Reinstall & Reactivate a Discontinued QuickBooks Desktop Version
The scariest moment for anyone staying on an old version is a new computer or a crash: will it still activate? With a little preparation, yes. Here's how to reinstall a discontinued version and get it registered.
Prepare now, before you need it
- Save the installer. Keep the exact installer file for your version year in your backups. This is the single most important step -- Intuit's download pages for old versions can disappear.
- Record license & product numbers. Press F2 in QuickBooks to see them; store them with the installer.
- Keep a company-file backup (
.QBB) on separate media.
Reinstalling
- Run your saved installer on the new PC and enter your license and product numbers.
- Install the final release/patch for your version year if you have it archived (so you match the build you froze).
- Restore your company file from backup and confirm reports match.
Activation after service end
Older versions activate against Intuit's servers. Two realities:
- Online activation may still work for many discontinued versions -- try it first.
- If online activation fails, QuickBooks offers phone/manual activation. Because live support for discontinued versions is limited, having your original license details is what makes this succeed.
Plan for it in advance. The best insurance against an activation problem is a full disk image of the working machine. If activation ever becomes impossible, you can restore the image to equivalent hardware and keep running exactly as before.
If you're buying an older version
Only use legitimate license sources, and be wary of grey-market "lifetime license" sellers. Once you have valid license numbers, the steps above apply. See also can you still buy QuickBooks Desktop?
With the installer, the numbers, a backup, and ideally a disk image, a discontinued version survives hardware changes indefinitely.