CUSTOMER SERVICE MEMO CSTP2602

for 2026 Edition of HowardSoft's Tax Preparer®

(written 3/1/2026)

How to download and install or Update Tax Preparer using Windows 11 and Microsoft Edge browser

Background. If you attempt to install Tax Preparer from the download link we send you on a Windows 11 computer, you will generally encounter warning screen after warning screen solely because we are an unknown publisher in the eyes of Microsoft. When you first encounter these screens it may seem impossible to get to the actual download and then the actual installation because the screens are not intuitive. However, with the proper clicks in the proper places, you can get through all of the "protection" roadblocks that Microsoft places in your way. None of the steps that follow are dangerous to your computer, in spite of the ominous warnings, because the only cause of the roadblocks is the fact that we are unknown to Microsoft. (With some anti-virus or anti-malware software, you may have to temporarily turn off their protection, but we have encountered no problems with Windows Defender and McAfee Antivirus, which are typically preinstalled on Windows 11 computers.)

Step-by-Step Instructions

•   Step 1: Once you open the email we send you, you start the process by clicking the link that says click here.
  Result: You should immediately see the start of a file downloading, as you can see by a moving bar. However, once the download is complete, Windows prevents you from accessing that file until you perform a number of subsequent clicks, as follows.
  
  
•   Step 2: Once the download is complete, you'll typically see a small window titled Download, with a message like (for Standard Level in this example):
  InstallFed_s2026.01d.exe isn't commonly downloaded. Make sure you trust InstallFed_s2026.01d.exe before you open it.
  In response to this window, click the 3 dots in the upper right corner of the window, then click Keep
  
  
•   Step 3: The next window again warns you to Make sure you trust InstallFed_s2026.01d.exe before you open it, but this time it's big and bold. However, it also reveals the reason for the block in the line that reads: Publisher: Unknown.
  In response to this window, click the 3 dots to the right of the Delete button in the bottom right of the window, then click Keep anyway.
  
  
•   Step 4: You should now see your recent downloads, with InstallFed_s2026.01d.exe at the top of the list.
  In response to this window, click InstallFed_s2026.01d.exe.
  
  
•   Step 5: Now you will encounter blue window titled Windows protected your PC with the explanation:
  Microsoft Defender SmartScreen prevented an unrecognized app from starting. Running this app might put your PC at risk.
  In response to this window, click More info.
  
  
•   Step 6: The next window gives yet another redundant warning, but has a choice at the bottom of the window to Run anyway.
  In response to this window, click Run anyway.
  
  
•   Step 7: Finally, you get a window that asks Do you want to allow this app from an unknown publisher to make changes to your device? and again shows the name of the install file and the fact that the publisher is unknown. In response to this window, click Yes at the bottom of the window,
  
  
•   Step 8: Now you are at the beginning of the actual installation, and should follow the instructions starting with Step 2 in our document 12 steps for Downloading and Installing the complete Tax Preparer program. (If it weren't for Windows 11 tirelessly warning you not to continue, you would have reached this point in Step 1!)