Bought 2016 CD w/ 1 free state. Year later I want to re-install after HD crash, and load my return. TT insists I pay $45 for state forms. How to load just federal return

[problemstt]

I bought a 2016 CD, and it came with one free state.   I filed on paper.    Now, in January 2017, after hard drive crash,  I've installed TurboTax from the CD, but it will not open my return from last year.   Dialog box says my return contains state forms, so I must download them ---  $45.     This is insane... I cannot even open my federal return unless I pay?   I didn't pay when I did my taxes last year ... the one free state return downloaded with no problem.   Why not now?

[SweetieJean]

I don't think it will run on Linux anyway.

[Critter]

Start a fake return  to download the state program.

[bluetwo]

Linux? Just out of curiosity, how did you infer the operating system from their comment? TurboTax has never directly supported Linux, and for the more adventurous, has had some success on Wine.

<a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://appdb.winehq.org/objectManager.php?sClass=application&iId=623">https://appdb.winehq.org/obje...>

[SweetieJean]

As a regular volunteer on this forum, I get a "Context" screen that gives me that information. (So do the SuperUsers,)

[bluetwo]

Fascinating. Thank you.

[problemstt · Accepted solution]

Update to my own question:

I reinstalled two more times, on a couple different computers (all Win 7).   Finally, on one it did what I expect:   it recognized that I had one free state return allowed, and it recognized that I had already downloaded MN, so it again downloaded MN for free, and now I can review my return, as I wanted to do.   I'm not sure why it did not work the first two times, but all is well.    I'll leave this question up, in case someone else sees the same unexpected behavior. 

[brucefal]

I have the same problem, but with the Business TT for a Partnership.  But my TT locks up because it doesn't recognize that I already bought the State return.  So I can't open it at all!