Can't reinstall Office 2007 and upgrading to Windows 7

[David]

I had a computer with XP and Microsoft Works. I, bought, and installed,
Office Pro 2007 about two years ago.

I just installed W7 and had to do a total new install because I was
upgrading from XP. Of course this means I had to reinstall all my old
programs. Naturally Office won't let me install because it can't find my
Works--duh.

Before installing W7 I did the easy transfer and copied it back to my
computer after installing W7. I therefore have windows.old. But for the
life of me I can't figure out what path will get Office to realize I'm a
valid upgraded. I have tried all of them I can think of. Is there some
other trick?

 

[Arizona Willie]

I had a computer with XP and Microsoft Works. I, bought, and
installed, Office Pro 2007 about two years ago.

I just installed W7 and had to do a total new install because I was
upgrading from XP. Of course this means I had to reinstall all my old
programs. Naturally Office won't let me install because it can't find
my Works--duh.

Before installing W7 I did the easy transfer and copied it back to my
computer after installing W7. I therefore have windows.old. But for
the life of me I can't figure out what path will get Office to realize
I'm a valid upgraded. I have tried all of them I can think of. Is
there some other trick?

====================
This is a trick known only to the ancient one's ... reinstall with your
original disks.

Works like a charm.

I did the same upgrade.

Only problem I had with Office 2007 was that upgrades weren't showing up
doing a Windows Update and since I installed from my original disks I
thought they should.

I got support and a tech called me at home on Sunday and downloaded the
service pack 2 to my machine and I ran it and now ( presumably ) all
should be well. That was last Sunday so there probably haven't been any
Office updates since then.

 

[David]

I can't reinstall my original disks. Works came preinstalled on the
computer. The only way I can get it back is to reinstall back to the factory
state--XP, then install W7, of course this will wipe out XP & Works and I'll
be back to square one.

 

[LVTravel]

I can't reinstall my original disks. Works came preinstalled on the
computer. The only way I can get it back is to reinstall back to the
factory
state--XP, then install W7, of course this will wipe out XP & Works and
I'll
be back to square one.

Go to eBay and purchase a disk or copy the disk from someone that is or has
a qualifying program. You don't really care if it is a "legal" disk only a
copy of the original. Since you actually have a qualifying product that you
can not use (Works) because of the way that the computer manufacturer
decided to give you Works this would be the only way and while it may not be
kosher it will work and you won't get into any trouble with it.

Now, if you go to a different computer it would not be legal since the Works
program is licensed as an OEM product and it is forever tied to it's first
computer. To install your upgrade Office you would need a legal product to
upgrade from on the new computer.

 

[David]

I would only use it on one computer. I guess your method is the best one out
there, but how ridiculous is this? I'm not a MS basher, but sometimes...

 

[LVTravel]

I would only use it on one computer. I guess your method is the best one
out
there, but how ridiculous is this? I'm not a MS basher, but sometimes...

Unfortunately you can't blame Microsoft for this one. Only the computer
manufacturer as they are the ones that provided Works as part of the rebuild
process instead of a stand alone program install. You also probably didn't
get a stand alone copy of XP with your computer only the rebuild media. Of
course you would also have to put some of the blame on yourself in not
purchasing a computer that included the stand alone programs in the first
place.

 

[LVTravel]

================
Yes, but many people don't realize they are getting screwed when they buy
a computer that has " trial " software and / or " restricted " software.

It seems like a good deal to the noobies.

Many don't learn better until they run into a mess like this poor soul.

His only real solution is to go buy Office, then he will have a real
authorized legal copy and can put it on his computer with no problem.

Or he could try Open Office, a free program. It will read his old files
created with Office.

He does have a legal copy of a qualifying product for Office 2007 which is
Works. He just can't use it as it can only be installed using the rebuild
system that the manufacturer supplied. He doesn't have the actual Works
disk but it is part of an image that would be installed. The qualifying
product check that Office 2007 does won't look into a rebuild image disk for
the qualifier product, only on the hard disk of an installed product or a
stand-alone install disk. Of course his exact problem is that his rebuild
puts XP and Works on the computer and then he can't upgrade directly to Win
7 as that wipes the hard drive and then he doesn't have the qualifier
installed. A Catch--22 situation. My solution will get him installed with
his upgrade Office 2007.

The newbie doesn't know and the manufacturers won't tell them (and are not
required to tell them according to their contract with Microsoft) that they
don't have actual stand-alone install products. The manufacturer only is
required to return the operating system to an as shipped condition.