Unable to install Turbotax Premium 2023

[Nitabai]

I purchased Turbotax Premier 2023 from Costco and after clicking on the Download link for Windows, it tells me the installation is successful and then updates and when Turbotax restarts, it just disappears and nothing happens. It never asks me to enter the software activation key at any point. If I again click on the Turbotax 2023 installer file, it gives the error message "The application has failed to start because its side-by-side configuration is incorrect. Please see the application event log or use the command-line sxstrace.exe tool for more detail."

I uninstalled, rebooted and reinstalled and have the same problem. How do I successfully install the software?

[VolvoGirl]

Did you buy the Download from Costco Online?  I bought mine today too.  I have Windows 10. Here's how mine went.

I clicked on the link in  the email, then chose PC Download.  It automatically went to my Downloads folder.

I double clicked on the file to to install it.  It installed FAST! It launched and updated.  Hasn't asked for the Activation code yet.  It said to continue but nothing happened.

So I clicked on the Desktop Icon - got a sign in box.  Had to log into my Turbo Tax account.  They emailed me a code to verify me.  

Then got the Activation box and entered the 16 digit code and was in.  

[Nitabai]

Thanks for your response. Yes I purchased Turbotax from Costco online. While it indicated the installation was completed successfuly,  the installation did not create the desktop icon for Turbotax this year. That is why I went to the Download folder and clicked on the Installer again and then got the message "The application has failed to start because its side-by-side configuration is incorrect."

[mesquitebean]

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@Nitabai wrote:

Thanks for your response. Yes I purchased Turbotax from Costco online. While it indicated the installation was completed successfuly,  the installation did not create the desktop icon for Turbotax this year. That is why I went to the Download folder and clicked on the Installer again and then got the message "The application has failed to start because its side-by-side configuration is incorrect."

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What do you see when you do this?   Click the Windows start icon in the lower left corner of your Windows  and bring up the programs list.   Scroll down the programs list.  Do you see TurboTax 2023 in it?  If so, click it.  If the program is installed, it should launch TurboTax from that.   What happens if you try to launch the 2023 program from that?

If that works, we can tell you how to create a shortcut icon on your desktop screen.

[Nitabai]

Thanks much. I was able to launch TurboTax 2023 from the Windows start icon as you suggested. Please let me know how to create the shortcut icon on my desktop screen.

[mesquitebean]

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@ nbaindur wrote:

Thanks much. I was able to launch TurboTax 2023 from the Windows start icon as you suggested. Please let me know how to create the shortcut icon on my desktop screen.

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That's good news!  You're welcome.

As for creating a shortcut icon, try this:

Bring up your desktop screen.  Again click on the Windows start icon in the lower left corner, then again scroll down the programs list to TurboTax 2023.  This time "click and HOLD" the left mouse button down, and then drag to a blank area of your desktop screen, then release the left mouse button to deposit the shortcut link on your desktop screen.  You can move its position on the desktop screen later, if desired.

[Nitabai]

As soon as I do left click on the program, it opens Turbotax. So I right clicked and it gave me the option to pin it in the taskbar. So I now have it in the taskbar, which is fine. Thanks for your help.

[mesquitebean]

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@Nitabai wrote:

As soon as I do left click on the program, it opens Turbotax. So I right clicked and it gave me the option to pin it in the taskbar. So I now have it in the taskbar, which is fine. Thanks for your help.

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My left mouse button does not launch TurboTax unless I click and release the left mouse button.   You don't really do a full click.   You have to keep the left mouse button down while you drag the link to the desktop and release it there.    Are you sure you are pressing the left mouse button and holding it down until you drag the cursor to the desktop screen?   If you release the left mouse button prematurely along the route before it's hovering over the desktop screen, it's going to consider that a full click and launch the program.   Yes, pinning it to the taskbar is an alternative.   Good luck!

[mesquitebean]

If you still have trouble creating a shortcut, here's another alternative.  You can also create a desktop shortcut directly from the executable TurboTax file this way:

Open File Explorer and select the C:\ drive if that's where your Windows is located.   Then choose the directory Program Files > TurboTax > Individual 2023 > 64bit, then scroll way down to the executable application file TurboTax.exe.   Right click on the TurboTax.exe file, then in the popup menu select "Send To", then choose "Desktop (create shortcut)."   Then go to your desktop screen and look for the icon.  It could be anywhere on your desktop screen, but you can drag it to your preferred location.