After you have loaded Quicken 2002 onto your computer and the program starts for the first time, it will want to open the data file that you have been using with your earlier version and upgrade or reformat your data. Do not open your data file and/or reformat your data yet! Click Cancel so your data won’t be reformatted. If necessary Click Cancel to close any open windows and exit the program by Clicking the X in upper right hand corner of the window.
The following instructions will lead you through the process of creating a new data folder (if needed) within Quicken 2002 and copying your existing data file from your earlier Quicken program to your new version. While creating and using a DATA folder for your data file is not absolutely necessary, a DATA folder separates your data files from the program folders making it easier to locate on your computer’s C drive.
Click the Start button in the lower left corner of your computer’s screen, Click Programs and Click Windows Explorer. If (C:) does not show up in the Address line (or at the top of the left column), Double Click on My Computer in the left column and Double Click on (C:). With (C:) in the Address line (or at the top of the left column), all the folders on the C drive are shown.
Point and Double Click on the folder where your earlier version of Quicken is located. This will open your Quicken folder and show all the program folders that are contained within. If you have been using a DATA folder to keep your data file in, the DATA folder (or whatever else you may have called it) will also appear in the list with the program folders. If you have your data file in a DATA folder, point and Click on the DATA folder to highlight it, Right Click (click the right mouse button) to show the drop down menu. Click Copy.
To finish the process, point and Click on the folder containing your Quicken 2002 program and its folders. Right Click to show the drop down menu and Click Paste. This will put your DATA folder and your data file in the list of folders within your Quicken 2002 folder.
If you have not been using a DATA folder, first create one by pointing and Clicking on your Quicken 2002 folder in the left column to highlight it. At the top of the screen, on the menu bar, Click File, Click New, Click Folder to create NEW FOLDER in the right hand screen. Type DATA to replace NEW FOLDER. Click off to the side of DATA and DATA will appear in the list of folders under your Quicken 2002 folder in the left column.
Now you need to locate your data file. Most likely it will be within the program folders of your earlier version of Quicken. Point and Click on the Quicken folder of your earlier version to highlight it. On the right side of the screen will be a listing of folders and files. Your data file will be made up of 3 (or 4 for some versions) different files, each having your file name on it. Depending on your version of Windows Explorer, there may also be a three letter extension following the file name. Point and Click on the first of these files to highlight it. Hold down the SHIFT key and point and Click on the last file name in the list. This will highlight the list of 3-4 files that comprise your data file. Right Click to get the drop down menu and Click Copy.
In the left column, point and Click on the folder containing your Quicken 2002 program to show the list of folders. Point and Click on the DATA folder created earlier. Point to the right side of the screen which should be blank, Right Click to get the drop down menu and Click Paste to place your data file in the DATA folder. You can now close the Windows Explorer program by Clicking the X in the upper right corner of the window.
As you now start the program it will again want to open the data file at its location in your earlier version and upgrade the data. Click Cancel and close any other windows that might have opened. Go to the menu bar and Click File, Click Open to open the OPEN QUICKEN FILE window. Click on the UP ONE LEVEL icon until (C:) appears in Look in:. Point to the folder containing Quicken 2002 and Double Click. Point to DATA folder and Double Click. Double Click on your data file name and you will open the Welcome to Quicken 2002! window and get the message that the program needs to update your data to the Quicken 2002 format, Click OK at the bottom right of this window to begin converting your data. Click OK when you get the message, "Your file has been successfully upgraded!" and the program will open the My Finances page.