Need advice about running Quicken while away from home

cborn5

Hello fellow Quicken users,
I understand you can run Quicken on multiple computers but I'm not sure what is the best way for me. My base is my home where I have a desktop computer and do 80% of my Quicken use. I am sometimes away for days/weeks and maybe a month or two. When I'm away, I use my laptop. What is the best way to keep up with my finances when I travel?

I see two possible arrangements:

First, I install full Quicken apps on both computers but to prevent my data file from getting out of sync, I place that file on a cloud service like Microsoft One Drive and access that file from both computers to keep them in sync.

Second, I sync my home data file with Quicken On The Web, and when I'm away, I just make needed updates to the Quicken Web app through a browser online and then when I'm home just sync my local software with the Quicken Web app.

Will these work? Any trouble spots to avoid? Is there another way better than this?

NotACPA

While you can store a backup file on OneDrive … do NOT run your Q from that file.

You can download the OneDrive file to your laptop, and place the file back on OneDrive when you're done, but running Q from there risks unrecoverable corruption. Also, don't keep you file in the OneDrive folder on either computer when Q is in use. OneDrive will regularly interfere with your Q use.

And, QWeb isn't your complete data file … only a partial upload, so "Second" just won't work.

Ps56k2

This Q&A comes up every so often -
yeah - if you are going to be away for awhile -
1 - install Quicken on your laptop - no extra effort - same Quicken User ID - just download & install -
2 - take your Quicken QDF file with you - either copy the QDF file to flash drive, Cloud Service, etc -
3 - copy the QDF file from the "portable media or cloud" onto the laptop - DO NOT RUN it from the Cloud -
4 - when back home - just reverse the process

it is totally up to you to make it happen - and keep Quicken correctly updated with the latest QDF file from the "other" system.

NotACPA

While you can store a backup file on OneDrive … do NOT run your Q from that file.

You can download the OneDrive file to your laptop, and place the file back on OneDrive when you're done, but running Q from there risks unrecoverable corruption. Also, don't keep you file in the OneDrive folder on either computer when Q is in use. OneDrive will regularly interfere with your Q use.

And, QWeb isn't your complete data file … only a partial upload, so "Second" just won't work.

Ps56k2

This Q&A comes up every so often -
yeah - if you are going to be away for awhile -
1 - install Quicken on your laptop - no extra effort - same Quicken User ID - just download & install -
2 - take your Quicken QDF file with you - either copy the QDF file to flash drive, Cloud Service, etc -
3 - copy the QDF file from the "portable media or cloud" onto the laptop - DO NOT RUN it from the Cloud -
4 - when back home - just reverse the process

it is totally up to you to make it happen - and keep Quicken correctly updated with the latest QDF file from the "other" system.

cborn5

Thanks folks! Somebody's been running a PC since DOS and another great answer from a Bucky Badger! Thanks to all.

cborn5

Back for more help!

I have my laptop setup with a fresh copy of Quicken Classic and I downloaded my QDF file from MS One Drive and it loaded just fine but within 1 to 2 seconds, a screen popped up demanding I enter my Quicken ID. No problem, I think, but after entering my ID, the screen says either the ID is wrong or the password. I checked it a half dozen times and it's correct. I logged in here without issue but the QDF file seems to be expecting something different that what I use normally.

Any ideas?