Download

Downloading is the easy part. The part that throws people is finding the file afterward and telling Windows it's safe to run, so here's the walk-through for the three most common browsers.

One trick works in all three: press Ctrl+J to open your browser's full list of downloads. If you can't spot the file anywhere else, it'll be there.

Google Chrome

1. After clicking a download button, look at the bottom-left corner (older Chrome) or the download arrow at the top-right (newer Chrome).
2. Don't see it? In newer Chrome the arrow only appears after a download starts, and it tucks itself away once you've looked at it. Click the download arrow (it's to the right of the address bar, near the puzzle-piece and star icons), or just press Ctrl+J.
3. Click the file name when it finishes, or open the download list and click it there.
4. If Chrome says the file "isn't commonly downloaded," click the up-arrow or three-dot menu next to it and choose Keep.
5. If Windows shows a blue "Windows protected your PC" box, click More info, confirm it says Medlin Software, Inc., then click Run anyway.

Microsoft Edge

1. The download shows up in a panel at the top-right after you click.
2. Don't see the panel? Edge hides it after a moment. Look for the download arrow at the top-right, just left of your profile picture and the three-dot menu. Click it to reopen the panel, or press Ctrl+J.
3. Click Open when it's done, or click the file name.
4. If Edge flags it, hover the file, click the three dots, and choose Keep — then Keep anyway if it asks twice.
5. If the "Windows protected your PC" box appears, click More info, check that it says Medlin Software, Inc., and click Run anyway.

Mozilla Firefox

1. Click a download button. Firefox saves the file and shows a download arrow at the top-right.
2. Don't see the arrow? Firefox hides it when there are no recent downloads. It sits at the top-right, near the end of the toolbar by the menu (three lines). Click it to open your downloads, or press Ctrl+J.
3. Click the arrow, then click the file name in the list to run it.
4. If Firefox warns the file "could be dangerous," click the three dots next to it and choose Allow download or Open.
5. If Windows shows the "Windows protected your PC" box, click More info, confirm the Medlin Software, Inc. name, and click Run anyway.

Browsers change these menus more often than we'd like, so the wording on your screen might be slightly different — but the idea is always the same: find the file, tell Windows you trust it, run it.

Yes. The download links here always point to the newest revision, so there's never a reason to hunt down an older one — grabbing the current file is always the right move.

There was a time you could set payroll on January 1st and coast all year without a single change. That time ended sometime in the early '90s, at the very latest. Payroll tax law hasn't held still since — Payroll updates 50 or more times a year to keep up. Medlin knows this, so the software checks for an update every time you open it. That check costs you about 10 seconds at most — a fair trade for never falling behind on the latest calculations or law changes.

• Payroll changes constantly, for the reasons above. Reinstall whenever you hear of a tax change, or just let the open-up check nudge you.
• Accounting and Receivables are stable and don't change much.

Curious what changed? See the latest news for recent updates.

Reinstalling never touches your data — it only updates the program.

Medlin Software contains no harmful code — no viruses, no ad-generating junk. We keep our own devices clean, and if you'd like to confirm a download for yourself, you can run it through a free scanner like VirusTotal.

First, update your security software

The better security programs update at least once a day. Before you download, make sure yours is current — an out-of-date scanner is the most common reason for a bogus warning. (Curious how a clean file gets flagged? Here's a plain explanation of a false positive.)

If you still get a warning

It's a false alarm — the file is clean. A few ways to get past it:

• Update your security software's "definitions" and try again.
• If it only blocks during install, you can temporarily turn the security software off while you install, then turn it back on.
• Report the false positive to your security vendor and ask them to fix it — that's their job, not ours.
• Ask your security vendor to help you mark the Medlin files as trusted.
• Ask them to set the software to ask first before deleting files, instead of quietly removing them on its own.

If you're wondering why this keeps happening to honest software, this piece sums up the false-positive headache nicely: If I Had a Nickel for Every False Positive.

If setup says Medlin is already open

If the installer says Medlin is open but you don't see it in your taskbar, your security software has a Medlin file locked. Turn the security software off for a moment, or reboot, then install again.

• Don't see your existing data? Search for your data files.
• Medlin uses PDF format for Print Preview. We use and recommend Foxit PDF Reader.

Accounting and Receivables are free — no key, no registration, nothing to enter. Everything below applies to Medlin Payroll.

Entering your license

To enter your key by hand, open the software, click Help (upper right), then click Enter Registration Key.

You'll enter two items, and both must match your receipt exactly:

• ID — the shorter code, numbers only.
• KEY — the longer code, with numbers, letters, and dashes. Best bet is to copy and paste it straight from the receipt or lost-key email we sent you, so a typo can't trip you up.

Each license covers one installation at a time. For most people, you enter this once when you first order — and again only if you switch computers.

Seeing three boxes instead of two?

If the software asks for three items (customer number, registered to, and registration key), you're on an outdated revision. Install the current one from the top of this page and the problem goes away.

"Can't reach the internet" message

Entering a license needs a working internet connection so the software can reach a few specific Medlin servers. If you're online but still get this message, your firewall or security software is blocking those servers. Turn your third-party security software off for a moment and try again — if that clears it, email us and we'll send you the exact server names to allow.

Need a copy of your key?

Request your license information.

• Step-by-step instructions for moving to a new computer.

• Medlin is built for current versions of desktop Windows.
• We don't design, test, or support installation on anything other than current desktop Windows.
• Some folks run Medlin on Apple machines using emulation software. That's their call — we don't test or support it.

Most installs go smoothly. Over the years, though, a handful of errors come up again and again. Here are the usual suspects and how to clear them.

Error 2, Error 5, Error 70, or a missing file

Your security software deleted one or more Medlin files. It's a false alarm — see the "Security software & warnings" section above to clear it, then install again.

"Unable to open c:\mwacct\temp_download_folder\medlindl.exe"

This shows up when the built-in update can't reach your temp folder. Skip the updater and download straight from this page instead.

"CreateProcess failed; code 740" or "The NTVDM CPU has encountered an illegal instruction"

Both mean the same thing: your Windows login doesn't have administrator rights, or it can't access the Medlin folders. Log into Windows with an administrator account that's allowed to control the Medlin app folders, then install again.

App Store error

Open Windows Settings, go to Apps, and change "Choose where to get apps" to "Anywhere."