How can I install Office that is for Gateway PCs on HP computer?

[Ledra]

I purchased a Gateway computer a few years ago, and asked specifically for
Microsoft Office, which I payed for. (It wasn't a bundle or pre-installed.)
The computer has since bitten the dust (I can't even start it anymore), so I
have purchased an HP notebook. I figured that since I had payed for MS
Office 2003, I would just install it on my new computer, but when I tried to
install it, it said that because it wasn't a Gateway computer, I couldn't use
it. The new computer has a 60 day trial, so I tried entering my old product
key for the first software, but it didn't work. It just seems utterly
ridiculous that I can't use the software that I payed for! I have called HP,
Microsoft and Gateway, and can't get any help. Does anyone have any idea
what I could try so that I could use my software? Thanks in advance for your
consideration!

 

[Og]

I purchased a Gateway computer a few years ago, and asked specifically for
Microsoft Office, which I payed for. (It wasn't a bundle or
pre-installed.)
The computer has since bitten the dust (I can't even start it anymore), so
I
have purchased an HP notebook. I figured that since I had payed for MS
Office 2003, I would just install it on my new computer, but when I tried
to
install it, it said that because it wasn't a Gateway computer, I couldn't
use
it. The new computer has a 60 day trial, so I tried entering my old
product
key for the first software, but it didn't work. It just seems utterly
ridiculous that I can't use the software that I payed for! I have called
HP,
Microsoft and Gateway, and can't get any help. Does anyone have any idea
what I could try so that I could use my software? Thanks in advance for
your
consideration!

One reason that OEM software is considerably less expensive than Retail
software is that OEM software, as you have discovered, is forever tied to
the BIOS (Basic Input Output System) of the computer upon which it was
originally installed.
When your Gateway computer died, so died your OEM version of MS Office.
Steve

 

[Bob I]

You would need to Uninstall the the Trial edition first. Then get out
the CDs for the Office 2003 Retail copy and install it. If the Office CD
that you have says only for gateway PC then you do NOT have a Retail
version but an OEM/Basic version which is only licensed for use on the
Original PC and has a limited life.

 

[officehelp]

If it only works on gateway computers, sounds like you did not buy the full
version or the version was not a genuine microsoft product.If the product
code says OEM you need to buy a full version product key from Microsoft. If
this did not help you, ask 'Yahoo Answers", If that does not help you. Sell
your office edition on Ebay and buy another. Hope this helps. Goodluck.

 

[JoAnn Paules [MVP]]

It depends on when/how they purchased their version of Office. If it was
purchased within 30 days of the computer, it could be an OEM version. If
they purchased it thru the Accessory Store, it could be a retail version.
The purchase price would be the real clincher.

--

JoAnn Paules
MVP Microsoft [Publisher]

 

[Milly Staples [MVP - Outlook]]

To add to what JoAnn said, if it is OEM, selling it on eBay without the computer would be a license violation.

--
Milly Staples [MVP - Outlook]

Post all replies to the group to keep the discussion intact. All
unsolicited mail sent to my personal account will be deleted without
reading.

After furious head scratching, officehelp asked:

| If it only works on gateway computers, sounds like you did not buy
| the full version or the version was not a genuine microsoft
| product.If the product code says OEM you need to buy a full version
| product key from Microsoft. If this did not help you, ask 'Yahoo
| Answers", If that does not help you. Sell your office edition on Ebay
| and buy another. Hope this helps. Goodluck. "Ledra" wrote:
|
|| I purchased a Gateway computer a few years ago, and asked
|| specifically for Microsoft Office, which I payed for. (It wasn't a
|| bundle or pre-installed.) The computer has since bitten the dust (I
|| can't even start it anymore), so I have purchased an HP notebook. I
|| figured that since I had payed for MS Office 2003, I would just
|| install it on my new computer, but when I tried to install it, it
|| said that because it wasn't a Gateway computer, I couldn't use it.
|| The new computer has a 60 day trial, so I tried entering my old
|| product key for the first software, but it didn't work. It just
|| seems utterly ridiculous that I can't use the software that I payed
|| for! I have called HP, Microsoft and Gateway, and can't get any
|| help. Does anyone have any idea what I could try so that I could
|| use my software? Thanks in advance for your consideration!

 

[Bob I]

They can't legitimately sell an OEM version. They paid for the rights to
use it under a given set of conditions. If they can't/won't meet the
conditions, they have no rights to use.