The only thing you can do is transfer your 2016 tax return (from your hard drive) up to the online site to start your 2017 return (once TT online is open for 2017). You must transfer at the very beginning of the process or you won't be able to transfer at all (unless you start over).
All your previous returns and information remain on your computer and only you have copies, you are responsible for your own backups and security.
As noted, the online program has some deficiencies and all the experienced users in this forum use the desktop version. Online does not have direct access to the forms or worksheets, you can't make direct entries, and you can't even view your actual tax return until you have paid the fees. Online is also more expensive for almost every situation.
No. You can only transfer the prior year tax data to the 2016 online tax return.
Why did you change from the desktop edition to the online edition, since you already paid for the desktop Home and Business software? The online editions are a separate program and have to be also purchased when either e-filing or printing the return.
The Desktop program has more features than online and if you used the Desktop program you my not like the Online version. They just changed the online name this year from Home & Business to Self Employed version. Just a new name. It's the same as the Desktop Home & Business program.
The only thing you can do is transfer your 2016 tax return (from your hard drive) up to the online site to start your 2017 return (once TT online is open for 2017). You must transfer at the very beginning of the process or you won't be able to transfer at all (unless you start over).
All your previous returns and information remain on your computer and only you have copies, you are responsible for your own backups and security.
As noted, the online program has some deficiencies and all the experienced users in this forum use the desktop version. Online does not have direct access to the forms or worksheets, you can't make direct entries, and you can't even view your actual tax return until you have paid the fees. Online is also more expensive for almost every situation.