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Level 2
November 3, 2020
Question

Cannot install Turbo Tax 2020.

  • November 3, 2020
  • 22 replies
  • 0 views
I ordered Turbo Tax 2020 for Windows in October. My order confirmation says that it is available today (November 3). I downloaded the installation file (w_turbotax_1040_prm_xxxx.xxx.xxxx.exe), and when I tried to install it, I got an error message (Failed to extract archive). What am I doing wrong? Thanks for your help!

22 replies

Level 2
February 19, 2021

purchased turbo tax on invoice qstna144235505 and can't install it on my computer

Level 2
March 11, 2021

I experienced the same issue. Thank you to MrPhotoman2010. It took 40 minutes of negotiating with the TT representative to get through all of the troubleshooting steps (restart, check windows version, etc.). The last step was to try downloading the software on Firefox. Oddly for me, this worked. Not Chrome, not Edge, not even Vivaldi. I'd recommend giving that a try. If that does not work then press the representative to give you a new download and code. If pressed they will do that. You need to be respectful and assertive to get them to help you out though. Good Luck. 

Level 2
March 14, 2021

Have a laptop with Windows 10 and RAM of 2 GB.

Turbotax 2020 won't install. Get this message:

 

Sorry but your system does not meet the minimum requirements.
Memory (2048MB)

 

Why would I get this message?

 

Level 15
March 14, 2021

@jpthomsin wrote:

Have a laptop with Windows 10 and RAM of 2 GB.

Turbotax 2020 won't install. Get this message:

Sorry but your system does not meet the minimum requirements.
Memory (2048MB)

Why would I get this message?

 


It should install on a system with 2 GB of memory.

 

Minimum system requirements for Windows version:
https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1901571-minimum-system-requirements-for-turbotax-windows-software

 

Here's how to speak to Customer Support and perhaps they can troubleshoot with you in realtime:

Hours are 5AM-9PM Pacific (8AM-12 Midnight Eastern) 7 days/week.

 

You can use this contact form to get a phone number.
https://support.turbotax.intuit.com/contact

 

Level 2
March 23, 2021

Just tried downloading TT Deluxe, entered my license code, etc.  Download does not appear in my Download folder.  Did get an .exe file but when I clicked on it got a message that it's no a Microsoft verified app.   Thanks for help/advice.

KathrynG3
Level 14
March 23, 2021

You may need to do a search for the setup.exe file.

It could require temporarily disabling the viru-protection software. 

 

For more information, see: How do I install the TurboTax software for Windows?

 

@CHNorm2

Level 2
March 30, 2021

I finally got this to work.  Agonizing.  Intuit, no help at all, their help is the worst, including even trying to connect with them.  Tried all their solutions, but to no avail.  My solution that finally worked on getting the downloaded file to install without the notorious "failed to extract archive" message.  The solution is making sure that anti-virus and firewalls are off, but with one very important addition that Intuit does not mention.  Ok, here are my steps:

 

1.  Delete all downloaded turbotax install files.  Those pesky .exe files that kept giving the failed to extract message.  In your download directory you shouldn't have any of those.

2.  Turn-off your anti-virus and firewall settings.  I use Norton 360 so I disabled those for 1 hour in the software.

3.  Download your turbotax installation file again.  Make note of where it gets downloaded to (i.e. which directory).

4.  This is the key Important part that made the difference.  Need to add the downloaded turbotax install file as an exclusion for Microsoft Defender Antivirus.  Here is how you do that:

     a.  Open Windows Settings.  Can get to by clicking on Windows Start icon and selecting PC Settings.

     b.  Click the Update and Security, then Windows Security, then Virus and Threat protection.

     c.  In the Virus and Threat protection window, scroll down and find "Virus & Threat Protection settings" and select Manage settings.

     d.  In the window that opens, scroll down and find "Exclusions" and click on Add or remove exclusions.

     e.  Click Add an exclusion and select File.  Browse to the folder where you downloaded the turbotax install file and select it and click Open.  This should now add that file in the Exclusions list.

5.  Now go find that turbotax install file and double-click it to install.  Hopefully it will work without the dreaded "Failed to extract" message.

 

In summary, it looks like Microsoft Defender Antivirus is the culprit.  But, if you are using another anti-virus like Norton, you can't really turn Microsoft Defender off.  By default, it seems to still be checking files in the background.  So adding that turbotax install file as an exclusion seems to tell Defender to ignore it.

 

Really hope this helps others, as it was a huge 3 day frustration for me and Intuit offered no help whatsoever.  Best to all.

Level 2
April 27, 2021

After my first install from the CD failed on my Windows10 computer, I used REMOVE to start again.  This time the cd loaded all files and updates. The last screen showed Restarting TurboTax 2020 and no action on blank screen.  What's my problem? Thanks for any help.

Employee Tax Expert
April 27, 2021

Please see the link below for additional guidance to help you load your software.

 

Troubleshooting steps for installing TurboTax for Windows

 

@Mike S_78

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Level 2
May 16, 2021

when I installed Turbo Tax 2020 Home and Business a notation came up that I need to "remove" my other 2020 Turbo Tax programs.  If I remove will I lose all of my other saved copies?

Level 15
May 16, 2021

@shogoP wrote:

when I installed Turbo Tax 2020 Home and Business a notation came up that I need to "remove" my other 2020 Turbo Tax programs.  If I remove will I lose all of my other saved copies?


Your other saved copies of "what?"  

Are you asking if you will lose your tax data files if you uninstall TurboTax?     Uninstalling a program should not affect the tax data files (such as *.tax2020) if you used the default location, since they are stored in the Documents\TurboTax folder by default (in the Windows version).    If you are concerned about your tax data files, make copies of all your *.taxYYYY data files on a flash drive or other external storage until you get this worked out.   It's normally a good idea to be making backup copies of them anyway, and you may also want to back up any PDFs, if applicable.   I make a backup of my 2020 data file onto a thumb drive after every work session--just in case.

 

Did you already have another 2020 TurboTax personal edition installed on your computer when you tried to install Home and Business?  If so, then you got that error message because you can only have one 2020 personal tax product installed at a time (you can't have 2 different 2020 personal editions installed at the same time.)   However, it is possible to have one 2020 personal product installed and at the same time also the 2020 dedicated Business Edition (corporations, partnerships, multimember LLC, etc.)

 

It's also possible to have multiple tax years of TurboTax installed at the same time since different product years install to different tax year-specific folders.   I don't uninstall them for at least 3 years in case I ever have to amend a return.  

 

It's not clear why you are doing what you are doing.  Why did you purchase Home and Business if you already had a 2020 personal tax product installed?    In the desktop software Deluxe Edition and higher can normally handle the same forms and schedules that Home and Business can handle, but Home and Business has more help and guidance for self-employed businesses, home office expenses, etc.     If one starts in a lower edition and wants to upgrade, it's possible to upgrade from a lower edition within the same product without starting over, by using an in-product upgrade and paying the difference, without actually installing a new program.

 

Even Basic Edition can prepare the same forms as Home and Business, but Basic Edition does not have a state program included and cannot import from ItsDeductible.   Deluxe Edition comes in 2 versions--with state or without state.

Level 2
December 21, 2021

during instal of turbotax2021 when I get to the activation screen, I am unable to type the code in the activation box

Critter-3
Level 15
December 21, 2021

Please see the attached link for guidance on how to resolve the blank screen issue.

 

Troubleshoot blank screens, missing buttons, or missing images

That Guy1
Level 2
January 5, 2022

🛑
Create a new admin account - click here for instructions 

The issue should be resolved, but updating drivers is a good idea as well. Free software from a third party to update basic drivers.  

Level 2
January 13, 2022

CHANGE 2020 to 2021 Say I need setup.exe but a display of cd contents shows only setup.ini present.

 

Thank you April for getting back to me after all that running trying to get someone's attention.

Level 15
January 13, 2022

If you are having an issue installing TurboTax please see this TurboTax help article for troubleshooting tips: Troubleshoot installation and running TurboTax for Windows

 

Please contact us if you continue to have an issue installing your TurboTax software.

@lmoses4

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