Reinstall and Reactivate QuickBooks Desktop 2017 After Sunset

Last reviewed 2026-07-04 4 min read

Learn how to reinstall QuickBooks Desktop 2017 on a new PC after its 2020 discontinuation. Archive install files, manage activation, and insure your data.

QuickBooks Desktop 2017 officially reached the end of Intuit's live services on May 31, 2020. While built-in features like bank feeds, payroll, and technical support are no longer available, the software itself remains fully capable of running offline. If you need to move your 2017 installation to a new computer or recover from a hard drive failure, you can absolutely still reinstall and reactivate it. Here is how to keep your 2017 environment alive and self-sufficient.

Archive Your Essentials Now

The most critical step for surviving a discontinued version happens before you lose access to your old machine. You must gather and securely store three specific things:

The License and Product Numbers: These are usually found in your original purchase confirmation email or inside the software under Help > Manage My License. You need both the 15-digit license number and the 7-digit product number to install.
The Installation Files: If you originally downloaded the software, locate the QuickBooks 2017.exe setup file. Save a copy to a dedicated USB flash drive or cloud storage.
Your Company File: Keep a verified backup (.qbb) and a portable company file (.qbm) alongside your install files.

If you do not have the installation file saved locally, you will need to source a 2017 installer from your own historical backups or a trusted third-party software archive, as Intuit typically removes direct downloads for sunsetted versions from their primary servers.

Reinstalling on a New PC

Moving QuickBooks 2017 to a new computer follows the same standard installation process as other Desktop versions.

Copy your saved 2017 installation file to the new computer.
Run the installer as an Administrator.
When prompted, enter your archived product and license numbers.
Choose the custom installation path if you want to control exactly where the program files are stored, or stick to the recommended default path.
Once the installation finishes, do not allow the program to connect to the internet to search for updates. In a post-sunset environment, you want to run a static, frozen version of the software to prevent forced background changes.

After the program is installed, restore your company file backup from your external drive to begin working.

Getting Past Activation

QuickBooks requires activation to run, and the software attempts to verify this online during installation. For a 2017 version, online activation usually still functions without issue if you are using the exact license numbers tied to your original purchase.

However, if the online activation fails—often due to Intuit's older validation servers being deprioritized for discontinued versions—the software will prompt you to activate by phone. The phone activation method relies on generating a specific Installation Key Code (IKC) based on the license number and the specific hardware of your new PC.

If the automated phone system rejects your activation or you cannot get past the registration screen, you may need to manually reset your QuickBooks 2017 registration details using standard Windows tools. This involves editing specific license entries in your Windows Registry so the software forgets the failed activation attempt and allows you to input your valid numbers cleanly.

Create Disk-Image Insurance

To avoid ever having to reinstall and reactivate the 2017 software from scratch again, create a full system image of your new PC once everything is perfectly set up.

A disk image is a complete snapshot of your hard drive, capturing the operating system, your activated QuickBooks 2017 software, and your data exactly as they are at that moment. If your computer ever crashes, you can restore this image directly to a new hard drive or an entirely new PC. This bypasses the activation servers entirely, as the software snapshot already considers itself registered. Tools like Macrium Reflect, AOMEI Backupper, or native Windows Backup can handle this. Store the image on an external hard drive kept safely offline.

Restoring Your Data

Once your 2017 software is up and running, your final step is ensuring your historical data is intact. If your company file did not survive the move cleanly or is throwing errors when you try to open it in the 2017 environment, you can repair a damaged QuickBooks company file to recover your financial history without being forced to upgrade to a newer version.