H&R Block Business Software not Opening

H&R Block Business Software may not open if its installation is outdated or corrupt. Moreover, the corrupt DataStore folder (which is essential for the operation of the H&R program) may also cause the issue at hand.

The issue arises (usually, after a Windows update) when the user cannot launch the H&R Block Business Software. The issue is reported on all versions of the H&R applications.

Before moving on, make sure to back up the essential data (including the following locations):

Documents\H&R Block Business\

\ProgramData\H&R Block Business\

\Program Files (x86)\H&R Block Business\

Solution 1: Update the Windows and H&R Software

The H&R issue may arise if the H&R software or Windows of your system is outdated as it can create incompatibility between the both. In this case, updating the Windows and H&R software may solve the problem.

1. Manually check for Windows updates and if present, make sure to install all the updates (including the optional updates).

   

2. Now check if the H&R software is clear of the error.
3. If not, then launch a web browser and navigate to the H&R website.
4. Now download the latest version of the application (you are using) and then launch the downloaded setup with the administrator privileges.
5. Once the installation is complete, reboot your PC and check if the H&R software can be opened without any issue.

Solution 2: Launch the Program in the Compatibility Mode

The current H&R issue may be caused by the incompatibility between the software & Windows, which can be cleared by launching the H&R application in the compatibility mode.

1. Press the Windows key and type: H&R Block Business. Now right-click on the result of H&R Block software and select ‘Open File Location’. You can also do the same on the desktop shortcut of the H&R Block Business application.

   

2. Now, right-click on the EXE file of the H&R Block software and select Properties.

   

3. Then, in the Compatibility tab, checkmark the option of ‘Run This Program in the Compatibility Mode For:’ and expand its dropdown.
4. Now, in the dropdown, select Windows 7 and apply your changes.

   

5. Then reboot your PC and check if the H&R software is operating fine.

Solution 3: Remove the Conflicting Windows 10 Update

The database used by H&R software becomes incompatible with Windows whenever a new major Windows update is released by Microsoft. The same could be causing the issue at hand. In this context, removing the conflicting Windows 10 update may solve the problem.

1. Hit the Windows key and open Settings.
2. Now open Update & Security and select View Update History (in the right pane).

   

3. Now click on Uninstall Updates and select the problematic update (most probably, the last update).

   

4. Then click on Uninstall and follow the prompts to remove the problematic update.

   

5. Now reboot your PC and check if the H&R Software is working fine.

If the issue persists, then you may have to revert to the previous version of Windows 10.

1. Hit the Windows key and open Settings.
2. Now open Update & Security and in the left pane, steer to the Recovery tab.
3. Then, under Go Back to the Previous Version of Windows 10 (in the right pane), click on the Get Started.

   

4. Now follow the prompts to complete the Windows revert process and reboot your PC.
5. Upon reboot, check if the H&R Software can be opened successfully.

If the issue is resolved, then you may have to defer the future Windows updates (till the update compatibility issue is resolved by H&R).

Solution 4: Rename the DataStore Folder

The issue may arise if the DataStore folder (which holds the user data) of the H&R application is corrupt. In this case, renaming the DataStore folder (the new folder will be created on the next launch of the application) may solve the problem. But before proceeding, make sure that the option of Show Hidden Files, Folders, or Drives in the View (Option>> Change Folder & Search Options>> View tab) menu of the File Explorer is check-marked.

1. First, make sure no process related to the H&R software is running in the system tray or Task Manager of your system.
2. Right-click on the Start menu button and in the Power User menu, select the File Explorer.

   

3. Now navigate to the following (copy-paste the address):

   \ProgramData\H&R Block Business\

4. Now open the folder H&R Block Business YYYY (for example, H&R Block Business 2019) and right-click on the DataStore.

   

5. Then select Rename and rename it something different (like DataStore.old).

   

6. Now reboot your PC and then check if the H&R application can be successfully launched.
7. If the issue persists, close all the processes related to H&R software in the Task Manager of your system and repeat steps 1 to 5.
8. Then navigate to the directory (mentioned at step 4) and look for the RestoreDatabase.dat file.

   

9. If present, cut the RestoreDatabase.dat file (you may have to unblock the file by right-clicking the file, choosing Properties, and then selecting Unblock) and navigate to the following path:

   \Program Files (x86)\H&R Block Business\

10. Now open the H&R Block Business YYYY folder (e.g., H&R Block Business 2019, if 2019 was opened at step 4) and paste the RestoreDatabase.dat file.

    

11. Then launch the H&R Block Business.
12. If the application is launched successfully, steer to its Help menu and choose Customer Support.

    

13. Now select Restore Database and then close the window.
14. Then open the File menu and choose Open Saved Returns to check if the returns have been successfully restored.
15. If so, then close the H&R Block Business and navigate to the directory (mentioned in step 10).
16. Now delete the RestoreDatabase.dat file and reboot your PC.
17. Upon reboot, check if the H&R issue is resolved.

Solution 5: Reinstall the H&R Block Business

If none of the solutions did the trick for you, then most probably the H&R issue is a result of a corrupt installation of the H&R Block Business software. In this case, reinstalling the H&R application may solve the problem. But before proceeding, make sure to back-up the essential data in the H&R directories.

1. Hit the Windows key and open Settings.
2. Now open Apps and expand the H&R Block Business software.

   

3. Then click on the Uninstall button and confirm to uninstall the H&R application.
4. Now let the uninstallation complete and reboot your PC. You may also try the uninstaller in the setup folder of the H&R application.
5. Upon reboot, delete the following folders (back-up the essentials):

   \ProgramData\H&R Block Business\
   
   \Program Files (x86)\H&R Block Business\

6. Then make sure to update the Windows (as discussed in solution 1) including the optional ones as well.
7. After updating, launch a web browser and navigate to the H&R website.

   

8. Now download the software version as per your product and then launch the downloaded setup as administrator.
9. Then follow the prompts to complete the installation of the H&R application and hopefully, the H&R software could be launched successfully.