TurboTax Activation Issue
Eve
activation policy. I've been purchasing TurboTax for years and have been
very satisfied in the past. As I read through the documentation and
attempted to install the software, I became aware that TurboTax now requires
activation. This concerns me. What if I replace my PC next year ( I
upgrade PC every 30 months ) and then get audited. We've got a problem now
because of this new activation policy. The one time that I was audited, it
occurred 12 months after I had filed. So, my concern about this new
activation policy is based on my experience.
My resolution to the problem was simple; I went back to OfficeDepot and
exchange TurboTax for a copy of TaxCut. I do not agree with the activation
policy that Intuit has implemented. So, if you too do not agree with the
new activation policy that Intuit has implemented, return it. It's that
simple.
Eve
Fearless
"Eve" <evelyn...@earthlink.net> wrote in message
news:Op4da.3436$pK4.3...@newsread1.prod.itd.earthlink.net...
Helllllllllllllo! This has been beaten to death on this group for nearly 3
months now. Your specific concern has been addressed by Intuit. It doesn't
make the activation go away; it just makes it irrelevant after October 15,
2003.
But, I also read this group first before making this year's purchasing
decision. I also bought TaxCut for this year. I used it and have already
filed my returns. I found it a bit less intuitive than TT, but all-in-all I
managed to file a very complex return (101 pages when the full return and
all supporting documentation, schedules, lists, etc are printed) with it.
Victor Roberts
wrote:
>Helllllllllllllo! This has been beaten to death on this group for nearly 3
>months now. Your specific concern has been addressed by Intuit. It doesn't
>make the activation go away; it just makes it irrelevant after October 15,
>2003.
There is no reason why people who "discover" activation and do not
like it should not post their opinions. In fact, there is a very good
reason why they should.
There is a good chance that Intuit or their representatives are
monitoring newsgroups and other places where tax prep software
customers can post comments in order to gauge the number of people who
do not like this new policy. We have all agreed that people who post
are just the tip of the iceberg, so to speak, of the total population
of unhappy users. However, the larger the tip, the larger the iceberg.
--
Vic Roberts
http://www.RobertsResearchInc.com
Eve
life, I'm not a tax person, so I'm not aware of all the rule changes by the
tax people or the folks who provide tax software. I'm not sure that this
new October 15th rule would have made a difference in my final decision
though. But, one thing is for sure, Intuit failed to inform me about the
October 15 rule. That information is not in the box that I purchased or in
the Activation process that I started and then quickly terminated.
And, may I add my congratulations to you for "reading this group first
before making this year's purchasing decision". You are a better person.
Eve.
"Fearless" <joe...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:b52ne...@enews1.newsguy.com...
Victor Roberts
wrote:
>This October 15th rule that you talk about is news to me. You see, in real
>life, I'm not a tax person, so I'm not aware of all the rule changes by the
>tax people or the folks who provide tax software. I'm not sure that this
>new October 15th rule would have made a difference in my final decision
>though. But, one thing is for sure, Intuit failed to inform me about the
>October 15 rule. That information is not in the box that I purchased or in
>the Activation process that I started and then quickly terminated.
The October 15 issue is not a "rule" in the sense of an IRS rule.
Intuit has announced that after October 15, 2003 activation of TT2002
will be free. That is, people with Tt2002 will be able to activate it
on multiple computers or reactivate it after a reinstallation without
purchasing a new license. This is not on the box because Intuit
established this policy only AFTER hundreds of people like you
complained in newsgroups like this and other places where users can
register their complaints. There were also negative reviews in the
Wall Street Journal and Infoworld regarding TT2002 product activation.
One question that still concerns people is how long Intuit will keep
their activation servers operating. For example, if you want to
reinstall TT2002 three years from will the activation servers still be
operating?
One more thing. You may read in other messages that Intuit has said
they will provide version of TT2002 that does not require activation
after Oct 15, 2003. I'm sure you understand this is quite different
than free activation as it would avoid the need to have the activation
servers running. The problem with this claim is that it comes only
from second-hand sources. There is nothing on the TurboTax Web site or
any other official information from Intuit, such as a Press Release,
that supports the claim that they will provide a version of TT2002
that does not require activation at any time in the future.
John Schmerold
When I was putting information in TaxCut this year, I needed information
fron one of the unprinted schedules I created 3 years ago. I can't help but
wonder if Intuit will still be providing "free" activation 5 years from now.
"Victor Roberts" <V...@RobertsResearchInc.com> wrote in message
news:52fa7vcm4o57fnnka...@4ax.com...
Victor Roberts
wrote:
>Hate to beat a dead horse, but....
>
>When I was putting information in TaxCut this year, I needed information
>fron one of the unprinted schedules I created 3 years ago. I can't help but
>wonder if Intuit will still be providing "free" activation 5 years from now.
Not a dead horse for people in that situation 5 years from now.
Jim Nugent
"John Schmerold" <Jo...@Katy.com> wrote in message
news:yPSda.852$JO6.58...@newssvr30.news.prodigy.com...
> Hate to beat a dead horse, but....
>
> When I was putting information in TaxCut this year, I needed information
> fron one of the unprinted schedules I created 3 years ago. I can't help
but
> wonder if Intuit will still be providing "free" activation 5 years from
now.
Print everything and file it! It's bad business relying an any proprietary
software to store that kind of informattion and cough it up 5 years from
now.
The audit/amemdment issue is different. You need (or at least would strongly
prefer) to have that tax year's software operational to recalculate things.
That is why to worry about whether it will run 5 years from now.
But just to print something you didn't bother to print at the time? No,
especially since they let you make a PDF if you don't like killing trees.
PDF readers will probably still be around.
--
Jim
"Remember, an amateur built the Ark; professionals built the Titanic."
Victor Roberts
wrote:
>Print everything and file it! It's bad business relying an any proprietary
>software to store that kind of informattion and cough it up 5 years from
>now.
I do print everything and keep it. However, I also prefer to keep the
tax prep programs used for the past couple of years on my computers
because that allows me to quickly check to see how I may have handled
some particular situation. TT2001 did not create PDF files and I did
not have a PDF printer driver when I prepared my taxes last year.
Yes, with PDF files there may be no need to run a 2002 tax prep
program three years from now, but why should I be prevented from doing
so just because some company decided they want to increase their
profits by mailing millions of unsolicited "locked" copies of their
software to prior users - thereby forcing them to use a product
activation system on all their tax prep software?
I have chosen to purchase tax prep software from a company that will
allow me to install and run their program years from now if I want to.
Dannie
"Victor Roberts" <V...@RobertsResearchInc.com> wrote in message
that their product will run "years from now". I know where you are coming
from but the software business is changing so fast that even Gates and
company might just pull a switcheroo.
I had a successful use of TT2002 this year and had no problem with
activation. I am one user who at end of season eliminates the program and
all data files. My backup is my paper printout which I hold for 7 years plus
supporting documents and then heave. And should I need a return, Uncle Sam
will send me copy for a few bucks. Through some 50+ years of filling returns
I have had to do an amended return and I admit it would have been easier if
program was on computer but with paper and some internet search and d/l I
was able to complete it.
I really like the PDF feature and I have just put those files on a blank CD.
I will pursue CD program matter with Intuit and see what they say. Really
found to much misinformation on this ng (not from you) about activation
although I'm sure some had some horror stories. Perhaps I was lucky!
Dannie
Windwatcher
to install if I need it. I never have, though once I was able to rescue
somebody else. Eventualloy, however, the programs won't run on newer OS.
But it is correct that you can get a copy from the IRS for a fee.
Victor Roberts
<sloopok...@nospam.optonline.net> wrote:
>Vic not to be argumentive but I know of no tax prep software that guarantees
>that their product will run "years from now". I know where you are coming
>from but the software business is changing so fast that even Gates and
>company might just pull a switcheroo.
No problem. I like a good discussion. :-)
I do understand that software I use on my computer in 2002 may not
operate on a different computer with a newer operating system in 2007,
for example. But, if I have the same computer, with the same software,
then my 2002 tax prep software will run 50 years from now - except for
the fact that I will not be running by then.
I have various computers in this house going back to CP/M. I have CP/M
software, DOS software, Win 3.1 software and now use Win98SE. You are
right that TaxCut 2002 may not run on Windows 2007. But I can count on
the fact that it will run on Windows 98SE, as long as I have a Win98SE
system up and running.
BTW - I will never run Win 2007 because I will have switched to
something like Linux or its successor by then. Win 2000 is as far as I
will go with MS operating systems.
>I had a successful use of TT2002 this year and had no problem with
>activation.
I decided to stop using TT back in December when I discovered Intuit
was using product activation and BEFORE I heard about a single problem
related to activation. I did not change because of activation-related
problems. I changed because I am opposed to the concept of product
activation and will vote with my $ for software that does not use
product activation.
Jim Nugent
"Windwatcher" <sphinx@{REMOVESPAM)doubt.com> wrote in message
news:4o4ea.172238$S_4.93040@rwcrnsc53...
> I just keep my Turbo Tax CD in the same file as the printout so it's there
> to install if I need it.
This year, make sure you toss in a copy of absolute sector 32 on a deskette.
Michael J. Budwey
wrote:
>
>"Windwatcher" <sphinx@{REMOVESPAM)doubt.com> wrote in message
>news:4o4ea.172238$S_4.93040@rwcrnsc53...
>> I just keep my Turbo Tax CD in the same file as the printout so it's there
>> to install if I need it.
>
>This year, make sure you toss in a copy of absolute sector 32 on a deskette.
Has anyone actually tried copying sector 32 to a different computer
(with non-identical hardware) to see if it would activate? I thought
I read that it encoded some machine specific configuration info which
would prevent that approach from working. In that case, the value of
saving sector 32 is seriously diminished.
Jim Nugent
news:9sjn7vsgbh9q25ne5...@4ax.com...
> On Thu, 20 Mar 2003 20:14:15 -0600, "Jim Nugent" <nu...@execpc.com>
> wrote:
>
> >
> >"Windwatcher" <sphinx@{REMOVESPAM)doubt.com> wrote in message
> >news:4o4ea.172238$S_4.93040@rwcrnsc53...
> >> I just keep my Turbo Tax CD in the same file as the printout so it's
there
> >> to install if I need it.
> >
> >This year, make sure you toss in a copy of absolute sector 32 on a
deskette.
>
> Has anyone actually tried copying sector 32 to a different computer
> (with non-identical hardware) to see if it would activate?
Well, excluding testing purposes, that might violate (Intuit's
interpretation of) their license agreement.
Is it possible to do it? Do you think Intuit is capable of making such a
bumblefuck design error as not to have thought this one through? :)
Jim Nugent
"Victor Roberts" <V...@RobertsResearchInc.com> wrote in message
>
> I do understand that software I use on my computer in 2002 may not
> operate on a different computer with a newer operating system in 2007,
> for example.
But Microsoft has a pretty good track record of backward
compatibility, despite rumors and threats to the contrary. I can still run
my MS-DOS based tax prep software from 1999 on Windows 2000, and suspect I
could run the 1985 version. Getting it to PRINT could be tricky because I'd
need a printer that it supported (not too hard, just HP Laserjet emulation),
and map LPT1 to it.
BTW I can run the original version of MYST in Windows 2000 using the Windows
95 compatibility layer. So its not THAT bad. Even 16 bit Windows 3.1
programs will usually run.
> But, if I have the same computer, with the same software,
> then my 2002 tax prep software will run 50 years from now - except for
> the fact that I will not be running by then.
I'm not sure you could preserve the hardware for 50 years. Each computer I
get rid of is better built than the one that replaces it. My AT&T 6300
(8086) would look like "military grade" next to the P4 machine I'm typing
on.
For some fun reading on troubles preserving older hardware, look at this:
http://www.science.uva.nl/faculteit/museum/rampspoed.html
> I have various computers in this house going back to CP/M. I have CP/M
> software, DOS software, Win 3.1 software and now use Win98SE. You are
> right that TaxCut 2002 may not run on Windows 2007. But I can count on
> the fact that it will run on Windows 98SE, as long as I have a Win98SE
> system up and running.
Absolutely. The problem is the othe way around: newer software won't run on
older machines.
And, as you probably know, if you went back to those MS-DOS based programs
like the old Quicken, you'd think it was jet propelled it would run so fast
even on the older hardware.
(before the creeping bloat came in).
- Bobb -
"Jim Nugent" <nu...@execpc.com> wrote in message
news:v861ke6...@corp.supernews.com...
>
> "Victor Roberts" <V...@RobertsResearchInc.com> wrote in message
> news:vsmh7vsmenaggng4n...@4ax.com...
> >
> > I do understand that software I use on my computer in 2002 may not
> > operate on a different computer with a newer operating system in 2007,
> > for example.
> True if its a different architecture and OS.
>
> But Microsoft has a pretty good track record of backward
> compatibility, despite rumors and threats to the contrary.
It's changing as we speak. MS learned their lesson and they are
dragging the masses with them - a lot of whom don't know/care about the old
stuff.The newer OS'es are purposely being designed to NOT support the older
code.And you can't get anyupdates for the older OS'es. I think you may still
get SOME updates but only for programs that run UNDER win98 like
Internet Explorer etc, but soon there will only be NT and Win200x support.
They will keep NT updates only because some businesses demand it right now:
soon they'll phase it out. Support for all but the current and previous
versions of Windows will exist.(Soon to be WIn2000 and Win2003). THAT way
they can get users to buy. Right now they are seeing that a lot of folks
have no need/desire to spend money upgrading thier software. They usually
get a new OS when they buy new hardware. Until then, Microsoft makes no
money by you running DOS/Win9x on your PC. They want that to stop- Bill has
to pay the mortgage you know. Ideally , they'd like to license it as the big
companies do: you pay an annual licensing fee - or your software expires.
Give them time.
Come on linux.