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QuickBooks and the New Internet Explorer What All QuickBooks Users Need to Know
By: Jennifer A Thieme
If you are running QuickBooks, you need to know about the upcoming automatic update of Internet Explorer 7, scheduled for late 2006.
Microsoft will use their “Automatic Updates” (AU) feature to deliver Internet Explorer 7. It will only be available to genuine Windows users. Once Internet Explorer 7 is installed, it will not change your current favorites, toolbar, or home page, and it will not change your current default browser. You will be able to change back to Internet Explorer 6 at any time by using the “Add-Remove Programs” feature in the Control Panel.
Quick Tip: upgrading QuickBooks, and updating QuickBooks are two very different things. Upgrading is buying a completely different year of QuickBooks. Updating is a free procedure whereby QuickBooks installs different updates, patches, etc., to itself via your Internet connection.
For Users of QuickBooks 2007 or 2006
If you are running QuickBooks 2007, simply install IE7 when prompted via Automatic Updates, as QuickBooks 2007 is fully compatible with Internet Explorer 7.
If you are running QuickBooks 2006, make sure you have the latest release of the software, which is Release 8 as of this writing. To get the latest release for QuickBooks 2006, from the Help menu, select Update QuickBooks. Next time you open QuickBooks, the program will prompt you to install the update. Be sure to do so right away.
For Users of QuickBooks 2005 or Earlier
If you are running QuickBooks 2005 or earlier, first make certain you have the latest release of the software. From the File menu, select Update QuickBooks. Next time you open QuickBooks, be sure to install the update.
Intuit plans to update QuickBooks 2005 to be compatible with Internet Explorer 7, but of this writing it is unclear if QuickBooks 2004 will be updated. QuickBooks 2004 will no longer be supported as of May 31, 2007, as per Intuit's Sunset Policy, so my personal guess is that it won't be updated. Versions of QuickBooks prior to 2004 are no longer supported by Intuit and will definitely not be updated for any reason.
If you are running QuickBooks 2005 or earlier, and don’t want to install IE7, follow these steps:
If you are running QuickBooks 2004 and use any of the electronic features, such as Online Banking, QuickBooks Bill Pay, or emailing invoices, I suggest you seriously consider upgrading to QuickBooks 2007 at this time. If you wish to continue to use the electronic features after May 31, 2007, you will be forced to upgrade at that time anyway, as those features will no longer be available. It makes sense to upgrade now and simply avoid the hassle of declining the installation of IE7.
Users of QuickBooks 2005, who also use electronic features, may wish to wait until the spring of 2008 to upgrade their software, and install IE7 at that time when QuickBooks 2005 will be sunsetted.
Users of QuickBooks 2003 and earlier will definitely want to decline the installation of IE7, or upgrade to QuickBooks 2007.
Accidental Installation of IE7
If IE7 accidentally gets installed, from the Start menu of Windows, select Control Panel. Click Add/Remove Programs. Scroll down to Internet Explorer 7, and click the Change/Remove button.
Jennifer A. Thieme is a Certified QuickBooks ProAdvisor. Visit http://www.jenniferthieme.com to ask Jennifer your questions about QuickBooks. |  |
