How to Erase Quicken Data Files From an Old Computer

Erase old Quicken files to keep your financial data private.

Many people use Quicken to manage their money, from business accounts to stock portfolios. When you upgrade computers but keep your old machine lying around the house as a backup computer or for another family member to use, consider deleting your Quicken data files from the old computer to protect your financial data. Deleting these files is easy, regardless of your computer skill level, and does not take much time.

Instructions

1. Turn your old computer on by pressing the power button. Wait for the computer to power up.

2. Select "Start," "All Programs," then "Quicken" to open Quicken. Wait for Quicken to open.

3. Select "File," "Open" to search for a data file. Browse the list of files then open the data file you want to delete.

4. Select "File," "File Operations," "Delete" to delete the Quicken data file. Click "Yes" when prompted to confirm that you want to delete the file. Then repeat this process to delete all Quicken files from the old computer. Note the names of any data files you are deleting.

5. Search for your Quicken backup file by typing "Quicken backup" into your computer's search function.

6. Right-click on the Quicken data files in the backup folder and select the "Delete" option from the drop-down menu. Ensure you're only deleting backups for the same data files you erased from Quicken.

Tips & Warnings

• Empty the Recycle Bin on your computer to remove the files from your computer.

References

• Quicken UK: How Do I Delete a Quicken Data File?
• Intuit Quicken Support: Delete a Quicken Data File From My Computer