Fix Error: “Your database engine on computer [server] is unavailable. Please make sure that the computer is logged in or that the database service is running”

Are you facing issues related to the Sage database engine? Are you getting an error message similar to “Your database engine on computer x is unavailable”? If the answer to both the questions is ‘Yes’, you have landed at the right place! Such issues can’t bother you anymore!
User Navigation
- What are the Reasons for the Occurrence of the “Sage database engine not available on your computer (server)” error message in Sage 50?
- How to resolve the ‘Sage database engine not available on your computer (server)’ issue?
- If the ~pvsw~.loc file is damaged or pointing to the wrong server
- If the company data folder includes encrypted files
- Create a new directory with the core company data files
- Frequently Asked Questions:
- To resolve the Sage database engine not available on your computer (server) issue, I am asked to ping the server by name from my workstation. How can I do this?
- How to establish a connection between the Sage 300 software and my new company database?
- Does the Sage software run on the SQL database?
We understand facing such issues is quite irritating, more so if you are in the middle of something important. Therefore, in this blog, we will look at some easy but highly effective remedies to this commonly reported issue. Just go through this blog, perform the steps shown here and get rid of this issue, forever!
Here we go!
What are the Reasons for the Occurrence of the “Sage database engine not available on your computer (server)” error message in Sage 50?
Many technical issues may contribute to this commonly reported issue. Some of these are listed below-
- When you try to access a file on a server that does not have the latest version of the connection manager installed on it
- If the ~pvsw~.loc file is damaged
- the ~pvsw~.loc file is pointing to the wrong server
- Incorrect Sharing and Permissions
- IPv6 is enabled
- The shared data folder has not been shared properly
- The SAJ folder is having the read-only attribute enabled
- damaged, or encrypted, files in the company data folder
- An issue with the SAJ folder

How to resolve the ‘Sage database engine not available on your computer (server)’ issue?
Total Time: 35 minutes
If the ~pvsw~.loc file is damaged or pointing to the wrong server
Close Sage 50 application
Browse to the location where your company file is saved
Delete the ~pvsw~.loc file for that company
Open Sage 50 again
Check if the company opens without issues
If the company data folder includes encrypted files
Close Sage 50
Browse to the location where your company file is saved
Press Ctrl+A to select all the files in the company directory
Right-click on the highlighted files
Click on Properties
Choose the Advanced button
Make sure to uncheck the box adjacent to the label ‘Encrypt contents to secure data’
Click OK and then Apply
Select OK
Open Sage 50 again
Check if the company opens without issues
Create a new directory with the core company data files
Open the Sage 50 application
Click on Open Existing Company
Note down the Directory for your company
Now create a new folder in this data path.
Double-click on your company folder
Copy the Version.txt file, KMSKeys.xml file, Keys Backup folder, and all the .DAT files
Next, paste these into the new folder you just created in the data path
Select File
Click on Open Company to open the company file from the new folder you created
Check if you can access the company information now
We hope the troubleshooting steps mentioned above would help you a great deal to fix the Sage database engine not available on your computer (server) issue. But before you perform the above options, please ensure that you understand your operating system better. If you are finding it difficult to perform the steps above and are still not able to resolve this issue, we would recommend you to speak to some seasoned Sage professionals 1800 964 3096.
Frequently Asked Questions:
To resolve the Sage database engine not available on your computer (server) issue, I am asked to ping the server by name from my workstation. How can I do this?
Please follow the steps below-
Log in to the server, press WINDOWS + R to open up the Run command
Type cmd, and click OK
Type ipconfig on the box and press ENTER
Note down the IPv4 Address
Type Hostname and press ENTER
Note down the computer name
Log in to the workstation
Repeat Steps 1 to 6 above
Type ping [server computer name] and then press ENTER
Check if the workstation gets a response coming from the noted IP address of the server
Log in to the server again and repeat Steps 9 and 10, this time, using the workstation’s name
How to establish a connection between the Sage 300 software and my new company database?
Please follow the steps below-
Go to the setup menu
Click on the database screen
Next, click on the new button in order to create a new database
Type in a suitable name to the company database you need to create
Click on the Category dropdown box
Choose Company as your option
Click OK to proceed
Check if the name of the newly created database is appearing in the setup list
Does the Sage software run on the SQL database?
No. Sage primarily uses a flat-file proprietary database to run all its functions. It has set limits on the number of transactions you can store.