Archiving program files for future reinstallation

[1040xwhoops]

For as long as I've been using TT, I have archived both the setup executable and its w_perrelsuperpatch_ttax_ executable. I do this to have the ability to reinstall TT for "past-year versions [that] are no longer supported" by Intuit - which, as of this writing, is tax years 2017 and earlier. I did just this yesterday for tax year 2020 and discovered two things:

1) After reinstalling the setup executable and the manual patch executable (R39), restarting Windows 10, and launching TT, TT still downloaded an update (same as R39).

2) TT required that I download the state program, causing me to wonder how to archive state executables.

My questions to the Intuit TT team:

1) Do I need to only a) archive the setup executable because the "Check for Updates" function within TT will always b) update to the latest patch c) regardless of the supported status of a tax year?

2) If I had originally paid for additional states, will the "Download State" function recognize this based on the filed status, and download, for no charge, all prior paid-for state forms as long as I check those states in the "Here are the states you've downloaded" box?

[MichelleLO]

Please reach out to TurboTax Customer Support as your questions would be best answered by speaking with them.  

What is the TurboTax phone number? 

[1040xwhoops]

Why can't this be answered in this forum? Do you want me to call so that I have to pay for support on a product I've paid for?

[MichelleLO]

Your questions are more technical in nature and would be better handled by speaking with TurboTax Customer Support directly. 

[1040xwhoops]

Isn't there an Intuit specialist who can answer this question succinctly so that the answer becomes a matter of record that can benefit other customers? This is not a tax law question requiring an in-depth interpretation. It's a purely procedural question that any specialist should be familiar with, no?

For the record, I've already SPOKEN with THREE of your specialists who have responded with "It should", "Probably", "R39? What's that?", etc.

It shouldn't be this difficult.

[fanfare]

no, the installation process is not intended to be reproduced by the end-user.

as you are discovering late, even if the program runs, you can't open an old tax file that has a state return attached unless that state is also installed on your computer.

[1040xwhoops · Accepted solution]

I finally reached a TT specialist who answered in the affirmative after listening to my question just once! You're awesome, Barbie!

The answer: Don't be thrown off by TT's statement that "2017 [as of 2021] and earlier updates are not available, as these past-year versions are NO LONGER SUPPORTED." (CAPS emphasis, mine). If I need to reinstall any prior tax year version, I need only my original downloaded setup file. There's no need to save the manual patch file for each year and there is no separate state patch because the online update within the program will update the federal and all paid-for state programs.

The helpful TT specialist wanted to provide her "Employee TurboTax Specialist" comment to this post, but was unable to due to Intuit's internal departmental controls. Therefore, I'm resorting to relaying the answer and marking it as the best answer.