Why will my Quicken Deluxe 2015 not open?

Bare

I went to my Quicken account today to check on billing. When the window opened the screen was flashing. I suspected a virus, so immediately shut my computer down. After a new start up now all as i get is a blank screen with the timer iconm shown. I cannot close or minimize the window. I have to shut off or restart the computer to close the window.

UKR

Check if Windows Defender feature Ransomware protection was enabled by the Windows Update (if you're on Windows 10).
If so, configure it to add Quicken as an "allowed app" without turning off Ransomware protection:
https://community.quicken.com/discussion/7857675/faq-windows-defender-controlled-folder-access

You're on an unsupported Quicken version. First try to see if you can get Quicken to work again using a restored backup file.
Uninstall Quicken as a last resort.
Please follow this procedure, using a Windows User Account with full Administrator privileges:

http://www.quicken.com/support/using-qcleanui-uninstall-quicken
If you have previously used this procedure and have the cleanup programs already on your hard drive then please download them again to obtain the most recent version.
When done, reboot your computer and then reinstall Quicken from your CD or saved downloaded installation file.
Next download and install bug fixes (patch files) from here for Q 2015:
US version: http://www.quicknperlwiz.com/quickenpatches.html
Canadian version: http://www.quicknperlwiz.com/quickenpatchescanadian.html
If clicking on Help / About Quicken does not show the highest Release number available for your version (year), as shown on this webpage, download and install the appropriate file(s) from the link above.

Worst case: Purchase and install Quicken 2019 Deluxe directly from quicken.com or any reputable Internet retailer.
Again, the data file that was open at the time of the Windows update may have to be restored from a backup taken before that happened. All other data files should be OK.

NotACPA

Try holding down the CTRL key while you click on a Q PROGRAM (not data) icon.

This should cause the program to open to a nearly blank page ... with only the FILE and HELP menus available.

IF that worked, you've probably got a corrupted (perhaps severely) Q data file.  Shutting down your computer in such a manner could have caused this.

If this is the case, try using the FILE menu to navigate to FILE Operations, then Validate and Repair.  BROWSE to select your Q data file, then click "Validate File" and "Rebuild Investing Lots" (if present) before you click OK.

If that doesn't allow you to open the file, then you'll have to start Restoring backup files, until you find one that works ... whereupon you should COPY it and then Validate (per above) the Copy.

Bare

That didn't work.

I believe what happened is that I left my Quicken open and Microsoft did an update over night. It went down hill from there.

I do have a recent back-up. I have the books for three companies on my Quicken, so it is very important that I get this right.

Will the backup restore the program in it's entirety to where it is useable just as before?

Should I un-install the damaged program before doing the backup?

Should I save the back-up to a USB drive before doing anything?

Thanks for your help

Barry Matteson
Alaska

Bare

I am still waiting for a response.

UKR

Check if Windows Defender feature Ransomware protection was enabled by the Windows Update (if you're on Windows 10).
If so, configure it to add Quicken as an "allowed app" without turning off Ransomware protection:
https://community.quicken.com/discussion/7857675/faq-windows-defender-controlled-folder-access

You're on an unsupported Quicken version. First try to see if you can get Quicken to work again using a restored backup file.
Uninstall Quicken as a last resort.
Please follow this procedure, using a Windows User Account with full Administrator privileges:

http://www.quicken.com/support/using-qcleanui-uninstall-quicken
If you have previously used this procedure and have the cleanup programs already on your hard drive then please download them again to obtain the most recent version.
When done, reboot your computer and then reinstall Quicken from your CD or saved downloaded installation file.
Next download and install bug fixes (patch files) from here for Q 2015:
US version: http://www.quicknperlwiz.com/quickenpatches.html
Canadian version: http://www.quicknperlwiz.com/quickenpatchescanadian.html
If clicking on Help / About Quicken does not show the highest Release number available for your version (year), as shown on this webpage, download and install the appropriate file(s) from the link above.

Worst case: Purchase and install Quicken 2019 Deluxe directly from quicken.com or any reputable Internet retailer.
Again, the data file that was open at the time of the Windows update may have to be restored from a backup taken before that happened. All other data files should be OK.