A file needed to run the Planner is either missing or corrupted

If you see the message "A file needed to run the Planner is either missing or corrupted", then it is likely that the information in your Microsoft Money planning area is corrupted.

This error more often than not happens on UK versions, although has, in recent versions, started to manifest itself in other versions. It can also appear with a message mentioning HRESULT=0x80004005 in your planner (or other HRESULT values).

Depending on the version of Microsoft Money you have, you need a particular registry fix. The fix will remove any planning (lifetime, budget, debt reduction planner) data you have in your Money file.

The relevant patch can be found on the Money Patches Page. This patch is within a .ZIP (compressed) file, and is a registry patch. The file has a .REG extension.

For example, if you are using MS Money 2004, then use the item under the 'Money 2004' section on the patches page, listed as 'A file needed to run the Planner is either missing or corrupted - ResetLifetimePlanner2004.zip'

It is recommended that you make a backup of your Microsoft Money file first (see Article 94), so that you can go back to your previous version of your file if necessary.

To install:

1. Download the patch from the patches page
2. Extract the contents of the file into a directory on your computer
3. Shutdown Microsoft Money
4. Take a backup of your file
5. Double-click on the .REG file to enter the change into your registry
6. You should get prompted to enter the information into your registry - click 'Yes' (or whatever option there is to accept the update)
7. If you are using an Antispyware tool, then you may have an additional prompt to accept
8. Start Microsoft Money again
9. The planning data has been removed and the error should have gone

Registry fixes are available for all versions of Microsoft Money from 2000 onwards.

Thanks to Yuting Kuo for an update to this page