CD Key required for upgrade from v.X to 2004?

[RJ Auburn]

Hello,

A few years ago I purchased MS office v.X when it first came out.
Unfortunately somewhere over the last few years I lost the CD and packaging.
My question is if I buy the office 2004 upgrade will I need to enter the old
CD key during the install process? I have v.X installed and it works just
fine but I worry that if I buy the 2004 upgrade it's going to have problems
if I can not find the cd key. Thoughts?

RJ

Sent using the Microsoft Entourage 2004 for Mac Test Drive.

 

[Dayo Mitchell]

Actually, I think it would be easier if it asked for the CD key, as Adobe
does, but apparently what Office upgrade installers do is ask you to point
them to the old version, which you can either do on your hard drive, or
point the installer to the install CD you just inserted in the CD drive.
(don't have personal experience with this, but I am sure someone will
correct me if I am wrong)

So you might be okay this first time, but if you ever buy a new computer or
start fresh with this one, and want to install 2004 on it, sounds like you
would have problems. You can check here re replacing the media from MS:

How to Replace Lost, Broken, or Missing Microsoft Software or Hardware
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?kbid=326246

DM

 

[RJ Auburn]

I tried calling the product replacement group and the word from them was
that they no longer can provide replacement media for office v.X. Assuming
it just checks to see if you have a working install I should be ok. Can
anyone who has used the upgrade confirm what is needed and what is included
in the upgrade?

Thanks,

RJ

Actually, I think it would be easier if it asked for the CD key, as Adobe
does, but apparently what Office upgrade installers do is ask you to point
them to the old version, which you can either do on your hard drive, or
point the installer to the install CD you just inserted in the CD drive.
(don't have personal experience with this, but I am sure someone will
correct me if I am wrong)

So you might be okay this first time, but if you ever buy a new computer or
start fresh with this one, and want to install 2004 on it, sounds like you
would have problems. You can check here re replacing the media from MS:

How to Replace Lost, Broken, or Missing Microsoft Software or Hardware
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?kbid=326246

DM

Sent using the Microsoft Entourage 2004 for Mac Test Drive.

 

[Dayo Mitchell]

Consider also the possibility that if you buy an upgrade version but don't
have the media for the lower version, you will not be able to Remove and
Reinstall if something goes seriously wrong with your Office program
(entirely possible). That would be a very ugly situation to be in.

Hopefully someone using Office 2004 will chime in with confirmed details on
this, I thought I had a vague memory that using Remove and Reinstall doesn't
always clear the CD Key in OS X but am not sure if that is true or relevant
to the hypothetical situation RJ would be in.

DM

 

[Walt Basil]

Hello,

A few years ago I purchased MS office v.X when it first came out.
Unfortunately somewhere over the last few years I lost the CD and packaging.
My question is if I buy the office 2004 upgrade will I need to enter the old
CD key during the install process? I have v.X installed and it works just
fine but I worry that if I buy the 2004 upgrade it's going to have problems
if I can not find the cd key. Thoughts?

It would probably be prudent to copy your Office V.X folder in your
Applications folder to a CD for safe keeping. Just in case you need to
re-install your Office 2004 later and you no longer have v.X installed
(intentionally or unintentionally).

--
Walt Basil
www.basilweb.net

My Office site:
<http://www.basilweb.net/macoffice/office.html>

You can email me at (firstname)AT(lastname)web.net