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

Upgrading a Windows 2008 Server to 2012 R2 Standard

We have a client, Population Services International Liberia (PSI). All of their ICT infrastructure is being managed by us as a consultant.

There’s a file sharing server (HP ProLiant Server T620) that has been configured and setup for years running Windows Server 2008 R2 Standard. Last week, I was forced to upgrade the (OS) Operating System to Windows Server 2012 R2 Standard for below reasons.

I have had issues with RAM failure twice in the past and the RAM was replaced.

A monthly preventive ICT maintenance is also carried out on all their IT equipment including Anti-virus full system scan, defragmentation of disk space, deleting temporary internet files, Windows updates, checking all wireless access points, switches & routers, making sure everyone is seamlessly browsing the internet and system backups in case of disaster recovery or any other future problems.

One morning, I was just back in office from one of our clients sub office out of Monrovia, Sanniquillie Nimba County and doing the routine checks. I got an email request from PSI to creating new users and access to the said file sharing server. To be specific, Human Resource Department folder. I quickly arranged my tools and left for their site.

I typed in the administrative password for the server and got an incorrect password warning over and over. I couldn’t believe it because even if you woke me up at night I could read it out loud. I phoned the guy who’s in charge of the server room keys and whom I relate every sensitive information including Wi-Fi password, desktop administrative passwords, including the server just in case I am unable to get there on time due to emergency if he made any changes on the server password. He responded that yes he did, but can’t remember where he place it neither remember. I was so frustrated that why would he make changes without securing a system password or sharing it with me. I had no alternative but to get Windows Server 2012 software in resetting my password. Now if you don’t have this idea you will end up running a fresh installation, structuring files, configuring Active Directory, Windows Server Update Services (WSUS), and creating all users over. This would have been more than a pain.

These steps are very easy and simple to follow once you have your software installation disk or USB available. (Windows Server 2012 R2 Standard)

·      Boot from you Microsoft Windows Server 2012 DVD

·      From the Windows Setup menu, Click “Next’’.

·      Select “repair Your computer’’

·      Under Choose and option, click on “Troubleshoot”.

·      Under Advance option, click “Command Prompt”.

At the command prompt, run the following commands:

• d: and hit enter
• cd windows\system32 and hit enter
• ren Utilman.exe Utilman.exe.old and hit enter
• copy cmd.exe Utilman.exe

·      Close the command prompt and click “Continue.”

·     The server should boot and display a logon screen. In this case you only hold Windows Key + U.

·     At the prompt you can now change the password you wish by entering the following commands:

net user administrator ‘’Adm1n1str8t1ve” for example.

Close the command prompt, you will now be able to log back onto the server using the password you entered in the command prompt. Once you verified that you can log on to the server. That’s really cool. You still need to repeat the steps in getting to the command prompt by restarting the server and running these commands:

          · d: and hit enter

          · cd windows\system32, and hit enter

          · ren Utilman.exe Utilman.exe.new, and hit enter

          · copy cmd.exe Utilman.exe

Here are photos of my password reset. The server is now running without causing any inconvenience to our customers.

Reach out for NATC for all your IT needs and support!

Prepared by:

Daniel W. Collins

Senior IT Technician

New Africa Technology Company (NATC)