QuickBooks PDF Activation error -20 when QuickBooks 2007 and QuickBooks 2008 and/or 2009 are installed

What is happening

When beginning a process in either QuickBooks 2007, 2008, or 2009 that requires creating a pdf, such as reconciliation, emailing invoices, or saving as PDF, and QuickBooks 2007 and either 2008 or 2009 are installed on the same computer, the following error is displayed:

QuickBooks PDF converter -20 activation error
You cannot print directly to the QuickBooks PDF converter. pdf activation error -20, . Try using the QuickBooks Save as PDFmenu option.

It is then followed by the error message "Could not print to printer"

Why is this happening

QuickBooks 2007 uses a different release of the QuickBooks PDF converter printer driver than QuickBooks 2008 and 2009. pdf activation error -20, . This may cause a conflict between the different versions when creating a PDF file.

Detailed Instructions

Close QuickBooks and wait 30 seconds to 1 minute, and then try again

The different drivers may be using shared resources, therefore these computer resources may still be locked when trying to create a PDF file. pdf activation error -20, . Waiting a short time will allow the resources to be released.

Repair the newest version of QuickBooks:

Click here and follow the steps in this article to repair your QuickBooks installation.

After repairing your QuickBooks installation, restart your computer.

KB ID# 1011094
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11/21/2009 7:37:26 AM