Compatability issues w/ Office 97 Pro's CD Key and the CD's "serial number" ?

[Tripp Knightly]

I have bought a used full retail version of Office 97 Professional
(SR1, fwiw) from somebody whom I trust. I plan to install it on a XP
Home Edition machine that I haven't purchased yet.

I have the original CD case w/ the CD key sticker on the back. On the
back there is also a white sticker of the form X##-##### on the back
(some kind of serial / code number, I gather). That white sticker has
no other markings.

On the CD itself there is etched backwards a number of the same format
and is almost but not exactly the same. This makes me think that
perhaps the case I have is not the original one that came with the CD
itself?

Should those two numbers be the same?

Does this sound like a potential installation issue?

What about issues upgrading to Office XP?

Thank You.

 

[Gary Smith]

I have the original CD case w/ the CD key sticker on the back. On the
back there is also a white sticker of the form X##-##### on the back
(some kind of serial / code number, I gather). That white sticker has
no other markings.

On the CD itself there is etched backwards a number of the same format
and is almost but not exactly the same. This makes me think that
perhaps the case I have is not the original one that came with the CD
itself?

Judging by my Office 2000 CDs, I'd say that those X numbers are never the
same, not even when two appear on the same CD. In any event, the X
numbers aren't used for installation or upgrading. I don't think you have
anything to worry about.