Comments on: QuickBooks update shreds Mac files

Do not install a QuickBooks update seeded over the weekend if you're a Mac user, as multiple users are reporting that the update erases files from the Desktop folder.

[ehfla]

It's time to stop using Intuit products.

Intuit has had a continual problem with playing nice with the OS. They've done low-level partition manipulation on Windows machines. They don't write code the way the OS was designed, meaning that when they update the OS, you have to buy an upgrade to their products. Now this....it's been a continual problem with their products on both Windows and the Mac.
There really are better accounting programs out there. There is no reason for users to have to put up with this behavior. It's an accounting program...it has no business trying to mess with the desktop, or do low-level partition manipulation.

[rcrusoe]

Intuit lost me a long time ago

I dumped Quicken for Moneydance several years ago after
getting fed up their advertisements in purchased software.

Later I switched from TurboTax to TaxCut after Intuit pulled
their spyware trick. (They still send me free copies of TT every
year, which go straight into the trash.)

I'm just one of a growing number of people who have learned
that the biggest vendors seldom have the best software.

http://moneydance.com
http://taxcut.com

[chriscarpet]

quickbooks

i recently updated from quickbooks 2006 to 2008.what a nightmare.i lost 3 months of data-just gone vand now everytime i try to email from quickbooks the program crashes.
you would think a company the size of intuit could afford to hire decent QA engineers or at least take the time to test their products befor release.
obviosly with this company it's buyer beware.

[samkass]

it's not QA

You cant test your way to quality, you have to engineer it. The problems with Intuit software seems to go way deeper than an extra test cycle or two.

[jelloburn]

Misleading Title

First off, what the heck is Intuit doing to just delete files from
the Desktop folder? Doesn't sound like they're just installing
stuff.

Secondly, I opened this story thinking that I was going to be
reading about how this software was causing irreversible
damage to hard drives (or at least warranting an OS reinstall) to
only find out that desktop files were deleted. That is far from
"shredding" a hard drive. Shredding files would be more
appropriate.

Nothing like hyperbole to sell a story...

[m.meister]

simple oversight ..?

Likely it was a simple oversight and not a conspiracy to install stuff
behind your back. That's not an excuse for the oversight, but I don't
think they were trying to do something sneaky.

Intuit's focus has been on Windows for far too long. I don't think
they put a strong enough focus on making sure their Mac software
runs as well as users expect.

The real question is how will they fix this? How will they make this
right by the customer?

All companies make mistakes (some are more ugly than others), but
it is how they handle the problem that speaks of their integrity.

[Tom Krazit]

Fair enough re: title

We're going to change it to "shreds files." The way I had thought about it while writing it up, anything that's deleting files without my permission is shredding my hard drive. But it's obviously not killing the whole drive, which would be much worse. Point taken.

[Bripple]

Not surprised....

Intuit is the king of sloppy software. I had to trick TurboTax
"Premiere" into properly accounting for some pretty simple stock
transactions. And have fun with their rebate scheme. Give me a
break. Watch for a big fat data breach next with these guys.

[m.meister]

to be fair

Tax software is fairly complex stuff (thank you United States
Congress).

As for data breaches. While anything is possible, I think you are
comparing apples and oranges here. Problems with desktop
software is far different than data breach issues. They wouldn't
even handled by the same group inside the company.

[slickuser]

Mistaken...

You downloaded QuickErase not QuickBooks...

[Penguinisto]

Blecch...

...Glad I don't use QuickBooks for anything.

Kinda strange that it only goes after the Desktop directory. I'm assuming that it goes to drop an icon off there and then the bug hits?

Man, they can keep that crap for the Windows realm if their apps cannot learn to behave in an OSX environment...

/P

[kinserfr]

I switchrd from Moneydance to Quicken...a mistake!

I used Moneydance on Linux for about three years and then I
bought a Mac and decided to give Quicken a try because I was
concerned that support for Moneydance or the developer may not
always be there. Quicken on the Mac stinks! I truly dislike it. This is
probably going to prompt me to return to Moneydance because I
fear the same thing could happen to Quicken and it's just time to
go back to an old friend.

[handrelay]

Intuit finally lost a 11 year devoted user

I have been using Quickbooks since 1996. I am a veteran
technologist and have recommended Quickbooks to my clients
for years. Always supporting Quickbooks quirks and data loss
errors. However, I am no longer endorsing nor will I use
Quickbooks now that it caused all my desktop files to simply
vanish. Since I always run incremental backups daily on my
MacBook, I did not suffer any data loss. However, THIS KIND OF
DATA LOSS IS SIMPLY UNACCEPTABLE TO ANY USER!! What kind
of application programming update causes data loss??? How
come there wasn't thorough testing done before releasing this
update??? I AM VERY ANGRY AND FEEL VERY BETRAYED THAT
INTUIT WOULD ALLOW THESE KINDS OF ISSUES TO PERSIST!! I'm
done with Intuit and their products!

[inerlogic]

good riddance?

I am a veteran technologist

then why are you using a mac to begin with?

Since I always run incremental backups daily on my MacBook, I did not suffer any data loss.

then what's the issue?
you didn't lose anything....
if you had, as a "veteran technologist" it would serve you right :)

What kind of application programming update causes data loss???

MAC application programming maybe?
ooo cheap shot, i know... but it was oh so easy.

I'm done with Intuit and their products!

not sure they'll miss you....

[ianvacin]

Update on QuickBooks Pro for Mac

Dear QuickBooks Pro for Mac users,

We apologize for any problems that may have occurred related to today's QuickBooks Pro for Mac 2006 and 2007 product update activity. As you may know, we resolved the update issue this morning and understand some of you have been affected. We have launched the following site to share information and are committed to working with any customers affected on a one-on-one basis. As a reminder, if you think you may have been affected we request that you share your contact info with us so we can assist you right away.

http://support.quickbooks.intuit.com/support/Search.aspx?kbID=1009249&sg=SG_QuickBooksProforMac2007&mod=12-17-2007+9:34:42

Sincerely,
Ian Vacin
Offering Leader of Intuit's Mac Financial Software

[Kings X Rocks!]

Backups...backups...

As unfortunate (and uncalled for) as this is, nobody using finacial software should be caught without a current/recent backup of their data. Nobody!

Handrelay put it into perspective, although I'm not a user. There's no excuse for such sloppy work from an "established" company.

[jcountsii]

Intuit fixes Mac Problem

I have received this from a Intuit contact. The information I have received from her in the past has been accurate so I believe her comments on the Quickbooks issue for Macs I posted yesterday.

So her comments are:

... you reported the Mac update issue that occurred over the weekend, and expressed concern that it would affect PC?s as well.


Couple of important points I would like to clarify?



1) It ONLY affected Mac?s ? PC users are not affected at all. I promise.

2) We fixed the problem quickly, but if an accountant has a client who uses a Mac and was affected, they can go to this KB for more information, and to see what to do: http://support.quickbooks.intuit.com/support/Search.aspx?kbID=1009249



Hope this helps! I wouldn?t want everyone worrying about their PC computers when they don?t need to.

The end of her comments.

So for those with only PCs you are not affected. For those with Macs read the KB.

Sincerely,

James Counts II, CPA.CITP CTFA
Hemet CA

[mikekeers]

Intuit Customer Support

I too am through with Intuit. Intuit's customer support has failed too support their product so badly that I will tell every person I know about my experience with them. Intuit's data services department cannot upload a damaged file via a Mac. Their fix was to either mail them the damaged file...not email, mail, or to find a Windows machine and use that. In fact, their server couldn't handle the request either. Oi!

[mikelewatt]

Anyone who has suffered data loss as a result of the December 2007 update, please check these links for information on a class action settlement.

http://www.harrisonpensa.com/class-action-matters/default.asp?id=15

http://www.2006qbformacsettlement.com/