To help avoid corrupting NVivo project files follow the tips below:
Set up autosave or save regularly while working, to avoid file corruption in case the computer shuts down abruptly or, if saving to a network drive, the drive becomes unavailable.
Always save projects before leaving the computer for any period of time—files can be corrupted when computers go to into power saving mode.
Always make sure projects are completely closed before shutting down NVivo.
If a project is saved in a folder that is synched to a cloud storage provider like Dropbox or Google Drive, turn off file synchronization while you are working on the project (or copy the project to a non-synched local folder to work on and copy back when finished).
Do not work on project files saved on USB sticks or external USB drives—instead, copy the projects to a local drive and work with them there. Copy back to the external drive when finished.
Check regularly for malware on the computer or drive where the project file is stored