Quicken 2004 unable to find one or more essential files

Bob Sundquist

I am trying to install Quicken 2004 to convert files from an older version. During installation I get a message that says "Quicken is unable to find one or more essential files." It then tells me I need to uninstall and try installing again. I uninstalled and tried installing again. Guess what happened? (If you guess that I got the same error message you are right.) Since the message doesn't tell me what essential files are missing I have no idea how to proceed.

UserDavidC

After installing Quicken 2004, did you run the patches to update 2004 to the latest version of 2004?

Those patches are available at http://www.quicknperlwiz.com/quicken-2004-patches.html

UKR

Just a shot in the dark ...
Is it possible that the Windows version you're trying to install Q 2004 on is "too new" and no longer has support for the old version of files like MFC70.DLL - MSVCP70.DLL - MSVCR70.DLL installed?

Look to see if you have Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable files installed, versions 2005 and/or 2008.

Bob Sundquist

> @UserDavidC said:
> After installing Quicken 2004, did you run the patches to update 2004 to the latest version of 2004?
>
> Those patches are available at http://www.quicknperlwiz.com/quicken-2004-patches.html

I don't know how I would run patches "after installing" when I can't complete the original installation.

Bob Sundquist

> @UKR said:
> Just a shot in the dark ...
> Is it possible that the Windows version you're trying to install Q 2004 on is "too new" and no longer has support for the old version of files like MFC70.DLL - MSVCP70.DLL - MSVCR70.DLL installed?Look to see if you have Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable files installed, versions 2005 and/or 2008.

I am running Windows 8. The files mentioned were not on my computer. I tried downloading them to C:\Windows\System32, it did not help.

UKR

Bob Sundquist said:

I am running Windows 8. The files mentioned were not on my computer. I tried downloading them to C:\Windows\System32, it did not help.

Did you download and install the complete Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable Package 2005 and 2008 and perhaps all the way up to 2019? Downloading a few individual files from somewhere on the Internet will not work.
See https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/cpp/windows/latest-supported-vc-redist?view=msvc-170
and compare with what's already installed in your system's Control Panel / Add Programs and Features.

UserDavidC

Bob Sundquist said:

> @UserDavidC said:
> After installing Quicken 2004, did you run the patches to update 2004 to the latest version of 2004?
>
> Those patches are available at http://www.quicknperlwiz.com/quicken-2004-patches.html

I don't know how I would run patches "after installing" when I can't complete the original installation.

You're right. I didn't read the question well. I apologize.

Bob Sundquist

> @UKR said:
> Did you download and install the complete Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable Package 2005 and 2008 and perhaps all the way up to 2019? Downloading a few individual files from somewhere on the Internet will not work.
> See https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/cpp/windows/latest-supported-vc-redist?view=msvc-170
> and compare with what's already installed in your system's Control Panel / Add Programs and Features.

Thank you for that explanation, I didn't know anything about a visual c+ redistributable package. I installed 2005 and 2008, but I still get the same error.

Chris_QPW

Are you installing the x86 version?

Quicken is a 32-bit program so it needs the x86 version.  The X64 version is for 64-bit programs.

Bob Sundquist

Yes. x

Chris_QPW

Try this procedure to get a clean uninstall before trying the install again:
Using QcleanUI to Fix Installation Issues with Quicken for Windows

And make sure you do the second part that rename (you can actually just remove) the folders.

Also, I want to make sure that you are using the Quicken 2004 install from this article, because ones on old CDs might not work:
Convert Data From an Earlier Version of Quicken (When to Use an Intermediate Version)

Bob Sundquist

Thank you Chris_QPW, that seems to have worked. I was able to install Quicken 2004 and open and convert my old data files. I can see register data, but most of my reports won't display; nothing happens when I press the "Show Report" button. (A few of the reports will display; I don't know what the difference is betwixt those that display and those that don't.)

Bob Sundquist

Also investment accounts didn't convert, they have no transactions and zero balance.

Chris_QPW

What version of Quicken were these data files?

You might try Validate and Repair: File -> File Operations.

Bob Sundquist

The files are from version 6. Validation completed, didn't seem to fix anything.

Chris_QPW

Well, the only last-ditch effort would be to run Validate and Repair from Quicken 6 and then reconvert.

Bob Sundquist

Quicken 6 says "There are no errors in your file."

Chris_QPW

Well, I'm out of ideas.

Bob Sundquist

Thanks for your help Chris_QPW. https://archive.org/details/Quicken_Deluxe_2000_-_Windows_Eng seems to have solved my problem.

Chris_QPW

That’s great.  I’m glad you found a solution.