Can I run Office XP and Office 2003 on the same machine?

[Captain Infinity]

I need to test the viability of upgrading our workstations from Office
XP (2002) to Office 2003. It would be great if I could run both on the
same machine and test the interoperability of documents and spreadsheets
created by each version. My reseller tells me this is not possible,
however.

I'm not sure if I should believe him. I've been able to get my machine
to do other tricks he has said were impossible. So I thought I'd ask
you folks.

Basically I'm asking if I can install and run both programs on one PC,
running Windows XP Pro. Or will Office 2003 de-install or overwrite
2002? I don't see a need to actually have both instances running at the
same *time*, but it would be nice to run one, create a document, save
it, close the application, and then open and test the document in the
other program.

Thanks for any help!


**
Captain Infinity

 

[Peo Sjoblom]

Don't believe him, I have Virtual PC these days but before that I ran at
least 3 office versions on the same OS, I installed them on different
drives but shouldn't really matter if you customize the installation, I also
installed in version order so I installed 97 first, then 2000 and finally
2002. The only problems I encountered was that the help didn't work really
satisfying for the earlier installed versions
I never ran them at the same time though

 

[JoAnn Paules [MSFT MVP]]

I had Office 2000 and 2003 on my system and no problems. They have their own
directories so they play well together.

 

[Milly Staples [MVP - Outlook]]

Except for Outlook, you can easily run multiple versions on the same system.

--
Milly Staples [MVP - Outlook]

Post all replies to the group to keep the discussion intact. Due to
the (insert latest virus name here) virus, all mail sent to my personal
account will be deleted without reading.

After furious head scratching, Captain Infinity asked:

| I need to test the viability of upgrading our workstations from Office
| XP (2002) to Office 2003. It would be great if I could run both on
| the same machine and test the interoperability of documents and
| spreadsheets created by each version. My reseller tells me this is
| not possible, however.
|
| I'm not sure if I should believe him. I've been able to get my
| machine to do other tricks he has said were impossible. So I thought
| I'd ask you folks.
|
| Basically I'm asking if I can install and run both programs on one PC,
| running Windows XP Pro. Or will Office 2003 de-install or overwrite
| 2002? I don't see a need to actually have both instances running at
| the same *time*, but it would be nice to run one, create a document,
| save it, close the application, and then open and test the document
| in the other program.
|
| Thanks for any help!
|
|
| **
| Captain Infinity

 

[Harald Staff]

Hi Cap

This is my private "collector" Pc. No virtual os, one user profile. It has
fully Excel 5, Excel 95, Excel 97, Excel 2000, Excel XP and Excel 2003.

The trick is to install chronologically (oldest first), install each version
in a separate folder and say NO to absolutely every "replace ?" and
"overwrite ?" prompt that appear during the installs. Just say No.

(But for the record: One will get trouble installing identical vintages, say
Excel XP norwegian and Excel XP US american, onto the same system. That
calls for partisioning and/or Virtual operating systems.)

HTH. Best wishes Harald

 

[Captain Infinity]

Except for Outlook, you can easily run multiple versions on the same system.

Great! So what should I do in regards Outlook? Not install the 2003
version or install it over my current XP Outlook? Thanks for your help!


**
Captain Infinity

 

[Peo Sjoblom]

I would probably install it over the XP version since it got much bigger
face lift than the other Office members together