QuickBooks 2008 Will Not Load

I had the precise problem. It occurred immediately after I used Windows Update to run Dot-Net 3.0 Sp1. That update failed, so I left it. The next time I fired up QB 2008, I got the loading screen, then nothing. I couldn't wait for a fix, so I bit my tongue, paid $300 for a one year maintenance contract,and called for help. The tech (a very nice young man in Manila) and I spent about three hours doing a number of things: running the QB repair utility, a webpatch, uninstalling and reinstalling QB twice, attempting (unsuccessfully) to remove Dot-Net 3.0, and some other steps I can't recall.

In the end we got it working. Since the fix, I note that each time I load QB, it starts with a dialog box to the effect that there is an update waiting. But if I select "Update", the update screen shows that there's nothing to download.

I'm convinced there is a bug which QB will eventually fix. For now, I feel your pain.

What anti-virus program are you using? My experience has been that McAfee and Norton don't work so well with QB. Try disabling any anti- virus or internet security program and then starting QB. OR try starting your computer in safe mode and then start QB. If it works, then it is probably your anti-virus causing problems. You might consider AVG or Panda--they both seem to get along w/QB.

Michelle L. Long, CPA, MBA

of: Successful QuickBooks Consulting: The Complete Guide toStarting and Growing a QuickBooks Consulting Business or Certified QuickBooks ProAdvisorMember of Intuit's Certified Trainer Network

The fact that several users are reporting the same problem suggests a common root. If Norton or McAfee are causing the problem, then Intuit had better fix QB quick. There are infinitely more users of either AV than QB, and there should be no reason for the AV users to have to make the adjustments.

It is not just QB that Norton and McAfee interfere with. Peachtree also has problems with those two programs. A better suggestion is that Norton and McAfee need to fix their programs to not interfere with other programs.

Norton and McAfee come pre-loaded on new computers: the sellers are paid to install the "trial" versions.

Norton is not only a resource hog, interferes with the installation and execution of many commercial programs, but is also the barnacle of the software world. It is so hard to remove, that Symantec provides a sooper-sekret removal tool (which is not 100% effective).

Norton AV is universally despised by experts on the Microsoft XP and Vista newsgroups. EVERY recommendation made on those groups consists entirely of "remove Norton AV" and replace it with one of the free, faster, and more comprehensive alternatives.

I fixed it with QB Tech support. It had to do With .net. It is a known problem with QB 2008 right now. We rid of every version of .net (had to use the Windows Installer CleanUp Utility:

to do it. Then reinstalled upto .net version 2.0. The program is running fine now. Intuit istrying to figure out how to fix this. We had .net 3.0 on the computerwhen it stopped working.

Recommend "avast"...free version works fine. No problems with QB or anything else running. Have had problems dealing with NAV users were stuck with.