Re: How do I move Quicken to a new computer?

On Saturday, November 3, 2007 at 9:39:05 PM UTC-5, Martin Skaggs wrote:

> I'm trying to move Quicken 2007 to a new desktop. 

The phrase "move Quicklen" tends to be misleading for this process. 
For instance, you can't "move" software; you must "install" it.

> I installed the program without any problems 

Recognizing that the Quicken software must be "installed" is the first step.

> then imported my saved data file from my old computer.

This represents the second part of the process; 
but again I think the terminology "imported" makes the process 
harder to understand,and easier to get wrong.

What's more, the term "imported" implies that what is being "imported" was
originally "exported". Exporting Quicken data (which typically implies 
exporting to a QIF file -  especially in older versions of Quicken) 
is a feature with significant limitations (regardless of the type of export), 
which means that the resulting "import" will also have undesirable limitations.

The basics for this process are simple: 
install Quicken on the new computer, 
then "move" the Quicken data file (currently, simply the .QDF file *) 
to the new computer.

The method for "moving" the Quicken data file depends on 
whether there is a direct electronic connection between the old and new computers 
(in which case the Quicken data file can copied over a local network from the old computer
to the new computer); whether both computers have access to the internet 
(in which case the Quicken data file can be stored offline - on One Drive or Google Drive, 
or some such - then copied from the offline storage to the new computer); 
or whether there is no direct or indirect connection between the old 
and new computers (in which case the Quicken data file can be copied to some easily 
transportable offline storage - such as a CD - then copied from the CD to the new
computer.

[You can copy the old computer .QDF file to the new computer or you can copy a backup file to the new computer.  
If a backup file is copied, it can be "restored" on the new computer. And In versions of Quicken 
since at least Q2010, a copied backup file can be renamed to remove the "-backup" text from the
file name, making the file a true Quicken data file.]

> I can see all of my previous reconciled transactions but my Online Accounts
> are missing transactions I've hadn't accepted yet 

It's always a good idea to Accept ALL downloaded transactions before installing
Quicken on a new computer and trying to use the same data that was on the old computer.

> as well as the history of
> my paid online transactions with my checking account.

Insufficient information to even make a guess about what happened there.
I don't recall ever having had that problem.
Also that comment seems to be at odds with the previous comment that, 
"I can see all of my previous reconciled transactions ....". 
 
> When I try to update my Online Accounts, 
> Quicken acts like I'm doing this for the very first time,
> asking for PIN's etc.

When the original Quicken data file is properly copied from 
the old computer to the new computer, 
most of those problems will not occur.
Passwords - when needed - are stored in the Quicken data file; 
but they are NOT "exported" to QIF files (for example).

> How do I transfer the old settings to my new computer? 
> I thought these would get transfered [sic] when I restored the backup file.

Many settings are stored in the Quicken data file (the file with the .QDF extension)
 and will not need to be re-created if the .QDF file is loaded (copied/restored) to the new PC, 
but some settings are stored in other Windows files - generally, there is no simple way
(and possibly NO way) to carry those settings over to the new computer. 
It's a good idea to make note of those settings on the old computer so
they can be manually re-created on the new computer.


[NOTE: (*)  In Quicken versions older than Q2010,
 data was stored in multiple Windows files.

Quicken versions pertinent to this discussion: 
Quicken 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2009; 
use files with the following extensions:

.QDF (primary file)
.QEL
.QPH
.IDX

When moving Quicken data for those versions, 
ALL those files must be included. A Quicken
backup/restore will automatically include ALL
those files. Otherwise the user will be responsible
for moving them all.

For Quicken versions after Q2009; 
all Quicken data is stored in the Quicken .QDF file.
Quicken backups after Q2009 have the extension .QDF-backup]

[As of this writing, the most current version of Quicken is 
the R46.12 release of the Subscription version of Quicken]