QuickBooks and Internet Explorer 7's Automatic Update - What All QuickBooks Users Need to Know

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. However, even after updating, my recommendation is to decline the upgrade to Internet Explorer 7. As of this writing it is unclear if QuickBooks 2005 will be compatible with IE7, and it’s highly unlikely that QuickBooks 2004 will be updated to be compatible with IE7, as it will be sunsetted as of May 31, 2007 as per Intuit’s Sunset Policy. Previous years of QuickBooks 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:

• Continue to click the Automatic Updates balloon, as usual
• When you see the Welcome screen for Internet Explorer 7, it will give you three choices: Install, Don’t Install, or Ask me Later. Choose Don’t Install.
• After choosing Don’t Install, Automatic Updates will not prompt you to install Internet Explorer 7 at a later time. Any computer user on your system who is a local administrator will be able to install Internet Explorer 7 at any time by visiting the Windows Update site, the Microsoft Update site, or the Microsoft Download Center.

If you are running QuickBooks 2004 and use any of the electronic features, such as QuickBooks Bill Pay, or emailing invoices, I suggest you seriously consider upgrading QuickBooks at this time. If you wish to continue to use those 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 such as QuickBooks Bill Pay, 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.

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.