I am trying to move QuickBooksPro from an old

[david13]

computer to a new. The old really doesn't run. Somebody said take the hard drive, and put it into the new computer, then run it as a slave and transfer the files independently.
I'm concerned that the program won't move that way, or won't install.
I have a Transfer program with a wire, but for that I need to get the program to come up on the old computer, don't I?
Any ideas as to the best way to do this?
Thanks
dc

[canetoad]

1. I believe this will be a two step procedure

First, back up your Quickbooks company file and then move the original (and the backup) to your new computer.

Secondly, do a fresh install of Quickbooks on the new computer and open your company file.

There should be no problems doing it this way. Keep in mind that QB does not 'store' your company file within the program. It will be found somewhere within Program files\Intuit\Quickbooks and will have the extension .QBW. You can store Quickbooks company files anywhere on your computer and use the 'Open Company' command from the file menu to access them.

Personally, I have found Quickbooks to be a fairly stable program as long as you follow the rules and do not try anything tricky such as trying to transfer a working installation to another drive. As an additional safety backup, I would make copies of the .iff files; client & addresses lists, suppliers etc.

I would strongly suggest that you will not get a good outcome from trying to copy Quickbooks program files from one working drive to another. Reinstall the program and then open your saved company files.

[Statistical]

2. Thats it. Key point for emphasis.

There should be no problems doing it this way. Keep in mind that QB does not 'store' your company file within the program. It will be found somewhere within Program files\Intuit\Quickbooks and will have the extension .QBW. You can store Quickbooks company files anywhere on your computer and use the 'Open Company' command from the file menu to access them.

To the OP there is no need to transfer Quickbooks you simply want the company file = your data. Once you have safely transfered the QB company file you can do a fresh install of QB on new machine.

[EvolveOrConvolve]

3. Also, FWIW

When you back up your Quickbooks file, it will have a .QBB extension (for Quickbooks Backup) instead of .QBW (Quickbooks Working file).

[david13]

4. Wow. Thanks for the good responses. I have got it about half done.

We got a new computer yesterday, and I called Quick Books. They told me uninstall the QB on the old computer and then install on the new. Using the disks. Of course the owner can't find the disks.
However, I did see on the QB website I should be looking for qbb files. And that they will send a new disk for $20.
But then calling today (QB) a young lady said no, no fee, download from a website, I got the license, number off the old, downloaded the install from QB special website, used the license & program number, and installed. Monday I will test it.
The backup I did on the old computer, in 2 types, onto disks.
Portable, and one other?
I had 2 so called guru's say just copy. Both said install the hard drive into the new computer and run it as a slave.
Then just copy. The owner wanted to go along with that, I didn't, and set it up to run both at the same time. The major problem I saw with that is id'ing the qb files. Sure, the data files are qbb, but what about all the system files? Many of those may be coded, i,e., xl356.lxw? or something that I cannot id. As belonging to QB, and then also, it probably won't function properly or at all unless the install is run.
We also have a wire program Installimove Move your PC? With 2 wires, usb, etc.
I will run the new program on Monday, install the back up disks and see what happens.
The PC Move program contradicts itself also, but I may not even need that. I will see Monday.
Anyway thanks for the help. It all looks spot on and good advice. Thank you.
dc

[Statistical]

5. "what about the system files" I think the point you are missing is...

You will do a clean install of QB on the new machine.

Think of it it this way. You have Word (part of Office) on computer A. You install Word on computer B.

The only thing you need to transfer from A -> B is the documents *.doc files.

1) Make backup of qbb file
2) Install Quick Books on new machine
3) Copy backed up qp file to new machine

You don't need to worry about "system files". All the user specific stuff is in the qbb file. When you install QB on new computer it will install all non user specific stuff.

[david13]

6. No, I understand. That is merely why I opted to do, and thought it most wise

to do, as was advised here, the system install on the new computer, rather than the copy idea of just copy the files from computer a to computer b, or rather than install the old hard drive into the new computer, and run it as a slave, and then copy from the slave to the master.
So system, I have no problem there, as to id'ing them, or copying them rather than installing them.
Since I called QB, got the free download, and installed on the new computer.
Now all I have to do is get the data going.
Which does bring me to my last issue, I hope.
When I did the backup on the old machine, onto disks, does that backup include all data, going all the way back to day one of the initial install on the computer, or just to the last backup date?
Depending on the answer to that, I may be complete with the backup disks or I may have to go back to the old computer and copy all the qbb data files onto disk, then copy them onto the new computer.
I'll just try with the backup disks first and see.
Anyway thanks to all for the help.
dc

[canetoad]

7. Glad it's working out well

The Quickbooks backup file (.qbb)is a copy of the company file at moment of backup, not an incremental backup. The .qbb file will contain all historical data back to when the company file was first created (which is not exactly the same thing as when Quickbooks was first installed).

This may be nothing, but you said "When I did the backup on the old machine, onto disks", you got my attention. A .qbb file is generally not big enough to require 'disks'. I regularly transfer them and also full company files (.QBW) just by copying to a small flash drive.

IMO, your first course of action is to copy the full Quickbooks company file to the new installation, check that it opens correctly and is working. If it does, you are good to go - no need to worry about the .qbb files at all. Then, before any changes are made to the Company file, make a new backup, to a disc or flash drive and name it with the date and time the backup was made.

[david13]

8. Thanks again. That's the course I'm on for Monday. I'm also

glad to hear those are small files. They went on the disks in seconds. I just didn't have any flash drive handy at the time, and I have no experience using them, so I used disks.
The owner was telling me qb took a lot of space. I didn't think so. The owner has flash drives, but could he find them? Or know how to use them? If he did, he wouldn't need me.
He couldn't find the original install QB disks.
Anyway, I'm having fun and learning a lot. Not enough to work at it, but enough to help the guy out.
dc

[david13]

9. Well, the data went in from one disk, loaded in, and all done. But then

they were using a wireless printer, shared on the router. That was a nightmare. Finally found that the address was all wrong.
After 4 calls to Brother and talking to about 7 people there, a young lady had me bring up command on Vista, and change the address for the printer.
Easy as that, once she told me.
Amazing how many answers come up to problems just under Google search.
Many times du threads come up in answer.
Thanks du.
dc