Quite often an 80040408 – Could not start QuickBooks error when using QuickBooks and a 3rd party integrated application is the result of installing and attempting to use the two programs under the Windows administrator account on a Windows Vista or 7 computer.  In order for a 3rd party app to integrate with QuickBooks, Intuit requires that both programs be installed under a Standard User Account on the computer. 

First, you should try some basic troubleshooting/problem solving exercises:

• Do you have a Standard User Account? – if not you need to create one.
• Is your User Account Control turned on? – if it isn’t, turn it on.
• Does your QuickBooks file live in the Public folder or in a properly shared network folder? – if it doesn’t, put it there.
• Was QuickBooks and the 3rd party app installed through the Administrator account?  – if it was, then it is running with Administrator level permissions; you can tell if it was installed under the Administrator account because there will be a little “shield” on the desktop icon

How do I tell if I am a Standard User or the Administrator on a computer?

To determine if you are a logged into the computer under an Administrator account or a Standard User Account:

• Click your Start button
• Go to Control Panel
• Choose User Accounts
• On the right side of the window you’ll see a graphic with your account name and user type – it will indicate that you are either the Administrator or a Standard User

Creating a Standard User Account – OR – Creating a New Administrator Account and Turning the Existing Admin Account into a Standard User Account

Follow the steps below to create a Standard User Account if this is a new computer and you’ve not yet installed any software:

1. Close all open/running software on your computer.
2. Click your Start button -> choose Control Panel -> choose User Accounts.
3. Note what the current account name is {it may be Admin}
4. Click the link that says “Manage another account”.
5. Click the link that says “Create a new account”.
6. Type in a User Name – this name MUST be different than the existing account name – for example if the existing user account name is Admin, make this user account name be YOUR name
7. Select the Standard User  account type option.
8. Follow any on screen prompts.
9. Reboot your computer and log into the newly created account and install your software.

Follow the steps below to create a NEW Administrator User Account and turn the existing account into a Standard User Account if you have already installed a lot of software on this computer:

1. Follow Steps 1-5 above.
2. Type in a User Name – this name MUST be different than the existing account name – for example if the existing user account name is YOUR name, make this user account name be ADMIN or your company name.
3. Select  the Administrator account type option.
4. Follow any on screen prompts.
5. Reboot your computer and log into the newly created account.
6. Click your Start button -> go to Control Panel -> User Accounts -> choose Manage another account -> select the original login account.
7. Choose Change the Account Type and set it to be a Standard User.
8. Follow any on screen prompts -> reboot your computer and log into the ORIGINAL account.

Yes, unfortunately this is all a lot of work and aggravation, but it must be done in order for the QuickBooks 3rd party software application to be able to work with your company data file.  For additional information on resolving an 80040408 error and other QuickBooks Connection errors, please visit our support area.

NOTE:  We have had a lot of success with creating a new Administrator account and changing the existing account to a Standard User Account.  There have only been a few instances where this has not resolved the 80040408 error.

When you are unable to resolve the 80040408 error using the information provided above:

1. You will need to login to the Administrator account and uninstall/remove QuickBooks and the 3rd party app.
2. Reboot {restart} the computer and log into the Standard User Account -> install QuickBooks and the 3rd party application.

An 80040408 – Could not Start QuickBooks is still a very common problem that is encountered by QuickBooks users who use 3rd party applications.

I hope that you’ve found this post to be helpful, if so please take a moment to leave a comment or to share it with others on your favorite social networking sites.