ProSeries Frequently Asked Questions

Products Affected:

New Computer: Install ProSeries Tax Software | Copy Client Files and Program Settings

Before you begin, we recommend that you have the following available:

• Appropriate ProSeries CDs - Use the Archive CD for that tax year. (If you do not have your ProSeries CDs, manual downloads back to tax year 2001 are available on the website. Use the Download Products link after logging in to My ProSeries.)
• Removable Storage or Network Drive - Removable storage, such as a USB flash drive, or a network drive that can be read by both computers with enough space for your client data files and program settings. (For additional information, please consult the manufacturer's instructions or contact your local computer consultant.)
• Customer Number and Zip Code - Your customer number and zip code in your ProSeries tax software for each tax year you will be installing on your new computer. (Go to the Tools menu, select Options, select General, and click the Customer Information button. Write down your Customer Number and Zip Code, then click Cancel and Cancel. Your customer number may be different in prior years.)
• Access/Install Codes, when applicable - In tax year 2004, ProSeries began using a product licensing system which no longer required access/install codes for most 2004 and later tax software. If you are installing 2003 or earlier ProSeries tax software, have your access/install codes handy. These codes can usually be found on your original packing slips. If you cannot locate your ProSeries install/access codes, you may be able to find them in My ProSeries or by contacting ProSeries Customer Service. What is product licensing?
• Printed Instructions - We recommend that you print these instructions. Select Print from the File menu, then in the Print dialog box click Print.

1. Create a backup folder on your desktop for each year of ProSeries that you are moving to the new computer. To do this, right-click on a blank area of the desktop, point to New, and choose Folder. Give each folder a name referring to the year, such as 2007 ProSeries Data, 2006 ProSeries Data, etc.
    
   
    
2. Open ProSeries and change the HomeBase View to All Tax Returns.
3. Go to the HomeBase menu and choose Select All.
4. Go to the File menu, point to Client File Maintenance, and click Copy/Backup.
5. Click the Set Target Directory button, browse to the backup folder you created on the desktop, click OK, then click Backup Client(s).
6. After the client files have been backed up, close ProSeries, go to your desktop, and double-click My Computer.
7. Double-click the C: (or network) drive, then double-click the appropriate ProSeries folder. The default folders are (where XX represents the tax year):
   
    
   • ProSeries Standalone default = ProWinXX
   • ProSeries Network default = ProNetXX
   • ProSeries Basic Edition default = BasWinXX
     
8. Click once on the Common folder, hold down the Ctrl key, and click once on the HomeBase folder. This should highlight both folders. For the network version, tax year 2005 and later, the HomeBase folder is located on the local hard drive at each workstation. Copy the folder from the C:\ProwinXX folder on one of the workstations.
    
   Notes:

   • If you are receiving an error opening ProSeries, resolve the error before copying any folders.
   • If you plan on restoring returns in a different drive letter do not copy the HomeBase folder.
    
9. Release the Ctrl key, go to the Edit menu and choose Copy.
10. Close the My Computer screen..
11. On your desktop, right-click the folder where you backed up the client files (for example, 2007 ProSeries Data) and click Paste.
12. Repeat steps 2 - 11 for each year of ProSeries you are moving to the new computer. For years prior to the tax year 2002 version, the program did not have a separate HomeBase folder. For these years, you will back up only the client files and the Common folder.

On your old computer, copy the backup folders to the removable storage or network drive:

Copy each of the backup folders you created to the removable storage drive or network drive. You can right-click on each backup folder, point to Send To, and choose the drive to copy the folder.

 

Attention PPR Users: If you use ProSeries pay-per-return (PPR) products, open ProSeries and print your audit report. (Go to the Tools menu and choose Pay Per Return. Click Print audit report, then Close.)

On your new computer, install your ProSeries tax software:

1. Insert the appropriate ProSeries CD in your CD drive and install your ProSeries software as you normally would. Remember to install all your federal and state tax products. (For the current tax year, use your latest ProSeries CD. For prior years, you can use the Archive CD for that tax year.) How do I install and update ProSeries software from the CD?
2. If you do not have your ProSeries CD, manual downloads for products you have already purchased, may be found on My ProSeries. How do I download and install products from My ProSeries?
3. Open ProSeries. License and update your ProSeries software as you normally would.(Newer releases of Windows may need to be configure to run older releases of ProSeries. Please consult Microsoft's instructions or contact your local computer consultant for assistance configuring Windows.)
4. Close ProSeries.
5. Repeat these steps for each tax year you will be installing on your new computer.

On your new computer, restore client files and program settings from the removable storage or network drive:

1. Insert the removable storage or connect to the network drive where the backup folders you created are located.
2. Open ProSeries. Choose No when you see a message asking if you want to transfer last year's clients.
3. Go to the File menu, point to Client File Maintenance, and click Restore.
4. Click the Set Source Directory button, locate the appropriate backup folder for the year of ProSeries you are working on, and click OK. Select and restore the files.

   Note: You will need to repeat steps 2 through 4 for each type of return you are restoring. For example, if you have 1120 returns to restore, change the HomeBase View to Form 1120: Corporations, and repeat steps 2 through 4.

5. After restoring the client files, close ProSeries. Double-click My Computer (or Computer), then navigate to the appropriate ProSeries folder and rename the following folders (where XX represents the tax year):
    
   1. Rename the Common folder to OldCommon
   2. Rename the HomeBase folder to OldHomeBase
      
6. In Windows Explorer, copy the Common and HomeBase folders from the removable storage or network drive to your new computer (below the appropriate ProSeries program folder).
7. Open ProSeries. Verify that the information displayed in HomeBase on the new computer matches the information on your old computer, including electronic filing and bank products information. Verify that your firm and preparer information is correct. Try opening, saving, and printing an existing return. Randomly check other features and additional information in returns and letters.
8. Repeat these steps for each tax year you will be putting on your new computer.
   1. Attention PPR Users: Check to see if any existing pay-per-return balance transferred to the new computer. Go to Tools, choose Pay Per Return, and click View Account Balance. If the balance shows $0, fax your audit report to ProSeries Customer Service at 800-284-7418. After faxing your audit report, please wait about 5-10 minutes before contacting Customer Service at 800-374-7317 to have your account balance restored on your new computer.