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I want to clarify that the number of views is meaningless. If I look at a topic 10 times, that is 10 views and not 10 people. Other members will view a post multiple times to view the responses, for whatever reason, and may not have the technical expertise or some other reason for not wanting to respond. The number of views would also include any "guests" or the public view the post because it comes up on internet searches, and those viewers are unable to post. I'm not sure if bots and webcrawlers are included in the views, but if they are, those would also add to the count.

The reliability of manual copy of data or apps went away with DOS... All applications should be "installed', and all data should be backed up and restored using the application's built in backup and restore functions. In many cases, the same application version used to make the backup should be used for the restore (contact the application vendor for specifics).

Many thanks. This clears this up. It's clear an individual is better served by indicating a beneficiary with the fiduciary organization which is a much simpler process. A cousin's wife died some time back and unknown to him had gone to an attorney and directed by her will that her IRA be placed in a trust for one of her grand children. The fiduciary had no beneficiary so listed and simply transferred the account into the cousin's existing account since he was of course her husband which made quite a mess of her wishes. My client is recovering and hopefully will have adequate time to addrss this himself. Making his estate the beneficiary is an extra step he can avoid as well as yours truly.

Ed Slott's information is top-notch.

Jack offers a great tip. it is usually less risky to obtain a new computer with the desired OS preinstalled, compared to upgrading an OS. Arguably the main bene is having a known working setup (the old machine) on standby for 6 to 12 months while you get moved into the new machine. Hardware is CHEAP compared to recovering from a loss of data (via hardware failure, human failure, etc.).

Find a qualified computer tech and buy a new computer. There is a chance that the server you are using will not support WIN10. I upgraded our entire network to WIN10, and replaced 5 out of 12 workstations, for that very reason. I have been through it. Get new hardware. Bite the bullet, otherwise, you will have never ending troubles from now on.

You don't have any choice. Windows 7 is going away so back up your data and move to windows 10. By default, windows 7 will not comply with the security regulations after Feb2020. Do it now so you don't have to do it in the middle of tax season.

Almost cannot believe it. IRS processing must be eons behind. Last year I efiled my extension return in October-mailed check the same day-they cashed it five days later-then immediately billed me for that exact amount stating I owed them for the income tax. I mailed front-and-back copy of cashed check to expedite correction (against a board member's advice to just let it work it's way out). Thus began a series of IRS monthly letters, each advising they had received my correspondence but needed an additional 45 days to look into the matter. The fifth letter (five months later) stated that yes, they had, indeed, received and cashed my check after all and to forget the whole thing. Same thing this time; efiled and paid October 1st, check cashed October 9th, received IRS letter October 21st demanding payment of same. This time I WILL take that advice; they'll throw me in debtor's prison first.

The step child is still his step child, and the step grandchildren are still his step grandchildren: https://www.forbes.com/sites/peterjreilly/2014/06/23/step-kids-remain-step-kids-after-divorce/#82fc21271b04 A birth certificate just proves somebody was born. Your issue would be proving they lived with him for the proper amount of time. If you take this on (I might if he could convince me they did, and produce plenty of dated documents with their names, and his address - like school records, medical invoices, Forms 1095 B, etc.) here are two documents I'd read first: https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p596.pdf https://www.eitc.irs.gov/eitc/files/downloads/f886-h-eic.pdf