If it has been a year since you've done any work on the "newer" laptop with 2009, check that you can actually just open the sample company that came with 2009 to rule out an installation issue rather than an issue with the specific company file you are trying to access. Been-there-done-that!!

If the file is moved from another system, ensure it is actually moved onto the system ... i.e. do not attempt to open or restore directly from the USB drive. Instead copy the file onto Desktop folder or into Documents folder, for example and then use it from there.

Thanks JJD.  I appreciate your reply.  Even the sample company.  I'm advised that i'm on Release A of 2009 program and need Release E.   This is probably the problem.   I hope it's possible to still download this update.  It's a small business and using the software in simplest form...without payroll or anything.  But support is almost absent.

Well no issues with sample company now.   Tried to save as my 2016 ye as 2017 so that I can finish inputting entries for 2017 on new laptop but it  wont open.  SA reports that dabase engine reported an error?  I have no idea what this means.  Never had this issue in the past.  Was always able to open the date file under the new name.Any suggestions?

Thank you in advance.

Please confirm if you are straying from this process?
1- Use the backup function within Sage/Simply to make a .CAB file on the hard drive of old computer.

2- Copy this .cab onto your USB stick

3- Copy the .cab file from USB onto hard drive of new computer

4- Use the restore function within Sage/Simply on new computer

5- Only when it's successfully converted and opened you can then "save as" if you wish to change its name.

When you said "Tried to save as my 2016 ye as 2017" ... if you mean you renamed the .cab and THEN tried to open/convert it while it already had a new name, that is likely your issue.