How to move MS Office without reinstalling?

[renichms]

I have an iMac that has had Microsoft Office on it since 2002 or so. Other
family members have bought MS Office as well since then. They are all v. X.
Each has a unique product ID and the only disc copy I can find for installing
MS Office has a key on it. I don't know if it was my original copy. I will
soon be reinstalling an OS on the iMac and in the process, I will have to
wipe it clean. Is it possible to copy all of the MS Office files to
appropriate backup locations, then copy them back when the install is done so
I do not have to reinstall from the disc and risk it not being my copy?

Also, is it possible to reinstall if I have the current product ID (even if
it is coming from a different disc)? I tried to get MS support but MS says
the old product ID is not valid and they want $50 to talk to me and Office is
not worth $50 to me (I'll just install OpenOffice 3.0 instead if I cannot
resolve this). Any help is appreciated. I paid enough for Office, I do want
to keep it, but I'm not going to buy another copy (hence wanting to just move
it).

RN

 

[Corentin Cras-Méneur]

I will
soon be reinstalling an OS on the iMac and in the process, I will have to
wipe it clean. Is it possible to copy all of the MS Office files to
appropriate backup locations, then copy them back when the install is done so
I do not have to reinstall from the disc and risk it not being my copy?

With Office X and 2004, everything you need is in the Microsoft Office
folder. Even the serialization. You can back it up and restore it on
another Mac adn you shouldn't have any problem.
It's not usually recommended though since whatever corruption you might
have on the old Mac will then transfer to the new one, but you get the
idea.

Also, is it possible to reinstall if I have the current product ID (even if
it is coming from a different disc)? I tried to get MS support but MS says
the old product ID is not valid and they want $50 to talk to me and Office is
not worth $50 to me (I'll just install OpenOffice 3.0 instead if I cannot
resolve this). Any help is appreciated. I paid enough for Office, I do want
to keep it, but I'm not going to buy another copy (hence wanting to just move
it).

As far as I know, the serial number you have can be used with any
install CD for Office X: even for an install CD in a different
language!!! (some people used that after buying Office in a foreign
country and realizing that the menus were not in their language).
You can always give it a try anyway.

Corentin

 

[Diane Ross]

I have an iMac that has had Microsoft Office on it since 2002 or so. Other
family members have bought MS Office as well since then. They are all v. X.
Each has a unique product ID and the only disc copy I can find for installing
MS Office has a key on it. I don't know if it was my original copy. I will
soon be reinstalling an OS on the iMac and in the process, I will have to
wipe it clean. Is it possible to copy all of the MS Office files to
appropriate backup locations, then copy them back when the install is done so
I do not have to reinstall from the disc and risk it not being my copy?

If you drag over Office X folder from your root application folder and all
the Microsoft preferences, you should be OK, but to get all the fonts etc. I
would install from the CD. Then drag over your updated copy of Office X.
10.1.9.

FYI...

Office X stored the CD Key in an invisible file.

/Applications/Microsoft Office 2004 (or X)/Office/
- OfficePID (normally an invisible file)


Users/[Username]/Library/Preferences/Microsoft
- Carbon Registration Database
- Office Registration Cache
- Microsoft Office Settings

Also, is it possible to reinstall if I have the current product ID (even if
it is coming from a different disc)?

Yes. Remember Registration is optional. You can reuse a CD key over to
install for yourself on a different computer. Office for Mac is not
activated.

 

[renichms]

So if this copy is the disc that was used to install on one of the other
computers in the house, would I still be clear to use it and its key? The
only difference between copies seems to be product ID and I didn't know if
that was based on the install disc or registration (and if it is based on
registration, is it possible to somehow put that back in even if it is
someone else's disc?).

We once accidentally used the same disc twice and when both copies were open
at the same time (given network connection), it would say another copy was
open and force the new one to quit. I'm basically trying to avoid that while
preserving MS Office (since it's now well out of my price range).

Thanks for the info so far.

RN

I have an iMac that has had Microsoft Office on it since 2002 or so. Other
family members have bought MS Office as well since then. They are all v. X.
Each has a unique product ID and the only disc copy I can find for installing
MS Office has a key on it. I don't know if it was my original copy. I will
soon be reinstalling an OS on the iMac and in the process, I will have to
wipe it clean. Is it possible to copy all of the MS Office files to
appropriate backup locations, then copy them back when the install is done so
I do not have to reinstall from the disc and risk it not being my copy?

If you drag over Office X folder from your root application folder and all
the Microsoft preferences, you should be OK, but to get all the fonts etc. I
would install from the CD. Then drag over your updated copy of Office X.
10.1.9.

FYI...

Office X stored the CD Key in an invisible file.

/Applications/Microsoft Office 2004 (or X)/Office/
- OfficePID (normally an invisible file)


Users/[Username]/Library/Preferences/Microsoft
- Carbon Registration Database
- Office Registration Cache
- Microsoft Office Settings

Also, is it possible to reinstall if I have the current product ID (even if
it is coming from a different disc)?

Yes. Remember Registration is optional. You can reuse a CD key over to
install for yourself on a different computer. Office for Mac is not
activated.

 

[Diane Ross]

So if this copy is the disc that was used to install on one of the other
computers in the house, would I still be clear to use it and its key? The
only difference between copies seems to be product ID and I didn't know if
that was based on the install disc or registration (and if it is based on
registration, is it possible to somehow put that back in even if it is
someone else's disc?).

The key is only tied to files on your computer. Only pirated keys are
disabled by the installer.

License and Version Info (find key used)

We once accidentally used the same disc twice and when both copies were open
at the same time (given network connection), it would say another copy was
open and force the new one to quit. I'm basically trying to avoid that while
preserving MS Office (since it's now well out of my price range).

If you don't need Exchange you can get Office 2008 very reasonably. $129.99
(includes 3 keys)

<http://tinyurl.com/4ydu2u>

 

[renichms]

Thank you for the clarification. As a test, I copied the Microsoft Office X
folder and the entire Microsoft folder from preferences to an external HDD,
copied them over to this computer and it all seems to work without a hitch at
all. It still says the same product ID and that it's registered to me.

I will keep the disc in case this installation doesn't work out. I'm hoping
it does since I still don't know whose disc it is. It should be all clear if
I don't try to keep using the old install on the iMac, right?

RN

 

[Diane Ross]

I will keep the disc in case this installation doesn't work out. I'm hoping
it does since I still don't know whose disc it is. It should be all clear if
I don't try to keep using the old install on the iMac, right?

Correct. If you do you will get the warning message.