Installation - Intuit Community

All Wikis Installation Installing Enterprise Solutions Multi-User on a Network Linux File Server Install Network Diagnostic Tool QuickBooks Network Errors QuickBooks on Ubuntu Troubleshooting data files that fail to verify after rebuild Add a new wiki to this topic

Contributors:

Plinken

Host_Iram

MCSLC

Host_AskAmyK

J Wiz

EasyEdit

(What's this?)

QuickBooks Installation, Update, and Conversion Wiki

*** WINDOWS 7 compatibility with QuickBooks 2009 and earlier?
Please click here for the latest compatibility information ***

The first and most basic thing people need to do is install the program. If you've already been using QuickBooks, you'll also need to convert the file. The QuickBooks Installation, Update and Conversion Wiki is an excellent resource for novice and expert users alike. This Wiki can be edited by all users, benefiting the entire community with real life examples of tips, tricks and best practices with other QuickBooks users. Take a look around, contribute and enjoy.

Want to contribute? Not sure where to start? Here is a list of articles just waiting to be written...

How do I change the default location of my files?
Anti-viruses and Firewalls - Tips and Tricks for configuring
Converting an Accountant's Copy to a working file.
Advice for someone switching to Windows Vista

If you are visiting and want to add other topics of interest, just edit and add a line below the last topic!

If you are a QuickBooks Mac user, check out the Mac wiki here or try the QuickBooks for Mac forum

Minimum System Requirements

Recommended System Configuration

QuickBooks Pro/Premier on XP

At least 1.8GHz processor, 2.0GHz recommended
2.4GHz + dual core processor for high performance
At least 256MB (512MB recommended) of RAM for a single user
At least 512MB of RAM for multiple, concurrent users
2GB RAM for high performance
1 GB of disk space (additional space required for data files)

QuickBooks Pro/Premier on Vista

At least 2.0GHz processor
2.4GHz + dual core processor for high performance
At least 512MB of RAM (1GB recommended)
4GB RAM for high performance
1 GB of disk space (additional space required for data files)

For more installation options click here.

Steps to a successful upgrade of QuickBooks

It's that time of year. You've almost survived the Holidays and its time to look on the new year. Oh and there's that new QuickBooks disk you just received. It's time to pop in that disk, install and move your file to the new edition, right? Wrong and WHOA!!!!

Can I get a show of hands for those out there that have ever had an installation or file conversion issue? I see you! These are two of the biggest reasons why people call us. Did you know there are many simple things you can do to insure a successful install and conversion. Hang on for the steps that will help you succeed!

Installing

The first and most important thing you should know before installing any program, are the system requirements. Lately in the forums I've seen a lot of questions about whether or not our 2009 products will work with Windows 2000. QuickBooks 2007 was the last version supported on Windows 2000. Our system requirements specify what is supported. If its not listed there, its probably not supported. Click System Requirements to see the full details for 2009.

Next, understand what you need to know from a networking standpoint. It sounds scary. But we have many resources to help people successfully install and network the program. Our Networking Guides are available for 2006, 2007 and 2008. The instructions for 2009 will be the same as those of 2008.

Did you know that each program disk comes with an installation guide? These guides cover things already discussed here. They also provide step-by-step instructions. Click Installation Guides for a list of available 2009 guides. Note: You may need to select a different version on the support site to see the correct installation guide for your product.

Finally, know your resources if you do get into trouble. Did you know that the community forums has a resource center just for installation, update and conversion? There you will find FAQs on installation, registration, and even Vista issues. There are also links to our knowledge base articles. These are the article the support reps use when people call. You'll also find links to the installation forums so you can post unaddressed questions there. You'll be amazed at the expertise out there just waiting to help you. Visit the Installation, Update, and Conversion Resource Center today!

This gives you some steps to a successful install. But hold on to that disk. We have a few more steps to complete to make sure that file updates successfully.

Converting your data

First, verify your data in your current version of QuickBooks. This means if you were using QuickBooks 2005, you want to complete the following steps in QuickBooks 2005.

To run the Verify utility:

Switch to Single-User Mode and log in as the Admin user. If this is a multi-user (networked) installation you should log in on the computer that is the host to the database, rather than a workstation that accesses the data over the network.
Select the Window menu and select Close All.
Select the File menu, select Utilities, and select Verify Data.

If the message “QuickBooks detected no problems with your data” appears, continue with installing the latest version of QuickBooks.
If the message “QuickBooks detected problems with your data”... appears, click Rebuild Data Utility for detailed instructions to repair.

If you were prompted to rebuild the data, verify after rebuilding.
Continue to the next steps after the verify returns with no problems.
If you continue to get verify errors after rebuilding data click here for further instructions.

Congratulations, you have a clean file! Now its time! Go ahead and install your new version of QuickBooks. Remember the resources we discussed earlier if you get stuck.

Once the program is installed, you are ready to opening the company file for the first time in latest version. Here are some things to remember:

Only the Admin user can update the file (QuickBooks Pro, Premier, and Enterprise only). If you never created other users and roles in QuickBooks, you are automatically the Admin user. If you see the message, “The company file needs to be updated.” Please ask your QuickBooks administrator to update the file," you are not logged in to your data file as the Admin user.

After updating your data file, it will not open in previous versions of QuickBook. QuickBooks automatically backs up your data file before updating it. If you need to go back, you can always restore the backup to your old version of QuickBooks.This may require installing the previous version of QuickBooks. Also, if you need to start the update again, you can restore the backup to your new version of QuickBooks.

You cannot convert QuickBooks Enterprise data back to QuickBooks Simple Start, Pro, or Premier. Enterprise data files only work in Enterprise editions of QuickBooks.

QuickBooks Pro or Premier files cannot be converted to a later version of QuickBooks Simple Start. For example, a QuickBooks Pro 2008 file will not convert to Simple Start 2009. Data and products that will update or convert to QuickBooks Simple Start provides more information.

You cannot convert a file to QuickBooks Mac or QuickBooks Online edition after converting to multicurrency. In Enterprise Solutions or QuickBooks Pro and Premier, once you convert a company file to use the new multi-currency feature, it cannot be converted to QuickBooks Mac or QuickBooks Online edition.

You would think that we’re ready to go at this point. But lets get the newly converted file started off on the right foot. Verify your company file after you finish. Make sure the updated data file is in good shape by running the Verify Data utility.

Where is your data file?

If you installed QuickBooks 2007 or later, the data file from your earlier version of QuickBooks may have been moved to a new folder, the new default folders are as follows;

Windows Vista: C:\Users\Public\Documents\Intuit\QuickBooks\Company Files

Windows XP: C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Shared Documents\Intuit\QuickBooks\Company Files

If you cannot find your data file in its original location, and if it is not in one of the folders listed above, search your hard drive for *.qbw files and try to find it that way. Be sure you include hidden files and folders in your search criteria.

Phew!! That was a lot of information and kudos to our Customer Care specialists for helping us out. I assure you that this will actually save you time and aggravation if followed thoroughly. Now with QuickBooks Installed and your file upgraded you can focus on the most important thing...Growing your business in the coming year!

Errors that can occur when installing the program
As much as you hate to see it happen, errors can occur when trying to install any program. This is no less true for QuickBooks. So much depends on systems and what those systems have been exposed to. While we do try for as little pain as possible during an installation, when it happens we also work hard to have a solution. Here is a comprehensive list of errors and the articles that can help you solve them.

Errors when installing or downloading QuickBooks

Have you search the Community Forums? Check our Installation, Update and Conversion forum here.

Last update: Sep 3 2009, 6:22 PM EDT by Plinken (content history | content tools) (help)

Keyword tags: