I am upgrading my computers from 2013 to 2015. When I installed it on my first computer it wanted to convert a backup it found to the new format. Is there a way to install it over 2013 and get it to convert the data file?
Sure.
IIRC, the 2015 install process automatically "uninstalls" v. 2013.
When your 2015 installation tried to open that 2013 backup, tell it you don't want to open that file & instead navigate to your actual 2013 file.
The upgrade process should preserve a copy of your 2013 file in an archive folder, just in case you decide to revert back to 2013.
It's still a good idea, though, to make your own backup.
If it were a TRUE Quicken backup (the kind with a 'QDF-backup' filetype), Quicken can't open it. It will offer to restore it first (thus, creating a .qdf filetype). But your other procedure about navigating to the actual file type sounds sound to me and is probably what the OP wants to do, rather than using a most-likely downleveled backup file to start.
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