‘Error: QuickBooks is not Activated’ when applying a service pack or patch

Legacy KB ID: 3658

Question

Why do I receive an error message - Before you can apply this service pack, you will need to ensure that your product is activated when installing the Tax table Update, service pack or patch?

Answer

Before you can apply a service pack or a patch your QuickBooks must be activated.  Some Windows 7 & Vista users may still get this error if their QBW.INI file was not properly updated.



Solution:

Check whether QuickBooks is activated. This can be confirmed by the following:

  • From the Help menu, select My License Information
  • The page will display QuickBooks is Activated

 

If QuickBooks is not activated;

  • To activate over the internet, from the File menu, select Activate QuickBooks; and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the Activation;
  • To activate over the phone press Cntrl 3 (Cntrl key and the number 3 on the top row of the keyboard) and call Reckon on 1300 784253.  Enter the number you are given into the License Key boxes and click on Finish.

Install the tax table update, service pack or patch.

 

If QuickBooks is activated, refresh your License Key:

Windows 7 & Vista users

Step 1:  Refresh the Quickbooks license:

  • On the top menu line click on File and select Refresh QuickBooks License;
  • Restart QuickBooks
  • On the top menu line click on File and you should now see Activate QuickBooks instead of Refresh QuickBooks License;
  • Close QuickBooks and apply the Tax Table Update (SP1).

 If you still experience the problem, continue with the next Step:

 

Step 2:  Enter the last refresh date into the QBW.INI file

·         In Windows Explorer browse to C:\Users\Public\Public Documents\Intuit;

·         Find and right-click on QBW.INI and Open With Notepad;

·         The first line should read [REGISTRATION]

·         Move your cursor down to the start of the next line that has a square bracket:

it could be [FONTS] or [QBLICENCE];

·         Press on the Enter key to create a blank line and enter the following:

o    LastRefreshDate=July 1, 2010

§  where the date is the date you last activated QuickBooks;

§  must enter it exactly as it appears above with the US date format;

§  you can Copy&Past the above entry and then modify for your date;

·         Click on File and Exit and select Yes to close and save the file.

 

Install the tax table update, service pack or patch.

 

Windows XP

To get your License Key:

·         From the Help menu, select My License Information

·         The page will display QuickBooks is Activated

·         In the License Information section, write down the Licence Key numbers (the 3rd line);

·         Close the page.

Re-activate QuickBooks with this method: 

1.    Ensure you are logged on this PC with a Local Administrator user account;

2.    Open QuickBooks to the No Company Open screen;

3.    Press Cntrl 3 (Cntrl key and the number 3 on the top row of the keyboard).   Enter the numbers you wrote down into the License Key boxes and click on Finish.

4.    Close QuickBooks and reboot your PC;

5.    Open QuickBooks, open the Product Information screen by pressing Cntrl 1 and check that the second line (License Number) contains ACTIVATED;

6.    Open a company file, click on Help and then My License Information and confirm that it states QuickBooks is Activated

Close QuickBooks and apply the tax table update, service pack or patch.

 

If you still experience this error message, follow the steps below:

  • Windows XP:
    - From the Start menu, select Run
    - Type regedit in the Open field
  • Windows 7 & Vista:
    - From the Windows Logo, type regedit in the Start Search field
    - Press Enter on your keyboard


Note:
Modifying the Registry can affect your operating system. If you are unsure of the steps below, please contact your IT technician.

We suggest that before proceeding you make a backup of your Registry, so that if a problem does occur, you can import your original settings.

  • To Export;
    From the File menu, select Export
    Type a name in the File name field and Save in to a location on your computer (e.g Desktop)
  • To Import;
    From the File menu, select Import
    Locate the file you saved and Open

 

From the Registry Editor window, locate and click on the + symbol next to the hierarchal below:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE > SOFTWARE > Intuit > QuickBooksRegistration > XX.0

64bit systems: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Intuit\QuickBooksRegistration\XX.0

Where XX represents your QuickBooks version number:

·         QuickBooks 2010/11 = 19

·         QuickBooks 2009/10 = 18

 

Highlight the folder relating to your installed QuickBooks version, i.e.:

·         QuickBooks Accounting = atom

·         QuickBooks Plus = basic

·         QuickBooks Pro = pro

·         QuickBooks Premier = superpro

·         QuickBooks Enterprise = bel

 

1.  From the Edit menu, click New > String Value

2.  Type LastRefreshDate and press Enter

3.  Double click on the LastRefreshDate string

4.  Enter today's date in the Value Data field as MONTH DD, YYYY (e.g July 30, 2008)

5.  Click OK

6.  Close the Registry Editor Window

 

Reboot your PC and apply the tax table update, service pack or patch.

 

How did we do?

Related Articles

Powered by HelpDocs (opens in a new tab)

Powered by HelpDocs (opens in a new tab)