TurboTax 2020 install fails on Activation - screen is blank

[btorky3935]

all I get is a white screen nothing happens

[mesquitebean]

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@ btorky3935 wrote:

all I get is a white screen nothing happens

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Are you referring to the activation screen at the end of installation?   This answer assumes that is what you are experiencing.

Are you using Windows?  If so, a blank, partially-blank, or missing activation screen may be related to either a screen resolution or scaling problem in your Windows settings.

In Windows 10 to get to the scaling or resolution settings click the Windows start button in lower left corner, then choose Settings (gear icon), then System, then Display.   Or for a shortcut, you may be able to simply right-click on an empty area of the main Windows desktop monitor screen (not the TurboTax program screen) and in the popup menu choose "Display settings".

NOTE:  After you change the scaling or resolution setting as discussed below, you may need to close and relaunch TurboTax for the change to take place in that activation window.

First try the scaling setting.  In your Windows Settings do you have scale set to a higher value than the normal 100%?  If so, change it back to 100%. Once the license code is entered and activated, you can later change your scaling setting back like it was.

If lowering the scaling to 100% didn't help, then it may be screen resolution.  Keep the scaling at 100%, and try a lower screen resolution such as 800x600.   If that doesn't work, then try 1024x768.    If still not working, then gradually increase the screen resolution to the next level. Once you get the license activated, you can revert your resolution setting back like it was.

[KavehParsi]

changing the display resolution 800x600 worked for me on my new laptop. Pretty ridiculous that in May 2021 this problem still exists with TT.

[cantare]

AMEN. Incredibly frustrating and doesn't reflect at all well on Intuit. 

So far, to run the software I paid for, I've been forced to waste a day setting up a **bleep** virtual machine to host Windows 10 (Pro x64) on my physical Windows 7 x64 Ultimate system, which has otherwise been serving me well for over a decade. (There is no reason TT2020 couldn't run on this platform; I'd happily sign a disclaimer waiving Win7-related tech support.)

Then when I do get their recommended OS nailed up and running all other software without issue, I'm staring at a spinning dot on a blank activation screen. Another half-day gone. In my case, changing VirtualBox host settings and guest display to 1024x768 with 100% scaling finally made it work, although I did have to try several times, so there appears to be some element of randomness in play here. 

[DavidR0]

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@cantare wrote:

AMEN. Incredibly frustrating and doesn't reflect at all well on Intuit. 

So far, to run the software I paid for, I've been forced to waste a day setting up a **bleep** virtual machine to host Windows 10 (Pro x64) on my physical Windows 7 x64 Ultimate system, which has otherwise been serving me well for over a decade. (There is no reason TT2020 couldn't run on this platform; I'd happily sign a disclaimer waiving Win7-related tech support.) . . .

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A bit of thread drift just on this point: my understanding is that it's not that TT2020 can't run on Win7 machines, or that they don't want to do tech support on Win7 systems, but that Microsoft is no longer performing security updates on Windows 7. The potential vulnerability of our data is the issue, as I understand it, and Intuit doesn't want to be in the position of having customers blame it for Win7 vulnerabilities. I too hate to see that beautiful operating system go--it's been great, but the decision not to keep it secure is Microsoft's, and it has to affect how software vendors work.

All that said ... I'd bet 1% of my refund that if you could load TT2020 on Win7, you could activate it without having to mess with the display settings.

[orchid2186]

This worked 100%.  Took ten seconds!

[djehewty--ah]

I'll be looking for another service next year... this is ridiculous.  I fought thru this for days the first time, now when I go to actually do my taxes it's here all over again and I was facing a filing deadline May 17, 2021.

[Lydia1956]

I just received my new Dell last week, and I'm can't get my Turbotax Home and Business to activate.  Any updates on this issue?  My support person was not helpful at all.

[DoninGA]

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@Lydia1956 wrote:

I just received my new Dell last week, and I'm can't get my Turbotax Home and Business to activate.  Any updates on this issue?  My support person was not helpful at all.

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READ the answer directly above your post from @mesquitebean  for the activation screen

[mesquitebean]

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@ Lydia1956 wrote:

I just received my new Dell last week, and I'm can't get my Turbotax Home and Business to activate.  Any updates on this issue?  My support person was not helpful at all.

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When using TurboTax for Windows on a computer that has a high-resolution display, a blank, partially-blank, or missing activation screen, or one with non-functioning elements, may be related to either a screen resolution or scaling problem in your Windows settings.

In Windows 10 to get to the scaling or resolution settings click the Windows start button in lower left corner, then choose Settings (gear icon), then System, then Display.   Or for a shortcut, you may be able to simply right-click on an empty area of the main Windows desktop monitor screen (not the TurboTax program screen) and in the popup menu choose "Display settings".

NOTE:  After you change the scaling or resolution setting as discussed below, you may need to close and relaunch TurboTax for the change to take place in that activation window.

First try the scaling setting.  In your Windows Settings do you have scale set to a higher value than the normal 100%?  If so, change it back to 100%. Once the license code is entered and activated, you can later change your scaling setting back like it was.

If lowering the scaling to 100% didn't help, then it may be screen resolution.  Try a lower screen resolution such as 800x600.   If that doesn't work, then try 1024x768.    If still not working, then gradually increase the screen resolution to the next level. Once you get the license activated, you can revert your resolution setting back like it was.

[mesquitebean]

When using TurboTax for Windows on a computer that has a high-resolution display, a blank, partially-blank, or missing activation screen, or one with non-functioning elements, may be related to either a screen resolution or scaling problem in your Windows settings.

In Windows 10 to get to the scaling or resolution settings click the Windows start button in lower left corner, then choose Settings (gear icon), then System, then Display.   Or for a shortcut, you may be able to simply right-click on an empty area of the main Windows desktop monitor screen (not the TurboTax program screen) and in the popup menu choose "Display settings".

NOTE:  After you change the scaling or resolution setting as discussed below, you may need to close and relaunch TurboTax for the change to take place in that activation window.

First try the scaling setting.  In your Windows Settings do you have scale set to a higher value than the normal 100%?  If so, change it back to 100%. Once the license code is entered and activated, you can later change your scaling setting back like it was.

If lowering the scaling to 100% didn't help, then it may be screen resolution.  Try a lower screen resolution such as 800x600.   If that doesn't work, then try 1024x768.    If still not working, then gradually increase the screen resolution to the next level. Once you get the license activated, you can revert your resolution setting back like it was.

[Lydia1956]

That worked!!!  I can't believe it was something so simple, and the Turbotax specialist didn't know about this.  Thanks so much!

[mesquitebean]

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@Lydia1956 wrote:

That worked!!!  I can't believe it was something so simple, and the Turbotax specialist didn't know about this.  Thanks so much!

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You're welcome.  I'm glad it worked for you.  Good luck.

[billjans]

This worked for me, too.  I was in the software business for many years, so I recognize this fix for what it is - a work around!  I came up with many of these in my career, but usually had a hard time justifying them to my customers.  TurboTax should do better.  Also, many thanks to the TurboTax Community for being on top of these these issues.

[lbartholdt]

Worked for me too 👍

[billjans]

The screen resolution fix worked for me to be able to install TurboTax on my new computer running Windows 10 20H2+.  I was also able to access my 2020 federal tax return but was not able to access my Virginia state tax return.  I get "Error:  190 - your federal tax forms on now on this computer, let's get your Virginia tax forms next."  I can't get further than this error message.  Has anyone else had this problem?