OMG I did everything listed in the above, disabling firewalls and the system crap, all the stuff in the previous 7 pages of posts. I am not sure if all that crap was necessary but I finally did this.
1. get to blank activation screen on TT business tax
2. open settings display and change display resolution down one from what it was. Leave display settings open, go back to TT and activation screen appears but not working. type code in box even tho you cant see it.
3. go back to display settings and change to another resolution. go back to TT and the code will be visible. Now click once on activate.
4. go back to display and change again. go back to TT and it should say activated.
5 . close TT, then right click TT and go to properties , compatibility and run compatibility troubleshooter. use recommended settings. for my new laptop windows 10 it is running in compatibility mode for windows 8. i do not have to run it as administrator
This Finally worked for me, I carried forward last years file off of a thumb drive
