Turbo Tax Deluxe 2021 Won't Install

Solved, but via something I've not seen in other posts or when Google searching, so hope this helps others. I made two changes I hadn't seen previously. I don't honestly know if both are required, but doing both resulted in a successful install.

1. The downloaded installer extracts to the folder specified in the user's TEMP or TMP environment variable. These are usually set to the AppData\Local\Temp folder in the user profile (i.e., %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local\Temp). I'm not sure why, perhaps something in later versions of Windows, but installing from this location after the initial extract doesn't work. I created a TEMP folder off the root of my primary disk drive (C:\Temp). The new folder has different security settings than the default temp folder, which may be the issue and suggests an alternative solution. In any case, attempting to install from the downloaded exe after changing the TEMP and TMP user environment variables functioned with anti-virus and firewall turned off, plus doing a selective startup.
2. Intuit's instructions for doing a selective startup don't work on later versions of Windows 10 (or, I suspect, Windows 11). Unchecking "Load startup items" via msconfig does not disable startup items (why have the option, Microsoft?). Startup items must be disabled one by one via Task Manager, on the Startup tab. Be careful not to disable items you may need, e.g., touchpad software. Also be sure to make a note of any items already marked "Disabled" so you don't re-enable them after you restore Windows to normal operation.

One thing still puzzles me. In a prior attempt, I ran the extractor, moved what was extracted from the AppData location to C:\Temp, and tried to install, but it failed. In a separate attempt, I correctly disabled startup items using Task Manager and tried to install directly from the downloaded exe without modifying TEMP and TMP, and that also failed. The only theory I can come up with is that Windows prevented something from being extracted to the AppData temp folder, even with anti-virus and firewall disabled. Also, because I eventually configured all the "fixes," I don't know which fix, or which combination of fixes, really resolved the problem.

I have also done all these things and still nothing.

Please reach out to TurboTax Customer Support as your issue would be best resolved with one-on-one support. Please visit the Contact Us page and select your product to get you to the right person.

@ebales

After battling this for several hours, this solved my problem. I only had to do step one - changing TMP and TEMP environment variables and rebooted. I still had anti-virus and firewalls disabled and it successfully installed. 

Thank you!

@JD-GT Thanks.  But how do you change the environment variables for TMP and TEMP?  And what do you change to?

Ed

The easiest way is to type "environment" in the search bar, which should bring up "Edit the System Environment Variables" as a match. Clicking on it takes you to the "Advanced" tab of a dialog box titled "System Properties." Near the bottom of the dialog box, click on the pushbutton labeled "Environment Variables...". This brings up a separate dialog box that shows the current values for user environment variables at the top and system variables at the bottom. In the list of user environment variables, you should see both TEMP and TMP, and their current values. Click on each, then click on the "Edit..." pushbutton. This brings up another dialog box in which you can change the "Variable value" to "C:\Temp" (be sure to change the variable value, not the variable name). This folder must, of course, exist for this step to work properly. OK out of all the dialog boxes and retry the install. Environment variable changes take effect immediately, so if this is the only change you make, it's not necessary to reboot. Good luck!

Ed,

From the "All settings" menu in the action center, type "Environment" in the "Find a setting" box. It should give you an option called "Edit environment variables for your account".  It will open a new window and you will see the two variables for TEMP and TMP.  Alternately, from the older Control Panel, you can open "User Accounts" and you should see a link on the left of that window for "Change my environment variables". Hope that helps.

-JD

I've seen several posts that say contacting support didn't resolve their problem, sometimes after considerable time on the phone. If the support analyst simply follows the instructions in Intuit's support site, it won't work with more recent versions of Windows, anyway. Hopefully the resolution I posted will expedite the fix for people who've already tried "everything."

IT WORKED.... IT WORKED.

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you.  

ED

The problem was that the System Environment variables TEMP and TMP, which were identically set, specified a directory name that had an embedded space within it and this caused the problem. These variables were set in my case to: C:\Users\First_Name Last_Name\AppData\Local\Temp.  So create a directory such as C:\Temp and set these environment variables to this new directory. You can also do this temporarily by opening up a command prompt end entering:

mdkir C:\Temp

set TEMP=C:\Temp

set TMP=C:\Temp

path-to-TurboTax-download.exe

Does anyone else think it's absolutely deplorable that paying customers are having to do the troubleshooting and fixes for Intuit? What has happened to this company?

I am not particularly computer savvy, but I was able to follow your directions and it worked!

Is it important to change the variables back to what they were prior to this operation?

I had the identical problem and changing the Environmental Variable to C:\TEMP completely solved the installation issue. TurboTax 2021 immediately installed after the change. Thanks to all users that provided the step-by-step instructions!

Yes.  When I spend $$$ on a piece of very common software I expect I'll be able to install it without wasting a whole day modifying my freaking computer, about which there is absolutely nothing out of the ordinary.

Same issues.  I consider my time valuable but apparently Intuit does NOT.  First Quicken goes down the tubes with glitches and poor support..........Guess INTUIT got rid of Quicken so they could provide the same problems for their users with Turbo Tax.  Class Action?

This is the trick that did it.  But I *HATE* making these kinds of changes to my system when it is otherwise stable.  You never know what sorts of chaos you're introducing into your life by doing so.  Get your **bleep** together Intuit!  You've been in business for what, over 30 years now?  Stop making your loyal cash paying customers jump through so many hoops just to install your product!

Bless you, Rip in Franklin.  Your detailed "fix" was absolutely clear and easy to follow for a technologically challenged person like myself.  Best of all IT WORKED!  Turbotax should be paying you a consulting fee!  Thank you.

This change to the TEMP and TMP environment variables work for me.  THANKS

this worked like a charm, very disappointed in TurboTax support that they couldn't figure this out, and that they released the product without ensuring this wouldn't happen. End users should not have to mess with environment variables to make the installer work. Thanks

Im just not computer savy enough. I was on the phone with Turbo Tax yesterday, no kidding, almost five hours. Doing this, doing that. Still couldnt get it to load. They even gave me a new download copy and I will take this CD back to where I bought it, I guess. 

Anyway, I can follow the instructions, but like I said, not computer savy enough. My questions is on changing the environments in the TEMP and TMP files. What do you change them too? I have Windows 10, plenty of storage and all, but just dont know what to do in this case. I understand changing the files. Not real happy with Turbo Tax and this not working. I've used it for years. I put in last years CD and it loaded up fine, but not 2021. any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you  [email address removed]

Create a new folder C:\Temp, if it doesn't already exist. Then enter "system" in the search bar within your task bar. In the window that pops up click on "Environment Variables". In the box labeled "User Variables for ...", i.e. the top box, edit the values for TEMP and TMP.

Thank you. I will look at this. I just dont want to make a mess out of my computer by screwing around with this. I am no programmer by any means, and its a bit scary. 

I appreciate your response and will look at it. I just hate making changes when I really dont know what I am doing . 

Tim

I understand edit the values, but edit them with what? Sorry to be so dumb