu and select sign-out
5. Select the Administrator account and sign in. You won’t need a password.

Change the User Permissions

1. Open Windows start menu
2. Type “File Explorer” in the search box and open File Explorer
3. Open the C drive and navigate to the common files folder under the program files
4. Right-click on the Common Files folder and then select properties
5. Go on the Security tab, and then select Edit
6. In the “Group or user names” section, select Users
7. In the “Permissions for Users” section, turn on the following permissions: Modify, Read & execute
8. Click on Apply and OK.

Reinstall QuickBooks and Sign-out

1. Reinstall the QuickBooks Desktop program
2. After the installation is complete, go to the Windows start menu and sign out of the Administrator account
3. Now login with your normal user account
4. After that, go to the Windows Start menu
5. Enter ‘CMD’ and right-click on the icon and select Run as administrator
6. Now, type ‘net user administrator /active:no’ and press enter. This will hide the administrator account.

If you are able to open QuickBooks with your regular account, it means you are good to go.

We hope that the given solution works for you in order to solve QuickBooks Error 1904. If you still have some confusion related to this error, feel free to get in touch with one of our certified QuickBooks advisors for instant resolution by dialing 1.855.738.2784

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