distinguish OEM and retail

[yaro137]

I often have to reinstall or repair peoples computers and just
recently I found that OEM licenses are not transferable and tied to
the motherboard. Well, unless it's the mobo that failed. Anyway, is
there a way to check if the client has an OEM or retail license?
Obviously the easiest would be to just ask them but I bet they
wouldn't know. Thanks
yaro

 

[Bob I]

The CD they give you will say.

 

[yaro137]

Usually the CD is missing somewhere. People just don't think they may
need them at some point so god knows what they do with them but this
is actually quite common when I ask for the disks they look at me as
if they've spotted a ghost For that reason I always have keyfinder
with me and before wiping the machine out I use it to get all the
license codes but in case of Office it doesn't mention whether it's
OEM or retail. Windows stickers are usually not a problem but in case
of Office or other software it's just a nightmare.
yaro

 

[Steve Rindsberg]

Usually the CD is missing somewhere. People just don't think they may
need them at some point so god knows what they do with them but this
is actually quite common when I ask for the disks they look at me as
if they've spotted a ghost For that reason I always have keyfinder
with me and before wiping the machine out I use it to get all the
license codes but in case of Office it doesn't mention whether it's
OEM or retail. Windows stickers are usually not a problem but in case
of Office or other software it's just a nightmare.

I don't have any OEM Office installs to test with ... what does Help
About tell you?

 

[DL]

If the PC & office is functioning any office app will reveal the licence
version, but I guess you know that
Key finders dont reveal Office2k keys

 

[yaro137]

To be quite honest I didn't know that. When I checked the About in my
Office 2007 it tells me it's 2007 SP2 MSO whatever it means but does
not mention
what the version
yaro

 

[Steve Rindsberg]

To be quite honest I didn't know that. When I checked the About in my
Office 2007 it tells me it's 2007 SP2 MSO whatever it means but does
not mention
what the version

That's in OfficeButton | App Options | Resources, right.

Go back there, click the ABOUT button.

I get a repeat of the detailed build info as above, but beneath that,
"Part of Microsoft Office Professional 2007"

Yours might be different, and that might be clueful.

 

[Beth Melton]

In the About box there's a Product ID. If it's an OEM versions it should
have OEM in the Product ID.

~Beth Melton
Microsoft Office MVP

 

[Steve Rindsberg]

Thanks for the confirm on that, Beth.

In the About box there's a Product ID. If it's an OEM versions it should
have OEM in the Product ID.

~Beth Melton
Microsoft Office MVP

 

[yaro137]

Then it looks like mine must be retail. Thanks for your help.
yaro