I had a problem with this downloading process, but I found the solution.

The Amazon Games & Software Downloader, a program required to download and install this software, had locked up my computer when I tried to install it. The only way I could get out of this situation was to reboot my computer by pressing the computer’s reset button (hard re-boot). After multiple tries without success (including downloading the Amazon Games & Software Downloader many times), I thought that maybe my security software was interfering with the installation. I tried pausing my firewall (Kaspersky) and closing my anti-spyware program (Webroot) before installing the Amazon Games & Software Downloader, but it still locked up my computer during installation.

I searched the Amazon FAQ and other information on Amazon’s site for help with this problem, but there is no mention of any software or settings that would be incompatible with the Amazon Games & Software Downloader or that might cause my computer to freeze.

Finally, I found the solution: I uninstalled “Webroot Spyware Sweeper” from my computer. Just closing it did not work.

After that I was able to successfully install the Amazon Games & Software Downloader, access my software from my Amazon software Library, and install it without problem. I am happy with the software, and this was the cheapest price I could find for it at this time. I took a star off my rating because the software publisher does not provide a discounted price for repeat customers.

I expect that the software that I bought, TurboTax Home & Business 2009, will be available to me for downloading from my Amazon Software Library if anything goes wrong with my computer (like a hard disk failure) or if I want to upgrade to a new computer or change the computer’s operating system. The Library seems straight-forward and easy to use.

My advice to that anyone who is going to purchase and download games or software from Amazon, is that they first download and install the Amazon Games & Software Downloader program successfully. That should minimize any problems.

I just downloaded TurboTax Home & Business (for tax year 2009) from Amazon. Despite the initial negative reviews talking about TurboTax’s bugginess, I needed to purchase the product today (12/31) so that I could take the expense deduction on my 2009 tax return. I’ve followed the prices for a while and seen them decline. The $73.62 price that I paid to download probably won’t be the lowest, but if last year’s price history chart is any indication, the price will bottom somewhere around $65 in mid-January before jumping back up into the mid $90’s around February 1st when everyone gets their W-2 forms and are ready to actually do their taxes.

The download from Amazon was fast and flawless, and I do mean fast. I have Comcast internet and all 85 MB was downloaded to my computer in slightly less than a minute. I know that the Amazon website says 105 MB, but the Amazon downloader only stated 85 MB.

Installation also occured flawlessly on my computer running XP. Upon executing, the software downloaded the latest updates from Intuit flawlessly. Once the program was up and running, I imported 2008’s return, added my password, and saved. I won’t do anything else until I receive my W-2’s in late January. By then I expect Intuit to probably have another update to improve/fix anything else.

I’ve been using TurboTax for my Home & Business since 2004 and have never been dissapointed with the software. The only thing that I was dissapointed with was the price that I was charged as a returning Intuit TurboTax customer. I believe that Intuit charges about $106 including shipping. Needless to say, I’m quite happy paying $73 and getting the same software.