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Level 2
posted Dec 17, 2020 12:27:05 PM

Updates for turbotax 2020 will not install. Any suggestions?

1 176 15332
24 Replies
Level 15
Dec 17, 2020 1:14:00 PM

can you be more specific? 

 

you are installing TT for the first time? 

 

you got the updates from last night but TT won't launch correctly.

 

etc. 

Level 2
Dec 17, 2020 1:29:54 PM

Yes.  I just installed TT 2020 and when I launched the program it told me it was going to install updates.  I got the "failed to install update.  Microsoft installer error 1603  Fatal error during installation".  I can't open the program w/o it wanting to install updates.  I was going to uninstall, but Windows 10 gave me the option to Repair.  Tried that, no change.  The State seems to have installed properly.  I've used TT for over 15 years and this is the first time this has happened.

Level 15
Dec 17, 2020 1:39:17 PM

by chance do you have a new computer? or Windows Version 20H2? 

 

I've seen at least one other thread with a similar issue.

 

are your firewalls and any anti-virus programs turned off? 

 

are you running as administrator? 

 

otherwise, suggest contacting TT

Level 15
Dec 17, 2020 1:50:29 PM


@xragman1949 wrote:

Yes.  I just installed TT 2020 and when I launched the program it told me it was going to install updates.  I got the "failed to install update.  Microsoft installer error 1603  Fatal error during installation".  I can't open the program w/o it wanting to install updates.  I was going to uninstall, but Windows 10 gave me the option to Repair.  Tried that, no change.  The State seems to have installed properly.  I've used TT for over 15 years and this is the first time this has happened.


See this TurboTax support FAQ for a 1603 error - https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/bugs-and-error-messages/help/error-1603-a-fatal-error-occurred-during-installation-or-updating/01/26193

Level 2
Dec 17, 2020 1:51:05 PM

Same computer, not that version of windows and I'm running as Administrator.  One interesting side effect is that if my Firefox browser is open, the failed update installation shuts it down.  I've tried with Firefox open and shut just to see if that makes a difference.  It doesn't.

 

thanks for trying

Level 15
Dec 17, 2020 1:59:14 PM

@xragman1949 

 

@DoninGA  provide an error FAQ about that one.

 

According to the FAQ, if that particular error occurs during the update process, you should download and install the manual update (for Windows systems).

 

You have to click a few links to get to the manual update, download site...but here it is directly, if you hadn't found it already:

 

https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/updating/help/manually-update-turbotax-for-windows-software-basic-deluxe-premier-home-business/00/26041

Level 2
Dec 17, 2020 2:13:28 PM

That link says you can download the 187 mb  patch to TT 2020, but the link only carries me to a site that no longer exists and the "click here for the new site" new site only supports Quickbooks, and not TT.  All other searches bring me back to this same page, but the results are the same.  Very frustrating.  Haven't found a simple way to get a live person at Intuit yet.

Level 15
Dec 17, 2020 2:25:11 PM


@xragman1949 wrote:

That link says you can download the 187 mb  patch to TT 2020, but the link only carries me to a site that no longer exists and the "click here for the new site" new site only supports Quickbooks, and not TT.  All other searches bring me back to this same page, but the results are the same.  Very frustrating.  Haven't found a simple way to get a live person at Intuit yet.


Just found out that link is not effective and it is being worked on to get it to go to the correct location.

 

Use this website to contact TurboTax support during business hours - https://support.turbotax.intuit.com/contact/

Or -

Support can also be reached by messaging them on these pages https://www.facebook.com/turbotax/ and https://twitter.com/TeamTurboTax

Or -

Use this phone number and select TurboTax - 1-800-4-INTUIT (1-800-446-8848)

Level 15
Dec 17, 2020 4:20:13 PM

Interesting

 

The other manual updates for 2019, 2018, 2017 aren't working quite right for me using Chrome (Version 87.0.4280.88 ) unless I rt-click on the link for that manual update year, and select to have it open in another tab.   Not sure if it's something in my Chrome settings or not.  (time for a reboot?)

 

Downloading using the new EDGE browser works normally, with the attempted download file showing up in the lower edge of the window and giving me a choice on where to save it.

Level 2
Dec 17, 2020 5:37:45 PM

SUCCESS!!!!  (I think/hope)  After scouring the web for Microsoft and TT suggestions, this is all that I did - 

1.  Uninstalled TT 2020

2. copied the files from the CD to my hard drive. 

3. disabled Trend Micro Internet Security

4. ran the setup program from my hard drive instead of the CD

 

Don't know why this worked, but as of now its working.

Thanks for everybody's help

Level 15
Dec 19, 2020 9:19:10 AM

@DoninGA 

 

Well, it appears the link to download the 2020 manual update is pointing to the correct place now..

BUT

 

I still can't get any of the years on that page to download normally using the Chrome browser (EDGE is OK).   With Chrome, no download notice shows up on the lower edge of the screen, and nothing downloads anywhere on my computer.  Only if I rt-click on the link, select "Open link in new tab" and wait for an Explorer window to show up, can I download/choose to point to a place to save it.

 

So is that just me and my Chrome browser setup?? or have CHAMPs reported the same problem? 

Level 15
Dec 19, 2020 9:29:47 AM

@SteamTrain Well, I am having the exact same issue with Chrome.  Cannot download any of the updates except the 2017 Manual Update.  Using Edge I can get them all.  So it definitely looks like something on the TurboTax side preventing the use of a Chrome browser.

 

I also have the same problem using Chrome versus Edge when trying to download the 2019, 2018 and 2017 amend software from this TurboTax website - https://turbotax.intuit.com/personal-taxes/cd-download/amend/ty17/

Level 15
Dec 19, 2020 11:17:48 AM

hmmm, new poorly qualified company contracted to do the web programming?  (is Kronos/khoros still involved ? )  Or maybe a different poorly designed software package used to modify/create the web pages.

 

I checked for Chrome updates, and I'm all up-to-date there.  Won't check Edge, since it's working and I don't want to mess up what works.

New Member
Jan 2, 2021 8:26:04 AM

I installed the update manually through the link to the patch.  It appeared to install, however, when I try to open TurboTax I still get prompted to install updates. It still fails and the program won't open. I can get around it by starting the update, then manually canceling it before it fails. The program will then open. It'll do for now but I sure hope Intuit gets this figured out. I don't even have the assurance I'm getting the latest tax code updates 

Level 15
Jan 2, 2021 8:38:45 AM

@trickeever 

 

One thing you should do, once you get TTX opened, is to

 

1)   go up to the menu and select "Online"   

2)  then from the dropdown menu, select "Updater Preferences".

3)  Then select the one where you don't have an internet connection.    That "should" stop the prompt to update at every start.

 

You may be able to install the manual update after that.....without a subsequent prompt to again update.....(but I can't test since I won't bother to buy TTX until after the next major update.)

Level 15
Jan 2, 2021 8:42:51 AM

TT tends to send updates to their software on Wednesday nights into Thursday mornings..... so might be best to check once a week on Thursday mornings and then just before your are ready to file 

New Member
Jan 25, 2021 3:37:06 PM

I start TT and it asks to be updated I click on update and it come back unable to update. can't get into TT.

Intuit Alumni
Jan 25, 2021 3:59:41 PM

If you're having trouble updating your TurboTax 2020 for Windows Individual software using the "Check for Updates" method, you can use the link provided below to install the updates manually. I hope this helps.

 

Manually Update TurboTax for Windows Software (Basic, Deluxe, Premier, Home & Business)

Level 2
Jan 25, 2021 4:37:05 PM

If this is the first time you've updated after the initial installation, what worked for me was uninstalling, disabling my anti-virus (Trend Micro) and reinstalling.  I did not have to run as ADMIN.  I've had no trouble since and have not had to disable my anit-virus.

Level 2
Jan 27, 2021 10:41:49 AM

1.  Uninstalled TT 2020

2. disabled Trend Micro Internet Security

3. connected to the internet using ethernet.

4. ran the setup program from the CD

5. updated turbotax without any error.

 

Thanks for your post.

Level 2
Jan 27, 2021 12:41:06 PM

Is anyone working this problem? If resolution is not being worked I'll get another tax program. This has been going for two days and no info from TurboTax has been supplied. 

Intuit Alumni
Jan 27, 2021 2:56:48 PM

If you contact TurboTax support, you can walk through the problem with support over the phone.

What is the TurboTax phone number?

 

Level 2
Jan 29, 2021 4:21:53 PM

I have the exact same problem.  Lew Francis

Level 2
Jan 29, 2021 4:25:27 PM

When the updates are downloaded and installed manually , you still can't run Turbotax because when it is started an update run is required and the same problem occurs even though the manual download and update worked fine???