QuickBooks Enterprise 17 installation error due to lack of important Windows Updates.

While a on a maintenance visit to one of our clients in Buchanan, 3 laptops were delivered to us from another client, Population Services International (PSI) for installation of:

1. Microsoft office
2. QuickBooks Enterprise Solution 17.0 
3. and other software

My colleague managed to install the MS Office and other software on the laptops except for QuickBooks. According to him, he tried several times, but the installation keeps giving an error message. He quickly messaged me about what was unfolding on our WhatsApp channel. I requested him to give me full access to the laptop via TeamViewer connection. Disabling the anti-virus and other security features still didn’t help us out.

Due to insufficient time and bad internet connection from my end, we had to inform the customer and escalated the job until my return. I got back Monrovia on a weekend with a lot of research on resolving this issue.  I powered on both laptops to run a system check and know if the system meets the requirement to have QuickBooks installed. The result showed that the RAMs, Hard Drive, Operation System, BIOS, Video card and others were okay for installation.

I copied the QuickBooks software from one of the client’s laptops to a USB drive to run a test on my computer and it ran very smoothly on my PC. But there was one thing I noticed during the installation process which was the Microsoft NET Framework 4.6 and 4.7. 

This important update was lacking from the many Microsoft Updates downloaded on the client’s PCs as NET Framework is a software development platform developed by Microsoft to create applications and support web services. I became more concerned as to why Windows wouldn’t download such an important update. Than I discovered that the Operation System installed on these PCs were counterfeit and not a genuine copy of windows instead. 

My mind ran back to one of the days where we had an issue with a counterfeit Windows installed on a customer PC when they brought it in to do a hardware repair. The moment the customer received the PC in a few days he said the PC was giving pop up notification of counterfeit Windows and blamed it on the repairs we did. 

But in this case, there’s no notification or pop up message to display. Even if you check the System properties it shows ‘Windows Activated’. 

There are lots of software tool available on the internet to crack Windows OS, Office suites and other applications. But the good thing I have learned and like about Microsoft is that you may use your crack software on any of their products but once it gets on the internet, Microsoft automatically recognizes or detects the counterfeit or pirated copy you are using and blocks all important updates to it. 

This leads you to future problems until the right thing is done and this is what our client's problem was.

I backed up all the data from the Client’s PC and an external HDD and pulled out a CD from one of our many Windows Operating Systems. To be specific, Windows 10 Pro. A fresh installation of Windows 10 Pro was installed including MS 2016 office suites, and a transfer of all data from the external HDD back to the PCs with all important updates downloaded and installed; giving these laptops a new life once again.

Early Monday morning I took the 2 laptops to the customer site. I ran the QuickBooks Enterprise version 17 on the laptops with a successful installation. I mapped the QuickBooks server data drive on each PC to locate the data files for backup. The end-user could work in their respective departments using his/her username and password to have access since it was configured on a multiple user mood

So, Windows 10 Pro Activated did the trick. It could be any edition of Microsoft Windows Operating Systems - reach out to New Africa Technology Company for genuine licensed copy of software to safe yourself the stress of future problems.

Prepared by:

Daniel Collins

New Africa Technology Company

Installation errors

Hey Everyone, 

As an IT technician, we face a lot of issues which are repeated regularly. So, it makes you more familiar, and, when a client starts to explain his/her problem, you most likely already know the solution and that’s why I love my profession. 

A week ago, we got a call from one of our client’s, Population Services International Liberia (PSI). They purchased two brand new laptops and while trying to install software they were unsuccessful. 

The question to myself was why they would carry on installation when we are their IT consultant and if it creates even bigger problem, the headache becomes ours most especially the tech who’s handling it.

But again I couldn’t ask the client I am there to solve problem. 

I arrived on the customer site and the laptops were handed over to me and the problem they faced was also explained. 

The client bought a copy of Microsoft Office 365 suite which is Cloud based ex: Excel, Word, Outlook, PowerPoint, Access, Publisher, OneDrive, Skype for Business etc. In order to access or download any of these programs if not installed you will have open a web browser, type in organization website and login with your organization email address and password. 

So these two new laptops needed the programs to be installed on them. Then I tried the installation over and saw this ‘’this is a fatal error message, the installation could not be completed because another application is in use.’’ 

I knew the problem right away and how to go about solving it after noticing that it was a Microsoft Windows 10 Operating System (OS). Then I thought, Microsoft Windows 10 OS machines come with Microsoft Office suite preinstalled so in order to complete this installation I need to first end the task in the background and uninstall these programs. 

This was how I resolved the issue:

1. Right click on task bar and open ‘’Task Manager’’

2. Click on ‘’Details’’ 

3. Click on Microsoft Office 2013 and see that it is highlighted 

4. Click on ‘’End Task’’ and close. After doing this, open Control Panel and locate the preinstalled version of Microsoft Office and click on ‘’Uninstall’’ and restart the laptop. Connect back to the Internet, open the web browser and login with the user’s E-mail ID and password. Then download and install MS Office 365. 

The installation was successful. Finding solutions to client problems both on the phone and on site is our everyday work as a tech. Thanks for reading and hope this information finds you well.  

Prepared By: Daniel Collins