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Installing BTCSoftware on a New PC or Server: Step-by-Step Guide

 

Overview

This guide covers how to install BTCSoftware on a new PC or server, including transferring your existing database from the old machine. Follow the steps in order — installing the software before transferring the database is the recommended approach.

 

⚠ Important: Before starting, ensure you have a full backup of your BTCSoftware database from the old machine. If the old machine is still accessible, create a fresh backup now before proceeding. Do not proceed without a backup.

 

Step 1 — Back Up Your Database on the Old Machine
  1. On the old PC, open BTCSoftware.
  2. Go to Tools > Backup > Backup Database.
  3. Save the backup file to an external drive, USB stick, or shared network location that is accessible from the new PC.
  4. Note the location of the backup file — you will need it in Step 5.

 

Step 2 — Download the BTCSoftware Installer
  1. On the new PC, go to the BTCSoftware download page — you will find the link in your BTCSoftware account or by contacting support.
  2. Download the latest installer for your version of BTCSoftware.
  3. Run the installer as an administrator (right-click > Run as administrator).
  4. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation.
  5. Do not open BTCSoftware yet — proceed to Step 3 first.

 

Step 3 — Install FortiClient (Solution Cloud Users Only)

If you connect to BTCSoftware via the Solution Cloud (not a local installation), you will also need to install FortiClient VPN on the new PC:

  1. Download FortiClient from the link provided by BTCSoftware support.
  2. Install FortiClient and configure the VPN profile with the connection details from your old PC.
  3. Test the FortiClient connection before proceeding.
  4. See FortiClient VPN: How to Fix Connection Problems in BTCSoftware if you have any issues connecting.

 

Step 4 — Apply Your Licence Key
  1. Open BTCSoftware on the new PC.
  2. When prompted, enter your licence key — find it in your renewal email or in BrightHub under Products > BTCSoftware.
  3. Click Activate. BTCSoftware will contact the activation server — ensure you are connected to the internet.
  4. Once activated, BTCSoftware will confirm the licence is valid.

 

✔ Tip: If you receive a 'Too many activations' error, contact BTCSoftware support. We can release the activation from your old PC so you can activate on the new one.

 

Step 5 — Restore Your Database
  1. In BTCSoftware on the new PC, go to Tools > Restore > Restore Database.
  2. Browse to the location of the backup file you created in Step 1.
  3. Select the backup file and click Restore.
  4. BTCSoftware will restore the database. This may take a few minutes for larger databases.
  5. Once complete, your client data and returns will be available on the new PC.

 

Step 6 — Verify the Installation
  1. Open BTCSoftware and check that your clients and returns are visible.
  2. Open a recent return to confirm the data has restored correctly.
  3. Run Check and Calculate on a test return to confirm the software is functioning correctly.
  4. Once satisfied, you can deactivate BTCSoftware on the old PC via Tools > Licence > Deactivate.
Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Do I need to uninstall BTCSoftware from the old PC?

A: Not immediately — but you should deactivate the licence on the old PC once the new installation is working correctly. This frees up the activation for future use.

Q: How long does the installation take?

A: The software installation typically takes 10–15 minutes. The database restore time depends on the size of your database — for large practices this may take 30 minutes or more.

Q: I do not have administrator rights on the new PC — what should I do?

A: BTCSoftware requires administrator rights to install. Contact your IT administrator to install the software, or to grant you temporary administrator rights for the installation process.

Q: My backup file is from an older version of BTCSoftware — will it restore on the latest version?

A: In most cases yes — BTCSoftware is backwards compatible with backup files from recent previous versions. If you have any issues restoring an older backup, contact support with the version numbers of both the backup and the current installation.