How do I move QuickBooks to a new computer?

So, you purchased a new computer and you want to move the program from the old computer to the new computer.  How do you do this?

Just get your QuickBooks CD and install it on the new computer.  You will have to re-register the product by going to help, register QuickBooks.  But what if you downloaded the program, what do you do?  Click here to re-download your software.

But what about the software product and license numbers, I don't have them or I lost the CD jacket with the numbers?  Click here to retrieve them or open your old computer, open QuickBooks and click the F2 button.  It will bring up the numbers you need.

Once you have installed the new program, open QuickBooks and click help, update QuickBooks to make sure you have the most current release of QuickBooks.  Do this on the old computer as well.

Now, how do I get my data (company) file onto the new computer?

Easy, in the old computer go to file, backup and backup each company (data) file to a usb stick, cd, or to your desktop (so you can email it to the new computer-see the post sending larger files).  You will create a .qbb (backup) file.

Once you have the backup completed, open QuickBooks in the new computer and go to file, open or restore company file, click restore and browse to the backup file. You will have either plugged into the new computer (with the usb stick) or put the backup CD in the CD drive or download the file (if you sent it to yourself a backup in an email, you will have to open the email and download or save it to your desktop on the new computer).

It is that easy.  Enjoy your new computer!  

Courtesy of our colleague Lynda Artesani, Certified QuickBooks ProAdvisor in SW Florida