Important Mac Update for H&R Block Software

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Level 1

16 points

Important Mac Update for H&R Block Software

HEADS UP: FOR THOSE OF YOU USING H&R BLOCK SOFTWARE. BE SURE TO GET THE APPLE OPERATING SYSTEM UPDATE (NOT JUST FOR YOSEMITE USERS) TO AVOID LOSING YOUR DATA, GETTING A STRING ID INSERTION FAILURE. I LEARNED THE HARD WAY--AFTER FILING AND BEING UNABLE TO RETRIEVE MY FILE. NONE OF THE 3 BLOCK REPS I DID SOME TROUBLESHOOTING WITH MENTIONED THESE UPDATES. I DISCOVERED ON MY OWN THAT THERE ARE H&R BLOCK UPDATES SPECIFICALLY FOR THE MAC: http://www.hrblock.com/taxes/products/software/updates/macintosh_federal.html I'VE BEEN ABLE TO RECREATE MY RETURN WITH MY UPDATED PROGRAM.

MacBook Pro with Retina display

Posted on Mar 7, 2015 8:10 AM

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Answer 1

Mar 8, 2015 12:02 PM in response to Atcs9164

Thanks very much for the heads-up. I notice you posted your warning on the H&R Block forum too.

A question: since the software allows for both automatic update checking and manual update checking, was your program "current" (i.e., version 1.3 "6401" with the next update due 4/2) when you had this problem? In other words, did the manually downloaded Mac update add something to the current version that relying solely on H&R Block's offered updates didn't?

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Answer 2

Atcs9164 Author

Level 1

16 points

Mar 8, 2015 12:20 PM in response to FatMac-MacPro

At the time I filed (using a freshly downloaded program from the internet, since my CD made current with Block updates produced error messages), I had updated until I got the message that the next update wasn't until April. When I closed the program and returned to it after getting the e-mail that my returns were accepted, I got that string ID insertion error message again and could not access my return. It was only after much trial-and-error searching that I found the information about the special update for Macs. I went did another fresh download of the program, made sure to update from the link listed in my original post, and the program worked like a charm. I have had no trouble with it since. I've recreated my return with program and saved, done backup, and retrieved with no problems. Not one Block customer service rep told me about the special update.

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Answer 3

Mar 8, 2015 12:40 PM in response to Atcs9164

Thanks for the fast reply.

The reason I ask is that if the program got the internet update first, the manually downloaded Mac update would still install over it though showing no version change, but if the Mac update was installed first, the internet update would no longer be available. Oddly, the double installation resulted in a smaller file than when only the manual download updater was installed. I'm wondering if I should start all over with a new program install and use just the manually downloaded updates from now on.

BTW, did you notice that when the Mac update was run, the installer scanned every attached drive and partition for something?

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Answer 4

Atcs9164 Author

Level 1

16 points

Mar 8, 2015 2:48 PM in response to FatMac-MacPro

I downloaded the fresh program and immediately did the manual update before I even opened the program. I'm not sure exactly what happened during the manual update, but it took some time and appeared to be pretty thorough. I've used H&R Bock software for many years, and have had no problems with the automatic updates. This is the first year I've had error messages and had to do the manual update. The manual update was the solution that worked for me.

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Answer 5

Mar 8, 2015 3:03 PM in response to Atcs9164

Atcs9164 wrote:

...This is the first year I've had error messages and had to do the manual update...

It's odd what's happening to Mac users in the Tax prep industry. Your experience with H&R Block, and Intuit removing features from TurboTax Deluxe, forcing an upgrade to get them back, and than eliminating the ability to print locally rather than sending the print job over the internet to Intuit, which is not necessary in Windows.

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