how can I move (purchased upgrade) Office XP to a replacement ma.

[b-seven-co]

I had two laptops, one with Win98SE and one with Win2K. The Win98 machine
has Office 2000 Pro installed, and the Win2K machine has Office XP (2002) Pro
installed.

I just bought a new WinXP laptop. I'm junking the Win98 machine. I want to
move the Office XP from the Win2K laptop to the new WinXP machine, and Office
2000 from the Win98 machine to the Win2K machine.

Both sets of Office software were purchased at stores -- none were
pre-installed. I started with diskettes, then bought Office 97 Pro upgrades,
then Office 2000 Pro Upgrades, and then an Office XP Pro upgrade.

I have the CD cases/product codes, etc. How do I get authorization to
uninstall from the two current machines, and reinstall on the new ones?
What's the process?

 

[Rebecca Hubbard]

Get all your keys handy first. You don't want to be stuck up the proverbial
creek in the middle of this.

Remove ALL versions of Office from ALL machines. Remove any trial versions
of office from the new laptop (you lucky dog you). You should be able to
uninstall both programs from both machines without any trouble (if multiple
versions are listed in Add remove programs, remove from newest to oldest
versions).

I know that Office XP requires activation through MS. I don't know if Office
2K does. I know that anything prior to Office 2k does /not/ require
activation through MS. What this means is that you shouldn't have any
problems at all installing Office 2k. Just go through the process of
installing version x, then installing the upgrade, etc...

For installing Office XP (through the upgrade cascade), you may wind up
having to call MS if the program won't activate (since it was activated on
another machine previously). But, if you do, just explain the situation, and
you'll be given the go-ahead.

Office on diskettes.... scary flashbacks.

~r

 

[b-seven-co]

Thanks for this info, Rebecca. I still have one unanswered issue, however:

The Office XP currently installed on the Win2K machine is currently
registered with MS. Since I wrote, others have told me that I WILL need to
contact MS in order to get authorization to move it, but they're not sure how
to go about it. How can I get more detail about, "call MS...explain the
situation...you'll be given the go-ahead"? Microsoft is a big place...what
group/division/service should I contact, and at what phone number or chat
support site? All info appreciated -- Thanks.

 

[JoAnn Paules [MVP]]

It's very simple. *IF* that version of Office came pre-installed on that
computer, then you cannot move it. *IF* you purchased Office separately,
then you may move it from one computer to another.

If it's the latter: You don't call Microsoft to get permission. You
uninstall it from old computer and install it on new computer. If you get a
notice that the product key was already used, select the telephone option.
You may have to explain that you are transferring the license. They will
probably ask you for the product key to check to make sure it's valid. They
give you an authorization code and you plug that in.

--

JoAnn Paules
MVP Microsoft [Publisher]

 

[Rebecca Hubbard]

Thanks, JoAnn.

I meant every word she said

Sorry about leaving a few steps out in the middle there.

~r

It's very simple. *IF* that version of Office came pre-installed on that
computer, then you cannot move it. *IF* you purchased Office separately,
then you may move it from one computer to another.

If it's the latter: You don't call Microsoft to get permission. You
uninstall it from old computer and install it on new computer. If you get
a notice that the product key was already used, select the telephone
option. You may have to explain that you are transferring the license.
They will probably ask you for the product key to check to make sure it's
valid. They give you an authorization code and you plug that in.

--

JoAnn Paules
MVP Microsoft [Publisher]

Thanks for this info, Rebecca. I still have one unanswered issue,
however:

The Office XP currently installed on the Win2K machine is currently
registered with MS. Since I wrote, others have told me that I WILL need
to
contact MS in order to get authorization to move it, but they're not sure
how
to go about it. How can I get more detail about, "call MS...explain the
situation...you'll be given the go-ahead"? Microsoft is a big
place...what
group/division/service should I contact, and at what phone number or chat
support site? All info appreciated -- Thanks.

 

[JoAnn Paules [MVP]]

I can be a bit pedantic at times and give too many details but sometimes in
the newsgroups you need to be exact. No fluffy terms, no fuzzy answers.
People looking for help tend to need a step by step explanation. This
particular situation is one that is very easily (and very often)
misunderstood. It also tends to be one where tempers run high. This is
usually when people with OEM licenses learn why buying OEM software is *not*
a good idea.

--

JoAnn Paules
MVP Microsoft [Publisher]

Thanks, JoAnn.

I meant every word she said

Sorry about leaving a few steps out in the middle there.

~r

It's very simple. *IF* that version of Office came pre-installed on that
computer, then you cannot move it. *IF* you purchased Office separately,
then you may move it from one computer to another.

If it's the latter: You don't call Microsoft to get permission. You
uninstall it from old computer and install it on new computer. If you get
a notice that the product key was already used, select the telephone
option. You may have to explain that you are transferring the license.
They will probably ask you for the product key to check to make sure it's
valid. They give you an authorization code and you plug that in.

--

JoAnn Paules
MVP Microsoft [Publisher]

Thanks for this info, Rebecca. I still have one unanswered issue,
however:

The Office XP currently installed on the Win2K machine is currently
registered with MS. Since I wrote, others have told me that I WILL need
to
contact MS in order to get authorization to move it, but they're not
sure how
to go about it. How can I get more detail about, "call MS...explain the
situation...you'll be given the go-ahead"? Microsoft is a big
place...what
group/division/service should I contact, and at what phone number or
chat
support site? All info appreciated -- Thanks.

:

Get all your keys handy first. You don't want to be stuck up the
proverbial
creek in the middle of this.

Remove ALL versions of Office from ALL machines. Remove any trial
versions
of office from the new laptop (you lucky dog you). You should be able
to
uninstall both programs from both machines without any trouble (if
multiple
versions are listed in Add remove programs, remove from newest to
oldest
versions).

I know that Office XP requires activation through MS. I don't know if
Office
2K does. I know that anything prior to Office 2k does /not/ require
activation through MS. What this means is that you shouldn't have any
problems at all installing Office 2k. Just go through the process of
installing version x, then installing the upgrade, etc...

For installing Office XP (through the upgrade cascade), you may wind up
having to call MS if the program won't activate (since it was activated
on
another machine previously). But, if you do, just explain the
situation, and
you'll be given the go-ahead.

Office on diskettes.... scary flashbacks.

~r

I had two laptops, one with Win98SE and one with Win2K. The Win98
machine
has Office 2000 Pro installed, and the Win2K machine has Office XP
(2002)
Pro
installed.

I just bought a new WinXP laptop. I'm junking the Win98 machine. I
want
to
move the Office XP from the Win2K laptop to the new WinXP machine,
and
Office
2000 from the Win98 machine to the Win2K machine.

Both sets of Office software were purchased at stores -- none were
pre-installed. I started with diskettes, then bought Office 97 Pro
upgrades,
then Office 2000 Pro Upgrades, and then an Office XP Pro upgrade.

I have the CD cases/product codes, etc. How do I get authorization
to
uninstall from the two current machines, and reinstall on the new
ones?
What's the process?