Changing The File Server

If you use Tax Processors Plus Desktop on multiple networked computers, before changing the computer designated as the File Server we encourage you to talk with a Tax Processors Plus Desktop Technical Support Representative at (855) 698-0691 to assist with the transition.

You will need an external drive, such as a USB thumb drive or external hard drive. Depending on how many years you have used Tax Processors Plus Desktop, how many returns you prepare, and whether or not you are a Classic user or Premium user, the drive may need to have up to 16GB of free space for Classic users and up to 32GB of free space for Premium users.

Determining how much space is needed on your storage media

• Open a Windows File Explorer window and navigate to either This PC or My Computer or Computer (depending on the Windows version).
• Double-click the drive where Tax Processors Plus Desktop is installed, typically Local Disk (C:).
• Right-click the Tax Processors Plus Desktop folder and choose Properties. Windows will calculate the total space used by everything in the Tax Processors Plus Desktop folder. Whatever number shows for "Size on disk", round up and ensure the external drive you use has greater than this amount of free space.

Copying the data to the external drive

• Open a Windows File Explorer window and navigate to either This PC or My Computer or Computer (depending on the Windows version).
• Double-click the drive where Tax Processors Plus Desktop is installed, typically Local Disk (C:).
• Right-click the Tax Processors Plus Desktop folder and select Copy.
• Click the back arrow to return to the previous screen.
• Right-click the external drive and select Paste.
• After the copy is finished, right-click the external drive and select Eject.
• Remove the external drive.

Copying the data from the external drive to the new PC

• Attach the external drive to the new File Server.
• Open a Windows File Explorer window and navigate to either This PC or My Computer or Computer (depending on the Windows version).
• Copy the Tax Processors Plus Desktop folder from the flash drive to Local Disk (C:). Note: It's best to Copy the files, rather than Move the files, so that you have a backup in case something goes wrong.
• If a message appears asking if you want to overwrite existing files or folders, answer YES.
• Open the Tax Processors Plus Desktop program and verify that all the tax returns are in the Client List.
• If this is a new computer, be sure to download and install Adobe Acrobat Reader DC to work with PDF documents. (On Adobe's download page, note the optional software they offer and be sure to uncheck the check box for any software you don't want or need.)

Updating program configuration

If the old File Server will continue to be used with Tax Processors Plus Desktop but now as a Workstation, you will need to indicate that in the program configuration. From the Quick Menu of Tax Processors Plus Desktop select:

• Configuration
• System / Network Configuration Menu
• File Server? - Change YES to NO

Additionally, every Workstation will need to be reconfigured to change the computer that is indicated as the File Server. On the PC designated as the file server, there are two ways to find out its name:

1. On the PC designated as the file server, in the System/Network Configuration menu look at the "Local Computer Name".
2. On the PC, right-click the Windows Start menu (the blue Windows icon, typically at the lower left of the screen) and choose System. In the About window, note the "Device name".

To change the File Server used in Tax Processors Plus Desktop on each Workstation, from the Quick Menu of Tax Processors Plus Desktop select:

• Configuration
• System / Network Configuration Menu
• File Server Address
• In the File Server Name field, type the File Server's name, then click Connect To File Server.
• You should see a green text bar indicating the two computers have connected. If you see a red text bar indicating they didn't connect, double-check the File Server Name spelling. Generally, repeated failure to connect is due to a network issue, e.g., the Workstation and the File Server being on different networks or one or both computers being temporarily disconnected from the network. If you are unable to get the two computers to connect, call Tax Processors Plus Desktop customer support (855) 698-0691 for assistance.