Summary
After upgrading, Sage HRMS payroll fails to migrate the vault and store database. The system returns the error: "External component has thrown an exception. Unable to connect to Payroll database".
Resolution
Run this resolution only with Sage HRMS payroll Q1‑2024. Other versions don’t use this process.
Update payroll security files
Follow these steps on each affected client workstation.
- Close Sage HRMS if it’s running.
- Locate Abra.Payroll.Security.DLL on the client workstation. By default, it's in the C:\Program Files (x86)\Sage\Sage HRMS Client folder.
- Rename Abra.Payroll.Security.DLL to Abra.Payroll.Security.DLL.old.
- Copy the new Abra.Payroll.Security.DLL and UpdateSecurityUsers.exe files to the same folder.
- Right‑click UpdateSecurityUsers.exe and run it as administrator.
- Enter and confirm the same strong password when prompted.
- Launch Sage HRMS.
The error occurs for Windows users with non-administrator rights
- Assign the Creator and Security Admin server roles to the SQL user account
- Run Sage HRMS as administrator at least once after updating SQL roles
Users receive the error "Your password has expired. Ask your administrator to change it"
Local Security Policy settings prevent automatic overrides.
- IT staff needs to use the HRMSUpdateSecurityUsers utility to reset the Sage 300 Admin password before it expires
- Track the password expiration date and reset it before expiration
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