Quicken2014 update to what

rickandlynne

Is there a data size limit for Quicken2014? I have been using this happily for many years but the file is now over 60,000KB. Is it time to update or can the file be reduced?

Boatnmaniac

Reinstalling QWin 2014 will present you with a risk that can MAYBE be resolved. But if it cannot be resolved, then you most likely will have lost the use of QWin 2014, perhaps forever. See the bullet I posted above that is in bold font under "Regarding QWin 2014-QWin 2017" for more details. So, if I were you reinstalling QWin 2014 would likely be done only as a last resort.

A things I would be more inclined to do first:

1. Reboot your system. Sometimes programs and/or operating systems can lock up some memory or cause some app to start consuming large amounts of memory and/or CPU. This is more of an issue with older systems and applications than newer ones but it is not an uncommon issue, especially if your browser or Windows or other software is looking for an update or has downloaded/installed an update but the computer has not been rebooted. Rebooting the system will usually free up the memory and stop whatever might be consuming memory or CPU and will often allow the computer to finish installing any software updates that might have been downloaded..
2. If that does not resolve the issue, try Validating your file. Validating is able to resolve some data file issues but can also resolve some software issues.
3. Do you run anti-virus software in the background? AV programs can be big memory and CPU hogs. On newer systems it is usually not much of an issue but as time goes on it becomes a bigger and bigger issue because of all the virus updates that are done. Maybe you could check your AV settings to see if the priority of real-time scans is lowered some or that scheduled scans are run at a different time.
4. Are you running Quicken installed on and have your data file saved on your local hard drive or are you running and saving your data file on a network server or a Cloud storage site like MS OneDrive or Dropbox? If you are not running Quicken and saving your data file on you local hard drive, make sure you do so. Quicken is designed to be run on and saved on the local hard drive and doing otherwise can cause performance and data integrity issues.

Let me know if any of these things helped to resolve that issue.

Boatnmaniac

My data file is about 173,000KB and it works fine. There are other users who have QDF files that are more than 200,000 KB and it still works for them. So, I wouldn't be too concerned about the size of your QDF file. There's still a lot to play with.

The QDF file is a database file. I know there are DB file compression software tools available but I do not know how using them might adversely impact use of the QDF file by Quicken. Maybe someone with more knowledge can pipe in here regarding this.

If QWin 2014 is meeting your needs and you are OK with not being able to download transactions into Quicken, then if I were you I would stick with it. Most of the significant improvements in QWin since 2014 are related to online services (downloading, bill payments, house values, investments analysis, Quicken Mobile, Quicken on the Web, etc.) although there have been updates/upgrades made to some of the Tax Planning/Reporting tools.

The only thing you can upgrade to, if that is what you want to do, is to Quicken Classic Subscription (either Starter, Deluxe, Premier, Business & Personal). Some important things to take into consideration:

• The Subscription is for 12 months and it will provide you all of the online services available for the edition you subscribe to.
• As you get close to the expiration date of the Subscription you will get pop ups reminding you to resubscribe for another 12 months.
• If you decide not to renew your subscription: Starter will become read-only. The other editions will be able to be used manually/offline but you will get a banner that takes up about 20%-25% of the screen reminding you to renew the Subscription. This banner can be removed only by resubscribing….there is no other way to remove it. This really bothers some people but others seem to at least tolerate it.

If you wish to read up some more on Subscription you might was to go to this webpage: https://www.quicken.com/support/quicken-subscription-membership-faqs/ .

Regarding QWin 2014-QWin 2017:

• Do not be tempted into buying a CD of QWin 2015-2017 and upgrading to them. There was a change made to Quicken's online software (which interfaces with the desktop installations) that is not compatible with the Quicken.ini files these versions will create on the desktop computer. So, you will not be able to complete the installation/registration/activation process making that software totally useless.
• QWin 2014: This same issue exists with this version. I suggest that you copy your Quicken.ini file and back it up somewhere other than on your current local hard drive. If your software ever stops functioning (as it likely will at some point in time) you can then copy that backed-up Quicken.ini file over then one on your hard drive and MAYBE your Quicken 2014 software will function properly once, again. You will need that backed up Quicken.ini file if you ever need to reinstall your QWin 2014 software for this very same reason.

If you ever do want to or need to upgrade from QWin 2014, you will need to upgrade to QWin Classic Subscription. The year is no longer attached to the name of the software. Do not be tempted to buy any QWin software 2018+ which still has the year attached to it. Those are Subscription softwares but the activation codes for them have expired. Buy, instead, QWin software that does not have a year attached to it because those are likely going to have valid activation codes. The safest way to do this is to buy it from Quicken.com and then download the software directly from your Quicken.com online account as it will already be activated. Look for specials that Quicken.com sometimes offers new subscribers….sometimes 25%-40% off. You can sometimes also find similar deals from reputable online retailers like Amazon.com, Office Depot, Walmart, Best Buy, Costco, Sam's Club, NewEgg.com, etc..

rickandlynne

Thanks. That is very helpful.

I wondered about file size because recently the program has sometime been a little wonky. For instance, this morning I tried to post some entries from my bill and income reminders. A couple posted but then each time I clicked enter nothing happened.

I believe I still have the original setup file. Would it be a good idea to re-install?

Boatnmaniac

Reinstalling QWin 2014 will present you with a risk that can MAYBE be resolved. But if it cannot be resolved, then you most likely will have lost the use of QWin 2014, perhaps forever. See the bullet I posted above that is in bold font under "Regarding QWin 2014-QWin 2017" for more details. So, if I were you reinstalling QWin 2014 would likely be done only as a last resort.

A things I would be more inclined to do first:

1. Reboot your system. Sometimes programs and/or operating systems can lock up some memory or cause some app to start consuming large amounts of memory and/or CPU. This is more of an issue with older systems and applications than newer ones but it is not an uncommon issue, especially if your browser or Windows or other software is looking for an update or has downloaded/installed an update but the computer has not been rebooted. Rebooting the system will usually free up the memory and stop whatever might be consuming memory or CPU and will often allow the computer to finish installing any software updates that might have been downloaded..
2. If that does not resolve the issue, try Validating your file. Validating is able to resolve some data file issues but can also resolve some software issues.
3. Do you run anti-virus software in the background? AV programs can be big memory and CPU hogs. On newer systems it is usually not much of an issue but as time goes on it becomes a bigger and bigger issue because of all the virus updates that are done. Maybe you could check your AV settings to see if the priority of real-time scans is lowered some or that scheduled scans are run at a different time.
4. Are you running Quicken installed on and have your data file saved on your local hard drive or are you running and saving your data file on a network server or a Cloud storage site like MS OneDrive or Dropbox? If you are not running Quicken and saving your data file on you local hard drive, make sure you do so. Quicken is designed to be run on and saved on the local hard drive and doing otherwise can cause performance and data integrity issues.

Let me know if any of these things helped to resolve that issue.

rickandlynne

Thanks Boatnmaniac for the excellent advice. I have tentatively concluded there is nothing wrong with QWin2014 and will not be upgrading in the foreseeable future.