Predicament

No.

Notan

If you do install Q2006 and you don't like the way it works, remember one important thing. It will change the format of your Quicken data files when it first opens them, but will also create a backup copy in the old format (ie: Q2004) in a backup directory. So at that point, you'd need to refer to your old version (again, assuming you don't like the new one) and then you'll manually have to go a copy back the old formated data in the backup directory to whatever location you really wanted it to be at. In a sense, this is a fall back for the data, not the executable!

On Fri 21 Oct 2005 06:24:33p, Andrew wrote in news:RMe6f.13912$ snipped-for-privacy@fe12.lga:

To complete your fall back position, you will want to make sure to have on hand an Installation CD for Q2004.

The OP said, "I discovered the install disk was lost."

Hence, the word "Predicament."

Notan

Subtle point I missed. Ergo, 'Predicament' might not be the correct word. How about 'screwed'?

All bets are off.

You can buy Quicken 2004 for a song on eBay.

On Fri 21 Oct 2005 09:21:47p, Notan wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@ddress.com:

I knew you lost it. Just wanted to point out how big your predicament/fallback situation is after your planned Q2006 install ... unless you buy a Q2004 on Ebay (or maybe I (or someone else here) could sell you my/their Q2004D - I have Q2005D waiting to be installed).

Thanks to everyone for the comments/suggestions. One follow-up: is it possible/advisable to do a separate install, so that the Q2004 executable is still available?

I'll also dig out my eBay userid...

No, you cannot install a newer version of Quicken without it uninstalling the older one. Once installed, it is possible to reinstall the older one, but the complications are manyfold, including specific functions that won't function.

And, while I might sound like a mother hen, be sure to back up your data, IN A SAFE PLACE, before updating... Once the data's been converted to the updated format, there's no way to "go back," should you decide to revert to an older version.

Notan

Notan wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@ddress.com:

I am in favor of backing up, then backing up again, but Quicken does save the data from the old version in a separate directory. I used to use Q02, but am now on Q05 (going to buy 06 later today). My old Q02 data are in a subdirectory called Q02, off my data directory. Of course, a few months after conversion this just takes up space, I would not want to go back to that data (dating back to 1/23/05). Too much entered since.

IIRC, Q will automatically uninstall the old version. Maybe someone has a work around to avoid it...

If you're using Windows XP you might consider using Windows System Restore, i.e. back up your Quicken data and Quicken directory and its subdirectories then take a System Checkpoint before you install Q06.

If you don't like Q06, uninstall it, do a System Restore then restore your Quicken data and directory. I don't know for a fact that this will work correctly but it may be worth a shot.

The internet. You just gotta love it!

I'm not sure that System Restore will do what you describe. Cleanest way to recover is:

1) Backup current data to a separate location other than the default 2) Install the new version 3) Try it 4) Uninstall the new version 5) Install the old version 6) Open the saved version.

Remember, Q also saves a copy of the existing data before it converts it during the upgrade.

Te original poster couldn't do step 5) because he lost his old installation CD. If he's willing to pay for another copy of Q04 then the above is clearly the simplest and safest solution. I merely proposed a possible alternative solution to his "predicament."

I've used System Restore successfully several times to recover from bad installations (not of Quicken though). But I've never tried to use it to fall back to a previous installation of an application - I agree that's risky.

System Restore is supposed to restore the registry settings and system files. At one point in time "system files" included all application .dll files in system directories but I'm not positive that's currently true. The other steps I listed should restore the Q04 data file and other Q04 program files and settings. The question is Are there any other old files or settings that don't get restored; hence the caveat in my original post.

It'd be interesting to know if the System Restore scheme works because the original poster's predicament of losing or misplacing an installation CD is fairly common as is dissatisfaction with a new release of an application [not necessarily Quicken!].

Hello, Jerry! You wrote on Mon, 24 Oct 2005 13:14:03 GMT:

JB> I've used System Restore successfully several times to recover from bad JB> installations (not of Quicken though). But I've never tried to use it JB> to fall back to a previous installation of an application - I agree JB> that's risky. ... JB> It'd be interesting to know if the System Restore scheme works because JB> the original poster's predicament of losing or misplacing an JB> installation CD is fairly common as is dissatisfaction with a new JB> release of an application [not necessarily Quicken!].

When I first started using XP, I used System Restore on a few occasions to roll back after I tried out some shareware and found I didn't like it. As we all know, many if not most applications don't clean up after themselves very well, leaving registry entries, DLLs and sometimes even the original install directory and at least some files. I found that System Restore uses a fair amount of resources, and it doesn't always do what I (as a user) expect. (Further, it doesn't always behave as Microsoft has documented.) So, instead I turned off System Restore and have been using an old DOS-based Ghost to make Ghost images regularly ... and always before I install a new, trial application or service pack, whatever. That way I can simply restore my Ghost image, and my system is exactly as it was prior to my installing the unwanted application.

Very recently, I started using Acronis True Image 9.0, which works great and is much more convenient than booting from a DOS disk to create an image. TI

9.0 costs ~$49.95 from Acronis, but I found it for much less at Newegg.Com ($31.99 for the download, boxed version is available for a bit more).

Re the misplacement of installation media.... I tend to buy most of my software via download, and I do regular backups to a second machine and an extra hard drive on my main system, so those files are not likely to become lost. But now that hard disk space is inexpensive and easy to install (especially in the case of those external USB2.0 drives), I've started using Nero to burn an image of installation CDs. These images get backed up, so if I ever can't find my installation CD, I can always burn a new one. Now if I had a lot of software on CD, this might become a burden, but I only have a few applications that come on CD.

I hope this info serves as food for thought, not meant to disprove anyone else's theories, methods, etc. :-)

Regards, Margaret