System runtime serialization error when trying to get updates and state file

Forum|Forum|8 years ago
March 29, 2018
3 replies
5 views

Help please! I'm getting this error in TurboTax. It happens when TT tries to get an update, and also happens when it tries to fetch my state file - therefore as a result I'm not able to file my state taxes! TT runs normally otherwise, and I was able to go through my entire federal return, but now I'm stuck with the inability to do state.

Here is the error:

Runtime error

I'm running Windows 7.

I see mention on the TT site of a need to download MS SQL Server Compact 4.0.:

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1900420-error-system-runtime-serialization-serializationexception-when-updating-turbotax-for-windows

I did this, including the bit about upgrading the permissions on the global.sdf file, but it did not help - I'm getting the same runtime error.

Please help! Thanks.

mary11_2

Level 2

been there, done that, what i needed to do was uninstall all other years of turbo tax software. then tt worked perfectly. good luck it worked for me.

packmanAuthor

Level 3

Thanks - will have to give that a shot tonight (got several years to uninstall).

packmanAuthor

Level 3

So unfortunately - it didn't work. I even tried doing a "repair", which included a PC reboot, and am still having the same problem. I'd like to call the TurboTax folks, but I can't seem to find a contact phone number on their website!!! Ugh. Will keep trying... if anyone has any other suggestions, please post!

GeorgeWSmith

Level 2

I get an error while trying to open turbo tax

LeonardS

Level 14

Your post has been forwarded to product support.

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packmanAuthor

Level 3

Update for me this year (since I started this thread) - I have a new PC with Win 10, and it works no problem now so far, including getting updates. Haven't done state yet but I think it'll be OK (the updates said it was updating state as well).

(Edit: I just did the state, and filed, and all was good)

One slight quirk is - I click to open TurboTax, it looks for updates, installs them, and then says "successful install", but then when I clicked OK TurboTax didn't open - the window just went away. I had to re-open it. It worked fine then though.

So I guess my tip for folks dealing with this problem is - try the "delete common folder" fix mentioned (I haven't tried that; don't need to now - thanks for that tip); seems like that's worked for a few people. If that doesn't work then tough it out until getting your next PC, and you may need to do the manual state download instead of having TurboTax software "fetch" it.

Wish Intuit would have fixed this, but oh well. Generally their software is good.

DawnC

Level 15

Thank you for the feedback and I am glad you are not having issues now. And for what it is worth, I always have to re-open TurboTax after an update is installed. I say I want to continue using it, but it doesn't re-open on its own....

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