Thank you for being a valued part of the CNET community. As of December 1, 2020, the forums are in read-only format. In early 2021, CNET Forums will no longer be available. We are grateful for the participation and advice you have provided to one another over the years.

Thanks,

CNET Support

General discussion

Quicken 2005 Problems

Feb 15, 2005 12:32PM PST

In Aug I upgraded from Quicken 2001 to 2005 running on a Dell Dimension 4100 using Windows ME with 256 MB of RAM. Almost immediately began experiencing memory problems so upgraded to 512 MB, but it didn't correct the problem. I'll be working in Quicken for 1/2-1 hr when things start to go south. Sometimes I will get the message "System resources low" or I will try to start another program & get a message that there is not enough memory to start it.

Quicken includes a little routine called Techhelp that allows me to check the amount of free memory. I check memory after starting Quicken but before doing any work, & there are typically more than 230 MB free. I have spoken to 8 Quicken (non)support staff, & they all insist it is a Windows problem. One even had the audacity to say that since it installed, there could be nothing wrong with Quicken! I ran it in Safe mode with no problems, but then not all of the functionality is available. We went so far as to reinstall Windows, & the problem is still there.

I set up a little test to try to narrow this down. I reinstalled Windows ME with the bare number of drivers needed to run the system & no Internet connection. I installed Quicken, reloaded a backup file, & did a full month's work with not one problem. There were 222 MB RAM when Quicken started & 209 when it finished. I then installed Norton Internet Security 2003, deleted the Quicken file, & reloaded the same backup file as before. When I checked, there were 282 MB free. Did the same work I did before & clicked on the "Show Desktop" button on the task bar. There were 263 MB free, but when I clicked on "Close", the Techhelp window stayed up. The only way I could get back into Quicken was to right click on the button on the task bar & <Restore>.

Only bits & pieces of Quicken came back. I could see parts of it & parts of the desktop. Scrolling the mouse acted like a paint brush as more & more of Quicken appeared under it. Clicked on Show Desktop again & got the dreaded "There is not enough free memory to run this program. Quit one or more programs, and then try again." This has been happening with regularity since Aug.

The only other things running were the Windows ME that came with the system & Norton. Neither of them had been updated because there was no Internet connection. Quicken (non)support insists that this is a Windows problem, but Quicken 2001 ran quite nicely with Windows ME & Norton. How can this not be a Quicken bug?!?!

Has anyone out there come across anything similar to this?

Discussion is locked

- Collapse -
Same issue in Win98se
Feb 18, 2005 6:00AM PST

I recently reinstalled Win98, because my son installed AOhell. Running an AMD Athlon-850 with 512mb SDRAM, on an 18GB WD drive. It was due for an overhaul anyway - and I had been having the same problems with out of memory errors on Quicken 2001 Deluxe then Quicken 2005 Home and Business Premier. I got to where I would know to exit the program every 10 minutes or so because opening scheduled items lists and account lists would just kill the memory usage. I have about 5 years worth of data - only about a 7MB file.

Since reinstalling Win98se I am STILL fighting out of memory errors. I have the system.ini [vcache] settings locked on 512mb RAM.

I could find nothing on Intuit/Quicken online help dealing with this issue.

- Collapse -
Intuit denies responsibility
Feb 21, 2005 8:37AM PST

I was told this afternoon by Quicken (non) support that my problem was caused by my configuration, & they could do nothing more for me. I had asked them to escalate it to level 2, but the level 2 people refused to talk to me!

I'm in the process of converting to Microsoft Money for transactions from the beginning of this year & keeping Quicken for my 10+ years of archival data.

After that I'll write a nasty letter to someone in corporate to let them know why I'm no longer a customer of theirs.

- Collapse -
More Qucken 2005 Changes to Make
Apr 1, 2005 2:08AM PST

I have also found that the Windows Update Patch 891711 is in conflict with memory protection provided by Norton Security and Antivirus. Just remove this and your memory lockups will be gone !

- Collapse -
Techhelp routine
Feb 21, 2005 8:51PM PST

I upgraded from Quicken Deluxe 2003 to 2005 in December. So far I have not experienced any of your problems. My file is 13 years old. Sorry I cannot offer any help but could you please tell me where to find the "Techhelp rouine".

- Collapse -
Location of Techhelp
Apr 2, 2005 10:02AM PST

Sorry it's taken so long to respond, but I've been up to my ears in problems.

If you haven't already found it, Techhelp is located in \Program Files\Quicken, & the icon is a funny looking face with what looks like a magnifying glass up to its right eye. I made a shortcut on the desktop & use it all the time.

- Collapse -
Quicken Problems
Mar 25, 2005 10:55PM PST

My trouble with Quicken 2005 sound exactly like yours. It seems that when switching files Quicken keeps windows running in the background somehow and eventually uses up computer resources which eventually crashes the machine. You have to close the program and reopen to get it running again. I have three computers with three different operating systems and each has the same problem. Quicken is just a buggy program and their tech help is unresponsive. Sorry I made the upgrade.

- Collapse -
Windows ME and Quicken 2005 Memory (NIS, NAV and NSPAM)
Mar 28, 2005 10:57AM PST

Quick note:
Follow the exact directions to install DirectX for your version of Windows (ie ME, 98SE etc)
Also, before installing DirectX, disable Norton Sercurity (ie Firewall, Spam, etc...)

If you are running a Dell Dimension, besure to check the Flash BIOS, for XPS version B I updated the BIOS to AO8 (just go to website).

Agree the support from Symantec does not mention the procedure to remove the frustration associated with the NIS Security application on other applications...

Good Luck...

- Collapse -
Same with 98SE and Symantec
Apr 1, 2005 1:53AM PST

Your username implies you are in the navy (if so I am too).
The description of your problem fits mine exactly. I am using Quicken 2005 Deluxe on Win98SE and Symantec Client Security (DOD Version), which is essentially NIS 2005 (anti-virus and firewall). I was previously using Quicken 2003 with no issues. My Quicken file is about 11MB, but it seemed clear to me that the memory problem was with the new 2005 version.

I didn't waste my time with Quicken Tech Support because I knew it would be a waste of time. I did multiple internet searches looking for someone with the same problem, but couldn't find one until now. Thanks for taking the time to describe your problem.

I installed the new version last December and immediately starting experiencing the problems. I haven't done the troubleshooting you have, but I keep a fairly clean install of 98SE on my machine (only core essential programs and no games). I eliminated all background running utilities except those associated with NIS. I just thought it was a bug with Quicken'05 running on 98SE and was considering installing XP to see if that solved the problem, but would rather Quicken fixed their program. I am not familiar with the Quicken Techhelp, but I could see the %resources drop dramatically.

From reading your TS efforts, it seems you may have identified the problem being linked to using NIS since you went a month with no problems, but the problem came back after installing NIS'03. You have given me something else to try - remove NIS and see if that helps. It is too late for me to go back to Q'03, I have already put in way too much data since the upgrade, so this is my only hope. I would be interested to know if anyone is seeing this problem running WinXP. I would prefer to keep using 98SE if I knew that XP won't solve the problem.

- Collapse -
Upgrade to XP
Apr 1, 2005 11:53AM PST

I finally upgraded to XP from ME. I had cleaned up the startup tasks to the point that I had about 70% available resources when I started Q05 (with Norton running). This allowed me to at least finish a session & only have to exit Quicken a couple of times.

I've been on XP for a couple of weeks now with no problems except those related to the learning curve. In fact, I can now use Quicken at the same time as I perform transactions on-line & access e-mail.

Since ME is really nothing more than a later version of 98, I would expect that you, too, would have no problems. Let me know how things work out

I'm retired Navy -- over 30 years ago!