Quicken 2020 wiped out my data

Hi:

I'm Sandra, and I'm new to the Quicken Community--but I've been using Quicken since 1999. I'm currently running Windows 8.1.

In 2020, I decided to upgrade from Quicken 2017 to be able to continue the online updates (I hadn't upgraded since 2017 because I've been out of work that long). As soon as I installed it, there were non-stop problems, including wiping out half of my data.

I uninstalled 2020, reinstalled 2017, and have been operating without online access ever since.

I paid for 2020 and still have it. I'm frankly scared to install it again.

Can anyone advise how to proceed?

And when does Quicken provide actual access to paid support staff? It's not right that you pay for a product and the only help you can get is from the Community.

I'm seriously considering changing to another platform.

Thanks for any direction you can give me,
Sandra