TurboTax 2021 CD

Forum|Forum|2 years ago
June 23, 2023
2 replies
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I have been using TurboTax for years but only as CDs. Recently I had to upgrade my laptop (and change hard drives). I had been backing up my TurboTax datafiles to another zip drive. But all the installed CD data wasn't (and I figured I would have the CDs anyways in case I need to reinstall). As it turned out, now I have lost several years' CDs.

1. I have lost Tax year 2021 CD. This is the most pressing one/priority one.

2. I have also lost Tax years: 2019 and all prior years. These I can live without, if push comes to shove.

My question: How do I access my 2021 Tax return if need be (generally I refer back to at least 1-2 years prior when I am doing the current return - e.g., for Tax Year 2023, I may refer back to my 2022 and 2021 and now 2021 is missing) - if I don't have that on my laptop? Where can I get prior years - in this case 2021 CD?

Critter-3

Level 15

By chance do you still have the installation file on the old computer that was downloaded from the CD ? If so simply save that to a thumb drive to move to the new computer like you did with the PDF and .taxfiles.

Cinna13604Author

Level 3

I have saved the final versions of pdf files (which are nothing but the tax return reports) for the years I am interested in (past 6-7 years for example).

I have saved each of those .tax files as well as .pdf files.

What I do not have backed-up are the installation files - because I didn't know how to back them up and/or figured I had the CDs (which now I have realized that I have misplaced them).

I do have the old hard drive handy that I can hookup as a zip drive to my laptop currently. Assuming the installation files are there on that hard drive, where and what files (file name patterns/file paths/file name extensions etc.), am I looking for?

Thanks,

Critter-3

Level 15

I doubt the actual .exe installation file is on that old drive....unless you actually copied the .exe installation file from the CD and onto the drive as a separate step.

The installation uses that .exe file to load a bunch of operational files onto your computer, from within the .exe file gibberish....just copying those offloaded files to your new setup won't get the software to work.....AND, you may well need the 16 digit installation code from off the physical CD itself to get it running anyhow.....and you don't have the CD anymore.

(I make copies of my all TurboTax installation codes in a .txt file....& print out each year, in case I need them in the future.)

Contact TurboTax support and speak directly with a TurboTax support agent concerning this situation.

See this TurboTax support FAQ for a contact link and hours of operation -https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1899263-what-is-the-turbotax-phone-number

SteamTrain

Level 15

Of course, you could also just buy a new download installation file to read the 2021 data if you don't have the PDF files. You would then need to start a dummy file to download whatever state(s) you may need before you try to open the older 2021 datafile.

Buying a downloaded 2021 installation file doesn't depend on any new laptops having a physical CD drive too.....adn you can then download the file again if needed for 3-4 years (depending on what year is involved)

TurboTax 2021 Prior Year Tax Prep - File Past Years' Taxes (intuit.com)

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Of course, if you bought the CD, but then used the download option to get that TTX installation file instead, then you may already have a 2021 installation file within an existing TTX account that you could use now.....but not if you actually used the CD itself to install 2021.

____________*Answers are correct to the best of my knowledge when posted, but should not be considered to be legal or official tax advice.*