H&R BLOCK 2019 BUSINESS SOFTWARE WILL NOT OPEN ANY MORE

Anonymous
2020-10-07T00:03:20+00:00

This is Windows 10.

I had been using the 2019 H&R Block business software just fine. Last time used was July 15, 2020.

Went to open to prepare Sub-S return on Sept 12 and kept getting an error message saying it could not open. I tried having Geek Squad look at it. They spent about 2 1/2 hours running diagnostics and could not figure it out. I had another IT pro look at it for about 3 hours, ran diagnostics and the best he could figure was that it was a Microsoft update that somehow corrupted the ordering sequence for the program to open. All of my clients are locked up now. The other thing is that it also corrupted the 2018 program so I cannot access those files either.

Tried downloading a new 2019 Block program. Overwrote the old one. Still same problem. Loaded the software from the disc. Same problem.

Trying to get through to Block is a joke. You will spend hours on the phone.

Any thoughts?

Windows for home | Windows 10 | Windows update

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  1. Anonymous
    2021-01-29T18:13:29+00:00

    Thanks to you and all for your help. I chatted with HR Block yesterday and they assured me 2020 would work with latest Windows version. I installed it, so far everything is working, but I have not created a return yet. Thanks again.

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  2. Anonymous
    2021-01-29T19:16:36+00:00

    Hi NVSteve, You are welcome.  As I shared in a previous post I moved to DrakeSoftware.com this year. $330 per year - but used by 60,000+ users - mostly CPAs.  For $330 you can do up to 15 of any tax return personal or business.  The only downside is that I needed to completely retype all my 2019 data - which I did. After three years of fighting H&R Block Business I just had to move on. My time is very valuable.  And I am happy that my time spent here has helped others.  Happy New Year! -Nick

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  3. Anonymous
    2021-02-02T17:29:51+00:00

    I am the guy who posted the original question last year. Unbelievable how pathetic the H&R Block response has been, considering how many copies are in use, and that this thread has had 78 comments.

    I finally was able to get the 2018 and 2019 software running, but lost every one of my atx files. I use a cloud backup server. I wasted another 3 hours while they looked for my atx files. None found due to the overwrite when correcting the programs. Had to work off of PDF and print copies of returns.

    I figured that to be safe, I would buy the 2019 program again and install it on a different computer, in order to complete the 2019 tax season. Bought a new Lenovo and used an external hard drive for backup. The new downloaded 2019 program worked fine. Of course Best Buy told me to pound sand when I asked for a refund of the old program.

    Just installed the 2020 Block premium and business software to produce payroll returns for clients. Worked fine until yesterday. Now the program is locked. All I get is the Block logo on the screen. No dialogue. Cannot access the program as administrator either. The logo just sits in the middle of the screen.

    The personal program runs alright, just as the 2018 and 2019 personal programs did.

    Does anyone have any thoughts on this, other than switching to Drake. Since it is now tax season again, I would expect that any communication with Block would be hours of wait time for a nothing-burger response anyway..

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  4. Anonymous
    2021-02-03T01:39:40+00:00

    Hi DHarris,

    It is nice to connect with the originator of this thread!   My thoughts are:

    1. Please check WIN10, Settings, Updates. Did you get an update that you can rollback? (That has helped many folks).
    2. Another approach - have you tried using the "Compatibility Mode" that worked for one person on the forum?
    3. There is a value to your time.  When I thought about it - the step to Drake was a no-brainer.  And their technical support has been beyond incredible. Real humans! With real answers! EVERY TIME!! (And yes I had a few questions!).
    4. I have been with H&R for over 15 years. But I need working software, I need WIN10 patched to the latest release (major security issue), and I need responsive support. (Drake even has weekend support!)
    5. I realized that H&R does not have control over their software. H&R are dependent on Microsoft's .NET platform.  When do you want to be dependent on someone else?
    6. If you go back through my posts - you will see where the backup files are kept. For you:

    WIN10 TaxCut  BUSINESS

    • Show WIN Hidden Files & Folders
    • C:\ProgramData\H&R Block Business\ … " DataStore "   **** AND ALSO ****
    • C:\ProgramData\TaxCut\ … 

    MACOS taxcut software file locations

    …/user/Library/Application Support/H&R Block  - directory per year - hidden

    Good Luck! -Nick

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  5. Anonymous
    2021-02-03T04:33:39+00:00

    I am the guy who posted the original question last year. Unbelievable how pathetic the H&R Block response has been, considering how many copies are in use, and that this thread has had 78 comments.

    I finally was able to get the 2018 and 2019 software running, but lost every one of my atx files. I use a cloud backup server. I wasted another 3 hours while they looked for my atx files. None found due to the overwrite when correcting the programs. Had to work off of PDF and print copies of returns.

    I figured that to be safe, I would buy the 2019 program again and install it on a different computer, in order to complete the 2019 tax season. Bought a new Lenovo and used an external hard drive for backup. The new downloaded 2019 program worked fine. Of course Best Buy told me to pound sand when I asked for a refund of the old program.

    Just installed the 2020 Block premium and business software to produce payroll returns for clients. Worked fine until yesterday. Now the program is locked. All I get is the Block logo on the screen. No dialogue. Cannot access the program as administrator either. The logo just sits in the middle of the screen.

    The personal program runs alright, just as the 2018 and 2019 personal programs did.

    Does anyone have any thoughts on this, other than switching to Drake. Since it is now tax season again, I would expect that any communication with Block would be hours of wait time for a nothing-burger response anyway..

    There are no .ATX files for Business Versions in the past several years. The data is now stored in a data base folder called "Database" under the H&R Block executable folder.

    Nicholas

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