What has worked for us is to install the 2024/2025 version from the "Download CD image" link .  Once we did that, we restored all of the backups.  Right before I had installed the 2025/2026 version, I had backed up every company we had.  We did open some companies in the new version and did a couple of payrolls. So, when I restored the backup files, we did have some rework to do - but it was only a couple of days and a few clients, so nothing too major or time consuming.  We also copied the 26Tax table folder from the new version before we uninstalled it and then pasted it on the old version Easyw file so we had tax tables to work with for 2026 payroll.

Once you open a company in the new version though, you cannot reopen it in the old version - thus why it's important to do back ups at regular intervals. I've learned that the very hard way last year unfortunately.

I am running the 2025/2026 version on a laptop but haven't done the most recent update - what is it like 2.03?  I'm still on 2.02.  I only have it on there for a guinea pig copy of an account to see what works and what doesn't.  Mostly things don't work on it.  😞