How do I install TT 2020 from my hard drive, I keeps asking for CD?

[NCperson]

@roger-vw - how did you purcahse TT2020 originally?  it's either installed from a download or via the CD....

why would you be installing it from the HD????

[roger-vw]

I installed from CD and I am trying to move all the years to my program files folder on my new computer and reinstall from the hard dirve folder

[roger-vw]

moved all the years to my new computer hard drive

[NCperson]

@roger-vw - if you originally installed from a CD, then that is the medium required to re-install.  

if TT permitted someone to copy the CD to a hard drive and then install it, the counterfeit rate would be pretty high, I suspect.  So there must be something on that CD that can't be copied to a harddive, so that TT can differentiate between the two. 

why are the old versions of the software even necessary to intall?  iwhat woukl it be used for? 

[roger-vw]

I am mainly concerned that I will need something for IRS and if old computer is gone I only have the tax file. I reinstalled 2021 so I can import for this year. 

Thanks for your help. 

I thought I could side step trying to find all the CDs.

[VolvoGirl]

You don't need the 2021 program installed to transfer into 2022.

Are you on Windows or Mac?
For Windows. Your tax files end in .tax or starting in 2008, .tax2008, .tax2018, .tax2019, .tax2020 etc. They should be in your Documents in a Turbo Tax folder. You should also have the pdf files of each year. Or search your computer for all files ending in .tax. Also if you haven't done it, I would open each year in the program and save it as a pdf file, go to FILE - SAVE TO PDF so you don't need the program installed to view your return.

What I would do on the old computer, is copy the whole Turbo Tax folder that is under your Documents. That should be where the .tax files and pdf files are stored. Also if you haven't done it, I would open each year in the program and save it as a pdf file, go to FILE - SAVE TO PDF so you don't need the program installed to view your return. Copy that folder to a flash drive or best yet is to burn it to a CD or DVD and then you will have a backup of them. Then on the new computer copy the folder (or files) from the flash drive to your Documents folder.

You only need the tax return data file ending in .tax2021 to transfer into 2022. You don't need to install older programs unless you need to amend or you didn't save the pdf file.

See this article on how to move your tax return to another computer…….
https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/tax-data-file/help/how-do-i-move-my-tax-data-file-to-another-compu...

After you get the program reinstalled the first thing to do before you open your tax return is to update the program and install any state programs you had. Then open your file. So you first might need to start a fake return to be able to download the state program (go to FILE - NEW). Enter some basic information, then go to the state tab and download the state program. Then try to open your existing return, go to FILE - OPEN

If you only have the .tax files and can't install the old programs to open it, you could try the TaxPrinter service to convert a .tax file to pdf at
https://www.taxprinter.com