What is hell is intuit doing telling me I have to upgrade to Win 11, I don't want that POS, they said it's for security, That's OK, i'll take my chances with Win 10.

[JohnQT]

@BobRay  I wonder if they know who you are from this thread?  I certainly hope that someone from Intuit is paying attention here.

Also, based on that spurious charge to your CC I went ahead and checked Amazon and yes they are finally have the TY2025 products listed for sale.  Time to take the plunge and see how their "Windows 11 verification system" actually works...

[JohnQT]

So TurboTax TY2025 "downloadable" products are now available at Amazon.com.  I went ahead and purchased Home & Business 2025 and went to my Software Library to download the installer.  An Activation Code is listed there but there's no Download button for the installer.  Nice move Intuit!  😛

[VolvoGirl]

If you have the License Code go here…..

How to get started with Turbo Tax Desktop.  Install and Activate

https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/tax-topics/help/activating-turbotax-cd-download-software/00/852971

[JohnQT]

So as expected, here's what happens when the ~400MB "Windows_PC_TurboTax_Download.exe" installer finishes extracting (screenshot below).  Note that "Learn about Windows 11" button at the bottom of the dialog, which takes you straight to Microsoft (dot) com.

Now to figure out what TT is  looking for...

[M-MTax]

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@JohnQT wrote:

Now to figure out what TT is  looking for...

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 Registry? I wonder whether you'd get the same dialog if you did the Rufus hack.

[VolvoGirl]

Thanks for posting the screenshot.    I don’t think you will be switching to the Online version but if you do post a screen shot of where/how it lets you enter the License Code to get online for free.

[JohnQT]

Using Process Monitor from SysInternals in a Windows 10 VM...

Rufus only implements some documented hacks to allow Windows 11 to install on "non-compliant" hardware.  I'll use it to spin up a Windows 11 Setup ISO image if I can't make TT install in Windows 10.  Though I'm using VirtualBox for the VM and it emulates all of the hardware required for Windows 11, so that may not be necessary.

[JohnQT]

Yeah I won't be using the Online version, I will just do an in-place upgrade to Win11 on my VM if that becomes necessary.  But it's obvious from this dialog that they really REALLY want to push everyone to the Online version.  😝

[JohnQT]

So TurboTax 2025 is using an InstallShield compiled "SetUp.exe" to install the app.  Process Monitor shows that SetUp.exe does query the usual "ProductName" and "CurrentVersion" value items in the registry at HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion.

However I don't think SetUp.exe is actually using the info in those value items to determine the Windows version.  For instance, Windows 10 and Windows 11 both show the same CurrentVersion of "6.3".  Also, my Windows 10 VM shows ProductName "Windows 10 IoT Enterprise LTSC 2021" while my Windows 11 VM shows "Windows 10 IoT Enterprise LTSC 2024".  Yeah, they both say "Windows 10" there (go figure!), but show different years.

So I tried editing the ProductName registry entry in my Windows 10 VM to instead show "2024".  Unfortunately InstallShield was too clever for that and it still gave me the same warning.  However the TT installer does work correctly in my Windows 11 VM.

Next step will be to do an in-place upgrade of my Windows 10 VM to Windows 11.  Since it's a VM, I can freely fiddle with the virtual hardware settings, including removing the virtual TPM.  That way we can confirm (or deny) that TurboTax itself cares about that "hardware feature".

[JohnQT]

The in-place upgrade of my Windows 10 IoT Enterprise LTSC 2021 virtual machine to Windows 11 IoT Enterprise LTSC 2024 was successful, with no issues noted (except that Windows 11 is a pig :@)

It turns out that this virtual machine did not have a virtual TPM chip enabled in the virtual hardware.  But TurboTax for TY2025  installed just fine, and activated without a hitch.  So there should be no need for a TPM chip on a physical PC -- at least as far as TurboTax 2025 is concerned.

See screenshot below after TurboTax was activated (this is Home & Business edition).  Again, it's obvious they really want to move us off the Desktop product ASAP.

Also @VolvoGirl this answers your question as to whether or not migration to the Online product requires any further payment.  Apparently that's not required (for now at least).  However, per the dialog "TurboTax Online is available starting December 17, 2025".  Also note all this extra fine print:

*Includes one federal and state return. Additional fees apply for more returns, upgrades, and add-ons. File by April 16, 2026.  $10 Retail Club credit and TurboTax Advantage benefits such as Audit Defense, do not transfer to TurboTax Online.

[JohnQT]

... And should you decline the generous "$0 upgrade to Online" offer, here's your final warning:

[vetz76]

Well, I hate to admit it but I knuckled under and "upgraded" my Win 10 to Win 11 with no cost other than Win 11 makes it hard to access any non MS programs such as OPEN OFFICE which I use. I haven't down loaded TT yet but will soon.  And I do agree that TT is pushing everyone to the online version so they can have total control over how you use the software, i.e. one return, no more.

I was hoping I could get enough response to my original post here to convince TT to back off their stupid decision to force the "upgrade" to Win 11.  After this year I may just go back to having my taxes done by a professional!

[M-MTax]

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@vetz76 wrote:

I was hoping I could get enough response to my original post here to convince TT to back off their stupid decision to force the "upgrade" to Win 11. 

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Understood, but I've been trying to tell users, folks who post on this board, that they really don't care about customer feedback with respect to product development (or direction). Form the most part, they make a decision and primarily stick with it regardless. 

[M-MTax]

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@vetz76 wrote:

........TT is pushing everyone to the online version......

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Yes, that's been made perfectly clear in the desktop install screen where you are offered an opportunity to switch to online; that is brand new this year. 

[vetz76]

"For the most part, they make a decision and primarily stick with it regardless"

And that kind of attitude is what bit Cracker Barrel in the ass!