- Browse to the location of the QuickBooks Common Files folder.
- Windows 7 or Vista: C\ProgramData\Common Files\Intuit\QuickBooks
- Windows XP: C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\COMMON FILES\INTUIT\QUICKBOOKS.
- Locate and double-click on the qbregistration.dat file.
- A Caution window will be displayed with the following message “You are attempting to open a file of type “Dat File” (.dat)”. Click the Open With button below the message.
- A Windows box will be displayed with the following message, “Windows cannot open this file.” Choose Select Program for a List and click OK.
- Select Notepad and click OK to open the file. You may need to scroll through the Other Programs section if Notepad is not listed as a Recommended program.
- Before editing the qbregistration.dat file, you may want to make a copy. Select File>Save As and use the drop-down arrow from the Save In window to select the desktop. Click Save.
- Now Notepad will show installed QuickBooks product. The following indicate the versions and editions of the installed programs.
- VERSION number= “17.0” (2007) or “18.0” (2008).
- FLAVOR name=”QuickBooks Simple Start =atom, QuickBooks Pro=pro, QuickBooks Premier (not Accountant Edition) = superpro, QuickBooks Premier Accountant Edition=accountant, Enterprise Solutions = bel, Enterprise Solutions Accountant Edition=belacct.
- Locate the version of QuickBooks that was installed with the incorrect license number or product code.
- Replace InstallID with the correct product code. Use the following format when you enter the numbers: 000-000. Do no remove any of the brackets.
- Replace LicenseNumber with the correct license number. Use the following format when you enter the numbers: 0000-0000-0000-000. Do not remove any brackets.
- Select File>Save.
- Restart the computer.
- Launch QuickBooks. Verify that the changes have been made by selecting CTRL +1 to display the Product Information window.
http://support18.quickbooks.intuit.com/support/articles/how12493