Thursday, August 06, 2009

Non-activation version of Microsoft Money

Later this year, Microsoft will release versions of Money Plus Deluxe and Money Plus Home and Business that will not require online activation. This version will allow you to keep your Money files and transactional history but will not allow access to online services or premium services.

No further details on this are yet available, but I'll post announcements here as they occur.

32 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hello,

Thanks for the update on the non-activation versions.

I have a question concerning the trial version of plus Home and Business. I installed it yesterday, after setting the system date to august 2099 (which should do for me). I opened my money 2007 file and the only problem was an activation screen, that was blank which I could get rid off and then it started with the trial screen, offering to buy or to remind later. In the help, it says that ist expires august 2099. Are there any other problems that I haven't thought of? Can I read this Money Plus file with full versions of money plus later?

Thanks,

Eric

Glyn Simpson said...

It should work, although the trial may deactivate before 2099, as I believe it is linked to the file as well as the program dates.

I would expect you to be able to read this with a full version of Money Plus - although note that it is no longer being sold, so hopefully you've already got the code to make it last inperpetuity

Glyn

Anonymous said...

Haven't got a code yet, but I though that the new versions, without the activation, might be able to read the file I'm working on. Or wouldn't they be able to do so?

Glyn Simpson said...

Without activation, you should still be able to read a money 2007 file into Money Plus

Joan said...

Two questions. What should I do to insure that my Money account (I now have 2006) continues to update daily?
Should I be buying Money Plus? Will I loose the data from my current portfolios?

Thanks.

Glyn Simpson said...

Hi Joan

you can no longer buy (at least through official retailers, perhaps still through eBay) Money Plus, so you may need to stick with what you have.

I don't recall offhand whether 2006 has expiration of quotes, but if it does, it would be soon if not already.

Upgrades of versions do not mean loss of information. The portfolio in Money Plus is the same as in Money 2006.

Anonymous said...

HELP. HELP.
I have Money Plus Premium 2008. I have installed windows 7 and have reinstalled Money. I am getting a message that I have exceeded my activations and to contact a phone number for key. The phone number no longer works.

I have sent an email to the customer service email on the same message and have not heard anything. Does anyone have a good CS tel number or email to get a new activation key?

Joan said...

I'm working with Money 05 - I'm getting the message to change the activation - does that mean to change the hotmail address to another email address? If I do that, will I be able to continue with Money until Jan 2011?

Glyn Simpson said...

Hi Joan

with 2005, you shouldn't now use the username/password combination which links you onto the Windows Live/Passport system, as that has now gone. I'd recommend deactivating the password, and then putting a standard password on the file.

2005 in certain countries will keep going forever, in others (the US), it'll expire online services, but you can still use the product for tracking finances, so long as you enter the data yourself.

The 2011 cut off is for the online parts of all versions, such as direct bank downloads (where Money goes off and gets the statement for you) and quotes. The software will continue to work after that time.

Joan said...

Thanks for your response. I have to clarify it in my own head...
I have Money 2006 (not 2005 as I thought).
What I want to continue is the nightly tracking of our stocks. Will that end?

Should I change the hotmail address to my current email address?

If I change that to a different email provider, then I don't have to change the password?

I really appreciate your time on this...I think sometimes I'm out of my league with this stuff.

Thanks.

Anonymous said...

It's too late for me! I downloaded the Exel add-on ...created a spreasheet with many years worth of data, which I saved in My Documents.

I then uninstalled Money as well as the Add-on .... the latter took my Exel spreadsheet with it.

I have lost the data ....

Glyn Simpson said...

You're going to be (partially) out of luck. Stock prices will cease to download, BUT you can still record them within the file and track it manually.

For username/password - the Windows Live/Passport stuff won't gain you anything. You can still keep the same accounts, they are separate to Money, but don't use it to login to Money with.

Glyn Simpson said...

Anonymous - check your machine for any .MNY and .XLS files. Uninstallation of Money or the add-in doesn't cause these files to delete. Check recycle bin too. If you have Vista Ultimate or Business, then you may have it still through the 'Previous Versions' tab on the folder properties (Windows 7 is the same).

Kay said...

When is the nonactivation version coming? We're in late November, and even though I would lose all links if I go back to Quicken, which had originally many years ago when I switched to Microsoft Money, maybe I should bite the bullet and start using Quicken on January 1--if this nonactivation version is not really happening.

I have Vista and want to install the Windows 7 upgrade but I do not want to lose my Money history.

This discontinuance also explains why a couple of years when my ability was lost to create a new report by category--the other types work--apparently through some M.Money bug (because I spent time on the phone with them), M.Money said that they were never going to fix the bug. The thing that saved me my ability to generate reports by category is that I had saved some report types. M.Money allows me to customize the existing reports, in other words revise an existing report by category.

I saved my original money file and with M.Money's help I did try exporting files and importing them into a new clean M.Money. I ASSUMED so naively that all of my links to various accounts would hold, and then after hours of work, M.Money said of course they would be lost. Well, I couldn't use that and brought back my old file.

This is why I do not want to go to Quicken--the entries will be messed up. I emailed Intuit about this because they are bragging about the better capability to transfer from M.Money, but basically links to accounts will be a total mess.

That said, at least I would keep some history of vendors and dollars spent.

Kay

Glyn Simpson said...

It's not yet released, although some reports say it is due before January 31.

Note that you can still use Money if it is already activated but expired (i'm running on an expired copy now), although downloading quotes or statements from your bank won't work.

The non-activation will mainly affect reinstalls. It is a problem, but Microsoft haven't said anything since about it

Kay said...

I'm not sure what non-activation version means. Does that just mean that we don't get online with Money, or that we don't have a current copy.

I bought a newer version of Money in February 2008, Microsoft Money Plus Deluxe (hoping for upgrades).

Does the non-activation version mean that Microsoft is going to try to accommodate people that want to continue using Money, and won't be going online with it?

Thanks,

Kay

Glyn Simpson said...

Hi Kay

There are two things:

when online services expire, you lose direct bank integration and the download of stock prices.However, this is different to the non-activation version.

The problem is when the activation servers are turned off, there is no way of activating your copy of Money, so it would become useless if you ever needed to reinstall it. Hence the non-activation version - which is there to avoid this problem. As I understand it, it will be a mechanism (probably a patch) that avoids the need to activate your copy of Money on installation. This will mean the software can continue in perpetuity.

Note that even if online services have expired, the software is still pretty functional.

Glyn

Joan said...

Two questions - I'm working with Money 2006 - each day I get a message that I should change my login from hotmail to ??? - should I be using my own personal email account? So far it just hasn't made a difference. I still haven't understood what you're telling me.

Next - I think I read that the updated information for daily stock closings will end in 2011...is that correct? -

I've loooked at other stock tracking software - even Yahoo, but none has the capabilities that Money has (and I don't use any of the budgeting features - just the stock tracking.) Are you aware of any others that I should investigate when Money is no longer operative?

Thank you.

Glyn Simpson said...

Hi Joan

If you're still using the hotmail integrated authentication, then I'd suggest you consider moving to a standard username/password, so long as you're not downloading automatically from any banks. Over time, this will cease to work and if you still protect your money file in this way, it could cause issues later on.

Stock prices (for US users) normally expire after 2 or 3 years, dependent on the version. If you've got 2006, I reckon they may have already stopped.


I don't have experience in other stock tracking software. However, Money does rely heavily on MSN Money. As far as I know, the functionality of MSN Money will go forward, even if MS Money does not.

Glyn

Anonymous said...

Suddenly, my Money 2005 is no longer working. When I try to launch it, is gives me the standard We're sorry, but Microsoft Money has experienced an internal error and will have to restart. When I tell it not to send the message, another step tries to launch, and I get the message again.
I have not been using online services for a long time, so I don't know if my problem is related or not.
I have my data files backed up, but without being able to launch the software, I don't know how to get at them.
The MS site is pushing us to upgrade to Quicken 2010, but its info says that it can only convert Money 2007 or 2008 files. Any ideas to help me?
Gregg

Glyn Simpson said...

Sounds like you need to run a repair, which you can find off the file menu item. You can use this before you open your Money file up

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the reply. Unfortunately, I can't access the menu. I can see it, but I have to respond to the error message -- either to send the info to MS or not -- and then Money shuts down.
I also looked for a CD, thinking maybe I could reload the software. I must have done a download to get the software -- regardless, I can't find a CD for Mondey 2005, only one for 2000.
Gregg

Glyn Simpson said...

Hi Gregg

in that case, rename your .MNY file and try and open Money from the command line. You may have better luck with that. It won't then try and open your existing file on startup.

Glyn

Anonymous said...

I spent hours on the phone with M. Money and can't even remember if I ran a repair. This was about a year ago. Fortunately, as I said, I had saved a couple of reports by category, and I just customize them for the next report.

Right now, I would be afraid to do anyway that might cause me to have to uninstall M. Money.

And very sadly, I ordered Quicken to start using it January 1. I cannot take the chance of losing my history in M. Money or when I order Windows 7, which I'm told by a couple of IT guys at my company will have a security update mid year of 2010 which will also improve performance. So I'll wait.

I will try to import M. Money files, if nothing else so I see the vendor history, purchase amounts, and description, even if all links are completely destroyed.

I should have never switched from Quicken to M. Money, I think about the year 2000.

At least I'll have M. Money history until it disappears for one reason or another.

What if my PC crashed for some reason. Sure I have a backup file on a USB, but would I be able to get M. Money reinstalled.

Very upsetting, all in all.

2manykraemers said...

Hi there. Thank you for this blog..it has been helpful. My question is that right now I am using Money 2007 deluxe. Should I upgrade to Money Plus (still avail from resellers like Amazon)and THEN migrate to the non-activated version when it comes out? Or will I be able to upgrade directly from Money 2007 to the non-activated version? I do NOT use the online services now in Money 2007. I love Money and don't want to switch to Quicken, and have no desire to use the online services anyway.
Thank You!!!
Kathy

Glyn Simpson said...

I think the unknown aspect here is regarding the non-activation version which has been promised (but not yet delivered, although it was promised in late 2009). I guess it will be Money Plus only.

However, if you DO NOT use the online services in 2007, then it will continue to work past 2011 when the servers are turned off. However, there is a question here, what happens if you need to reinstall Money 2007 on a new machine after the activation servers are off?

The jury is probably still out here, and I don't really have the answer at the moment - however, if you can get the Money PLus version AND activate it, then you can take advantage of the non-activation version when it finally does emerge.

The problem for me, is that I am skeptical about this version, the longer time goes on, but in theory what you suggest should work.

If you do decide to go this route, it would be useful to hear your experiences.

Anonymous said...

Non-activation will be important in re-installing on new (other) computer.
Once I shut down online services within Money....all is well.
You can export from your internet bank, if they offer Money export as mine does....then simply import the file from within Money.
It works just like the online version did.

NuShrike said...

We know the non-activation version is not really a priority and would cut into the Quicken conversions, so don't expect this until one minute before Jan 31, 2011.

Meantime, Quicken 2010 has issues working with Wells Fargo so many of us are stuck between a rock and a hard place on this.

It's probably faster to just load up MS Money 2007 and roll your 2007 data-file forward for all of your 2008/2009 transactions.

Elly said...

hi, need some help. been a money user for years, got a new PC, and couldn't find my copy of money (think I downloaded when last purchased), so decided just to download the money plus trial version, as I knew microsoft were supposed to be releasing a new version of money soon without online services. well, now my trial period has expired and although it tells me to know buy the full version, I can't as it doesn't exist! anyone know how to override the expiry date? or any suggestions as to what I should do?
Thanks Elly

Glyn Simpson said...

Hi Elly

I hope you've seen that the non-activation version is now available to all users.

There's an article on this site and on my FAQ site. You should be able to install this and use your existing file

Glyn

Anonymous said...

Hi- I recently re-installed Money Plus from a CD and I have the product activation key but I neglected to activate it before the end of January. I am not interested in using any online features, I just want to use the transaction registry and built in features. Is there any way to bypass activation and just use the program as is?
Please help!
J

Glyn Simpson said...

Hi - as you're using Money Plus, I'd recommend you go straight for the Sunset edition as it should work with your file. This version has no activation and is functionally the same.

See this page for more details.

Note that the sunset edition is a free version.

Kind regards

Glyn