Can I SAFELY UNINSTALL all previous versions of Quicken on my laptop ?

Question

I've been using Quicken DELUXE/Windows for ten or more years and recently it seems to load all my info several times before it actually APPEARS on my laptop screen. I have NUMEROUS files on my desktop that say, "Latest Quicken Backup." How do I SAFELY eliminate some of that while still retaining my budgeting info, checkbook records, etc., for all those prior years that are 100% accurate ??? Thanks !

Mike W · Answer

qcleanui.exe no longer appears to exist at https://www.quicken.com/support/using-qcleanui-uninstall-quicken.   I get redirected to Quicken's main website.

thecreator · Answer

Hi @Motorhomegal,
See this FAQ:  https://community.quicken.com/discussion/7307115/add-your-quicken-information-to-your-posts-plus-how-you-are-connected-to-the-internet 
This has been your first visit to this forum and haven't included the version of Quicken you are running.
See the below procedure to safely clean and reinstall Quicken Subscription program:
Quicken states to allow the new version of Quicken to remove the old 
version.  I always like to uninstall Quicken completely then install / 
reinstall Quicken and this is what I do to install Quicken, 
successfully.

Before actually beginning, I would click Help, 
then click Report a Problem. Fill in the information state why you 
uninstalling and reinstalling. Why? In case they want to see the log 
files. They have them.

Do a Manual Backup your Quicken Data File, before beginning.

Open Quicken. Go to File > Backup and Restore > Backup
your Quicken Data File(s) before starting.

If you are unable to Open Quicken, skip opening Quicken and continue here:

Here:
Use your Browser of choice.

Create
 a New Folder on the Desktop or Create a new Briefcase Folder on the 
Desktop and rename the Folder, New Briefcase, which can be done in 
Windows 10, too.

Once you have done that, start your Browser and 
change the location of the downloads to the New Briefcase. Saves you the
 trouble of having to tell where to Save the Downloads to and makes the 
downloads, easier to find, right on the Desktop..

If you have 
purchased Quicken from another Retailer and have successfully, activated
 the program, you can download from your My Account at Quicken.com.
If you purchased from Quicken.com, browse to https://www.quicken.com/. Once the Website loads, hover your Mouse over Sign In and then click My Account.

On the Next page, fill in your Quicken User ID and password and click Sign In.

Once
 you are signed into your Quicken User ID, scroll down until you see 
DOWNLOAD QUICKEN on the left side. Now on the right-side, click Download
 for Windows.

Once it is finished downloading, click to Close the Browser, when done using the Browser..

Close Quicken (if open). Do not uninstall it.

Re-open your Browser and click on the link below for downloading QCleanUI.exe

Download QcleanUI.exe from this link:
https://www.quicken.com/support/using-qcleanui-uninstall-quicken?

Click: First: Download and use QCleanUI

Scroll down and see QCleanUI.exe listed in 4. Left-click on QCleanUI.exe to start the Download and click Save. See MSICLEAN.exe listed in 5.  Left-click on MSICLEAN.exe to start the Download and click Save.
Create
 a new sub-folder of Briefcase and name it QClean. Move both 
QCleanUI.exe and MSIClean.exe into QClean. Now simply open QClean. 
Right-click on QCleanUI.exe  and left-click Run as administrator. Choose
 to Clean All Versions. Do not use Programs and Features to uninstall 
your Quicken Program.

Use Programs and Features to remove iSeek AnswerWorks English Runtime, which Quicken installs.

Option
 to restart the computer, but is not necessary. After the computer 
restarts, use Explorer to delete / no need to rename the following 
folders: (Except if you also have other Intuit Products installed, 
expand those folders and delete the Quicken folders, only.)

To 
see these folders, open File Explorer, click on View. Click Options. 
Click View Tab. Dot Show hidden files, folders and drives. Click Apply 
then click OK.

C:\Program Files (x86)\Quicken

C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\AnswerWorks 5.0

C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Intuit

If 32-bit operating system:
C:\Program Files\Quicken

C:\Program Files\Common Files\AnswerWorks 5.0

C:\Program Files\Common Files\Quicken

C:\ProgramData\Quicken

C:\Users\User ID\AppData\Roaming\Quicken

C:\Users\User ID\AppData\Local\Quicken_Inc

Empty the following folders, with the exception of Files in use:

C:\Users\User ID\AppData\Local\Temp

C:\Windows\Temp

This is optional only. Option to Run Disk Cleanup and Restart the computer.

I use CCleaner Free downloaded from:  https://www.ccleaner.com/ccleaner . 
The only place I use Disk Cleanup, is in Safe Mode to remove the Previous Operating System.

When
 I install CCleaner, it usually comes with the option to install other 
programs. I uncheck those programs and don't install them.

Once 
CCleaner Free is installed, I run the Cleaner portion once and then I 
switch to the Registry portion. I click Scan for Issues. When finished 
scanning, I click Fix selected Issues. You do have the option of backing
 up the changes. I don't because I also use Acronis True Image ( https://www.acronis.com/en-us/personal/computer-backup/ ) and restore the operating system, if there is a problem. I run the Registry portion twice for No Issues or Errors.

Don't
 download the Installer again if you already downloaded the installer 
(Quicken.exe) from your Account above. This Installer, does not require 
Activation again.

If you have an active Anti-Virus program 
like Norton, disable the Anti-Virus portion. Windows Defender Anti-Virus
 leave untouched. Does not interfere with Quicken Installation, but 
Norton does.

Right-click on the Program Installer and click Run as administrator.

After it unpacks itself, click Let's go. Now click Install.

If Windows 10, click Done to Launch Quicken.

Dot Restore a data file I've backed up to a CD, to a disk, or online
Click Get Started.

Browse to where you have backed up to.
When selected, click Restore Backup.
Next
 "Choose a location to save your restored file to" by browsing to that 
folder to use. Click Save and confirm to overwrite the file. Click Yes.
Now click Restore Backup.

Sign in again. 
Enter your password and click Sign in.

Select to have the Security Code Emailed to do.

Paste the Code in and click Submit.

Choose to Use Mobile or Don't use mobile.

Click Next, then click Done.

Now click Restore Down (Double Boxes at the top right-side of the screen.

Drag
 the Quicken Window to where you like it and use the Mouse to re-size 
the Window to your liking. Adjust Quicken Preferences under Edit to your
 liking.

Close and re-open Quicken, before using.

Ps56k2 · Answer

I'm merely mentioning a clarification on your terminology..... 
Quicken is a software program - like MS Word - and uses a QDF data file to store your data.
Just like with MS Word, and DOC files - you can have Quicken with multiple Quicken QDF files (or may just have 1) - 
and Quicken backs up this QDF file automatically....   
SO... we are discussing the Quicken QDF data file .... and it's many backups - 
Normally, the backups would exist in your \Quicken\Backup\ folder on your computer.... and not on your "desktop".
And lastly - I have never seen anything labelled..... "Latest Quicken Backup."

[Edited to change QXF to QDF]