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How to move your payroll data to a new server (Network installation)

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Summary

Steps on how to move your Sage Payroll data to a new server.

Description

If you change servers or start using Sage Payroll for multiple users, you may need to move your payroll data to a new server. 

NOTE: If installing Sage Payroll software on a new client computer, use the How to install Sage Payroll on a new client computer article. 

Resolution

Check your mapped network drive

Before moving the Sage Payroll data to a new server, check the current network drive used on the client computer. This drive connects to the Sage Payroll data files stored on the server. To do this:


  1. Log on to a client computer that you use Sage Payroll on.
  2. Open Sage Payroll and log into a payroll as normal.
  3. On the menu bar, click Help then click System Information.
  4. Under Data Directory, make a note of the mapped drive letter or path:
    This image shows the Data Directory.
  5. To close Sage Payroll; on the menu bar, click Login then click Exit.
  6. To find the full UNC path of the mapped drive, hold down the Windows key and press R.
  7. In the Open box, type cmd then press Enter on your keyboard.
  8. In the command prompt window, type net use then press Enter on your keyboard.
  9. In the Local column, find the drive letter you noted in step 4. Then make a note of the full UNC path specified in the Remote column:This image shows the UNC path specified in the Remote column.
  10. To close the command prompt window, type exit then press Enter on your keyboard.

Move Sage Payroll data files to new server

  1. On a client computer that you use Sage Payroll on, log on as a Windows administrator.
  2. Browse to the location that you noted in step 9 of the previous section.
  3. Right-click the folder Sage Payroll, then click Copy.
  4. Browse to and open the network path of the new server, then right-click your mouse and click Paste.
  5. Right-click the folder Micropay Professional, then click Properties.
  6. Click the Sharing tab, then so other network users have full access to it.
  7. Make a note of the Network Path:
    Image
  8. Click Apply, then click OK.

Set up the server

  1. Log onto your server computer as an administrator and close all Sage software.
  2. Locate and double-click the downloaded Sage Payroll installation file, then click Run.
    NOTE: If extra security prompts relating to your appear, you must accept these before you can continue with the installation. 
  3. To accept the terms of the licence agreement, select the check box, then click Next.
  4. Select Server, then click Next.
  5. Check the data folder location is correct. If not, amend as required.
    TIP: Make a note of this path as you'll need it later in the installation process. 
  6. To proceed with the installation, click Next then click Install.
  7. When prompted that the installation has completed successfully, click Finish.
  8. Browse to the data folder location you noted in step 5.
  9. Right-click the folder, Sage Payroll then left-click Properties.
  10. Click the Sharing tab.
  11. Share the Sage Payroll folder so other network users have full access and control to it.
  12. Once you apply the sharing settings, click OK.

Connect to the data

On each client computer that you use Sage Payroll on, complete the following steps:

  1. Log on to the computer as a Windows administrator.
  2. Map a network drive to the path you noted in step 5 of the previous section.
  3. Make a note of the newly mapped drive letter.
  4. Depending on whether you're using a 32 or 64-bit machine, browse to one of the following locations:
    • C:\Program Files(x86)\Sage Payroll
    • C:\Program Files\Sage Payroll
    • You can also right-click the Sage Payroll icon on your Desktop, and click Open File Location
  5. Double-click a tax year folder, for example, 2023.
  6. Locate and right-click the file, dataloc.ini.
  7. Click Open with then click Notepad.
  8. Enter the mapped drive letter you noted in step 3, followed by a colon symbol. For example, S:
  9. Click File then click Save.
  10. Click File then click Exit.
  11. Repeat steps 5 to 10 for all tax years in the Sage Payroll folder.
  12. Open Sage Payroll and log into a payroll as normal.