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QuickBooks Installation Troubleshooting and Fixes

Overview

Sometimes a QuickBooks installation causes issues and needs to be fixed.  These issues can include instability, issues after applying a new release of your version year of QuickBooks, problems with QuickBooks’ ability to connect to external applications, and even the ability to install a patch release.

Repair the QuickBooks Installation

If you’re experiencing QuickBooks connectivity issues, issues with QuickBooks ability to talk to other applications, or QB won’t run (or similar issues), then Repairing the QB installation will often help.

To Repair the QuickBooks installation, see QuickBooks Support – How to Repair QuickBooks

 

Patch Issues

QuickBooks by default is configured to automatically download patch releases.  These are often known as “R” releases, such as R3, R4, R5 and so on.

Once they are downloaded, then you’re prompted to install them each time you start QuickBooks.  Though most patches are good, they can cause several types of issues.  Sometimes you’re constantly prompted to apply a patch, perhaps when you already did, or the process to apply the patch fails with an error or crash, or the patch itself when applied causes issues or feature changes you don’t want.

 

Stop quickbooks from automatically downloading patches

There are several reasons why customers don’t want QB to automatically download patches.  For example, a release may not work for you or you may want to control the timing yourself, then manually update at a set time.

To stop updates from downloading automatically:

  • From the QB Help menu pick Update QuickBooks.
  • On the resulting dialog window, click Options
  • Choose No for Automatic Update.  Then close the dialog to save your changes.

 

 

Patch won’t install or don’t want to install it

One solution to an unwanted patch or to one that does not work is to hide the patch from QuickBooks.  When you do this QB no longer knows the patch has been downloaded and so it will stop prompting you to install it.

To hide a patch from QuickBooks, rename the folder where it is located.

To locate your patch folder, select Update QuickBooks from the QuickBooks Help menu.  Then click the Options tab. Look for the Download Location.

For example, the typical folder for for patch downloads for these QuickBooks versions is:

  • Enterprise 18.0: C:\ProgramData\Intuit\QuickBooks Enterprise Solutions 18.0\Components\DownloadQB28
  • Enterprise 19.0: C:\ProgramData\Intuit\QuickBooks Enterprise Solutions 19.0\Components\DownloadQB29
  • QuickBooks 2018: C:\ProgramData\Intuit\QuickBooks 2015\Components\DownloadQB28
  • QuickBooks 2019: C:\ProgramData\Intuit\QuickBooks 2016\Components\DownloadQB29

Once you locate the patch folder in Windows Explorer, then rename it.  Use a name something like DownloadQB29.old.

Notes:

  • There is nothing that cannot be replaced in this folder.  QB will recreate the folder automatically if it needs it.
  • Some users want to delete the download folder and that can be OK, but out of caution I recommend renaming it (you can always rename it back if desired.)
  • Do this while QB is not running to avoid conflict messages.

 

 

Reinstall quickbooks in order to revert to an older release

Sometimes reinstalling QB will fix stability issues.  In some cases patches are worse than what they fix, or they cause issues with your machine of environment.  When this happens, sometimes the only way to keep working is to reinstall / to revert to an older patch.

If you have already patched one or more of your systems to a problematic release, and because QB does not include a ‘roll back’ feature to go back, one solution to get back to an older release is to install an older release either from your original CD, which is usually R1, or to download and install an older release.

Generally the steps are:

  • Uninstall QuickBooks.  This is important because installing a older release on top of a newer one often has no effect.
  • Rename the patch download folder as above (because it is not uninstalled).
  • Install the desired QB release.

Notes and cautionary statements:

  • Uninstalling QuickBooks does not remove your company files file from your computer.  It only removes the QB Program.  As you don’t want your files deleted, this is a good thing.
  • Sometimes users get “in a mood” around this time and start spring-cleaning up their system, deleting folders and such and can inadvertently delete their data files.  Don’t do this. If you delete your QuickBooks Company, it will be gone like any other file you might delete.
  • Be sure you are ready to re-install before you uninstall.  Have your CD or download the QB installer for your version first.
  • You will need your installation numbers in order to install again.  However…
  • If you are re-installing the same version year of QuickBooks (e.g. QuickBooks 2015) on the same computer then the installer will usually remember your install numbers and show them to you during the installation.

Help!

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