Running TaxCut on New Vista Machine

[Tom G]

I'm an unsophisticated end-user.
I recently got a new PC running VISTA.
I've copied over TaxCut from old XP....VISTA won't let me run it.
I'm getting some kind of message saying that I don't have permission to
allow a "tmpsceen" file to be updated.
I tried creating a non-administrator user and got the same result.
With tax season approaching, I'd sure appreciate some guidance on how I can
get it running....also, does anyone know if the 2007 TaxCut program will even
run under VISTA?
Thank you,
Tom G

 

[R. McCarty]

Copied - Not installed from original media ? If so that's likely one
part of the reason it will not run. Program installs do much more
than just load themselves to the \Program Files\ tree. Usually there
are dependant components added to the System folders and many
Registry keys added.
If it is installed by original media, you may want to try and run the
program in Compatibility Mode ( XP SP2 ). However, there are
lots of commercial programs that will not run in Windows Vista. It's
not Vista's fault, the programs themselves are constructed using
coding and methods that Vista's Security & Kernel operations will
not allow.
The 2007 tax season programs should be Vista compliant and will
have a certification or compatible indication on the package.
You may have to check the vendor's website for information on
which programs are Vista compliant or if you need a patch that will
allow the program to run on Vista.

 

[Tom G]

My thanks for your reply.
1. I copied TaxCut 2006 from the original CD onto my (new) VISTA machine.
2. That notwithstanding, how do I (try to) run something in "Compatibility
Mode ( XP SP2)"?
Again, thank you.
Tom G
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

[R. McCarty]

Actually copied or ran Setup to install it ? Compatibility mode is a
properties option. You Right Click the icon/shortcut for the program
& Left Click Properties. When the details box opens you should see
a Compatibility (TAB). Click it and tic/check "Run this program in ..."
and below it toggle the run time environment to Windows XP Sp2.

 

[Tom G]

Again, thank you very much for your reply.
I actually ran "Setup" to install it.
I tried your suggestions about trying TaxCut in a "compatible mode (XP)".
Sadly, it still refuses permission to write a "temporary screen file".

If you have any other thoughts, I'd sure appreciate hearing 'em!
Again, thank you!
Tom G

 

[R. McCarty]

I looked at TaxCut's website and it indicates that "most" 2006
versions are Vista compliant. Since you can't start the program
I'd suggest using the URL below and download and manually
install any updates that are available for your version:
http://www.taxcut.com/taxes/software/updates/prior_years/06fedwinup.html
Beyond this advice I'm not sure how to proceed other than a
call to H&R Block's phone support. Just be sure to speak slow
and drop about 30 points off your IQ when discussing the issue.

 

[Tom G]

Again, thank you.
I've tried downloading the updates from their web site.
I got 'em and installed 'em and VISTA still won't let it run because I'm not
logged in as an Administrator (I changed the settings under PROPERTIES to XP
SP2 Compatibility and told it to consider me an ADMINISTRATOR)....
Still no dice....
I couldn't find a phone number on the TaxCut Web Site. Did I not look
correctly?

Again, thank you, thank you.
I've learned a lot this evening and really appreciate your insights....

 

[Tom G]

Mr. or Ms. McCarty:
I found the TaxCut phone number and am on the line with 'em now....
Will advise. Tks....

 

[DanS]

The 2007 tax season programs should be Vista compliant and will
have a certification or compatible indication on the package.

You would think so, but all the CD of TaxCut I just got ibn the mail the
other day says, verbatim, 'For Windows and Mac'. That's it.

You may have to check the vendor's website for information on
which programs are Vista compliant or if you need a patch that will
allow the program to run on Vista.

Seems to be.

 

[DP]

My thanks for your reply.
1. I copied TaxCut 2006 from the original CD onto my (new) VISTA machine.

You do realize that TaxCut 2006 won't do your 2007 taxes, right?

 

[Not Me]

on the install CD, right click setup.exe and select run as administrator
you may also have to 'run in compatibility mode'
Tell the Nanny (UAC) yes, it's really, REALLY me and I want to install this.

 

[Tom G]

To all who have commented, thanks very much.
Here's the latest....
1. Yes, I know that the 2006 version won't be viable for 2007 taxes. There
is, however, a feature which allows you to compare a current year with the
previous year which we've usually annually and found rather helpful.
Actually, that's the reason I started this whole thing was to make sure that
ANY TaxCut ran on VISTA....
2. I tried virtually all possibilities with Administrator permissions and
XP SP2 usage without any success.
3. I spent a couple of hours on the phone last night with the TaxCut
support folks (what they call Tier 1 and Tier 2). They couldn't solve the
problem so they bumped it to their Tier 3 'experts'.
4. A Tier 3 guy called me today. After half-an-hour, he realized he
couldn't fix it so he's gonna go talk with the programmers and other
'experts' and call me tomorrow with their next best guess.
5. My larger concern is an awful lot of people who went out and bought
VISTA machines aren't gonna believe how unprepared the TaxCut software and
their support folks are (and I don't mean to throw stones, just state a fact)
for VISTA problems. Their Tier 2 guy said he had the same problem on his new
machine trying to get the NORTON code to run....
6. Wonder if the MS folks could weigh in with some advice and counsel....?
Again, thanks to all for your thoughts!

 

[R. McCarty]

One solution ( if you have a copy of XP ) is to download the MS
Virtual PC software. It's free and with it you can create a virtual
PC running XP that runs inside Vista. I've had to do this for a few
customers who have mission critical software that will not run in
Vista. H&R Block isn't the worst in this scenario. Intuit has lots
of software ( Especially Quickbooks ) that will not run in Vista
unless you purchase the 2007/2008 version.

 

[Tom G]

I think I understand the idea of virtually running XP inside Vista.
Seems, now, I have several choices.
1. See what the TaxCut folks come up with....
2. Do nothing and just make sure the 2007 TaxCut runs on Vista.
3. Create XP 'inside' Vista (boy, because I'm not technical at all, that
one, frankly, scares the heck outta me....)
Will post again tomorrow after the TaxCut Tier 3 folks contact me....
Thank you!

 

[Leo]

I don't think you need to install the complete Tax Cut program to achieve
what you are trying to do. I think you only need to have the data file
available to the 2007 version of Tax Cut to compare this year's data with
2006 data.

Likely all tax software and forms will be delayed this year because the do
nothing leftie Congress has not acted on the AMT problem.

--
Leo

Success is relative. The greater the success, the more relatives

 

[DP]

I don't think you need to install the complete Tax Cut program to achieve
what you are trying to do. I think you only need to have the data file
available to the 2007 version of Tax Cut to compare this year's data with
2006 data.

I would agree with that, baased on my experience with Turbo Tax. Turbo Tax
even gives you the option, when you're done, to uninstall the program and
leave just the data file, so I know that having last year's program is not
necessary if you're looking to pull data from last year's return for this
year's program.

Likely all tax software and forms will be delayed this year ....

Wouldn't be the first time. I know that sometime in the last 15 years,
Congress was considering tax law changes in the first three months of the
new year that would have affected taxes for the previous years (like, if in
January 08 they were still considering changes that would affect tax year
07).

 

[Tom G]

Thanks for the suggestions about just trying to use the data files (only)
from 2006. That seems like a viable option to me.
Another cludgy solution might be to install 2007 on my old dusty XP machine
(though, of course, that doesn't solve the real problem....it just delays
it.....)
Will advise with what TaxCut folks say.
Wonder why MS doesn't weigh in.... isn't it reasonable to assume they peruse
these posts?

 

[Leo]

No, MS does not monitor these newsgroups but some MS employees, on their own
time, may look in occasionally.

--
Leo

Success is relative. The greater the success, the more relatives

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

Wonder why MS doesn't weigh in.... isn't it reasonable to assume they peruse
these posts?

It don't know whether it's reasonable or not, but they don't.

This is a peer support newsgroup. We are all just Windows Vista users
here, helping each other if and when we can. We are not Microsoft
employees (not even those of us with "Microsoft MVP" behind our names;
that's an honorary title for having provided consistently helpful
advice) except for an occasional employee who posts here unofficially
on his own time.