@decatom wrote:
Not sure if a Windows update has anything to do with this since there are reported instances that have nothing to do with Windows updates. Since it was awhile between my initial filing and trying to retrieve the file to edit, I could have had at least one Windows update during that time since Windows 10 auto updates unless you tell it not to. But let's say that it does have something to do with Windows (I doubt this) - the problem has existed for at least two years. Intuit has not had time to work with Microsoft to get this fixed? Having your tax records deleted must not be an important issue for Intuit? This is borderline criminal.
I've seen other users report it occasionally, but compared to other issues in a problem-resolution community forum, thankfully it is not as common. In a user community forum like this, only people with problems will be posting, while millions of other users of TurboTax who have no problems won't post here. So that's the sense in which I say it is less common. And the cause is not clear and may not be the same for each person affected.
And there's never been a good explanation. Every PC is different with different OS features/customizations, software configurations, etc. Here's something else to try:
Many Windows users set up multiple local Windows user accounts on their PC, such as having an Admin account and a second (or third) user account for various purposes or various family users. If you have more than one Windows user account, you need to log into each Windows user account, and do the search of the computer and Recycle Bin in each account. For example, if I have an Account A and B, have worked on my return in Account A, then later I'm in Account B and launch TurboTax, it will not find the *.taxYYYY data file, nor will a search.
During return preparation I always save a copy of the in-progress *.tax data file to a flash drive after each work session, as a "just in case" maneuver.
