Lost original Office CD

[ryan317]

I can guess the answer to this question, but it's possible someone out
there has a solution.

I've been using an upgrade version of MS Office for a long time. I am
pretty sure the original full-price purchase was Office 98. As I've
gone through various hardware upgrades (Performa, iMac, G3 Blue, G5
dual 2.0), I've simply upgraded Office through Office 2001 and now
Office v. X. I was planning to get Office 2004, along with the $10
upgade to Office 2008.

Recently, however, I had to wipe and reformat the drive on my G5, and
am now going through the process of reinstalling all applications.
When I got to Office, naturally, the install disk asked for the
earlier version of Word on my drive or to insert the original disk. No
luck. It seems my wife or I inadvertently pitched the original disk as
part of one of my earlier Mac upgrades. I'm not even sure the original
was on a CD; it may have been floppies and was almost certainly a
system 9 application. That worked OK for the original upgrade to
Office v. X because my G3 had both OS's and the installer could find
the original software on the drive, as I recall.

I may have the original receipt from Computerware for Office 98, but
finding it will be a mother, and I don't want to waste the time unless
it's really essential. And if even that won't help, I don't want to
make the effort.

Any other work-arounds or do I just have to spring for the standard
(non-upgrade) edition?

 

[Diane]

I may have the original receipt from Computerware for Office 98, but
finding it will be a mother, and I don't want to waste the time unless
it's really essential. And if even that won't help, I don't want to
make the effort.

Any other work-arounds or do I just have to spring for the standard
(non-upgrade) edition?

The student teacher edition of Office 2004 is around $150. You can purchase
that now and for $10 get the Home and Student version when 2008 comes out.
You'll have the full version installer and get Office 2008 for a good price.

 

[CyberTaz]

I'm pretty sure I'm right on this: You don't need the *original full
version* source disk to install the upgrade. When prompted for proof of
licensure you need only insert the disk you have from a prior version - even
if that, itself, is an upgrade disk. You might try reinstalling X & pointing
to your 2001 upgrade disk for verification. You will, of course, need your X
product key to complete the installation.

FWIW, however, I agree with Diane. As long as it isn't a financial burden I
go ahead & get the full retail 2004... Even if you don't qualify for the S/T
package. For most software I reinvest every 2nd-3rd major release.

The Tech Guarantee for 2008 makes it worth the price and I have a strong
suspicion that you'll benefit in the long run from having *both* '04 & '08
available - not to mention the need to have source disks on hand for any
unforeseen reinstallations that might lie ahead

BTW - IIRC Office 98 did come on floppies [high school kid says "What are
"floppies"?"].

Regards |:>)
Bob Jones
[MVP] Office:Mac



On 10/24/07 1:35 AM, in article
(e-mail address removed), "(e-mail address removed)"

I can guess the answer to this question, but it's possible someone out
there has a solution.

I've been using an upgrade version of MS Office for a long time. I am
pretty sure the original full-price purchase was Office 98. As I've
gone through various hardware upgrades (Performa, iMac, G3 Blue, G5
dual 2.0), I've simply upgraded Office through Office 2001 and now
Office v. X. I was planning to get Office 2004, along with the $10
upgade to Office 2008.

Recently, however, I had to wipe and reformat the drive on my G5, and
am now going through the process of reinstalling all applications.
When I got to Office, naturally, the install disk asked for the
earlier version of Word on my drive or to insert the original disk. No
luck. It seems my wife or I inadvertently pitched the original disk as
part of one of my earlier Mac upgrades. I'm not even sure the original
was on a CD; it may have been floppies and was almost certainly a
system 9 application. That worked OK for the original upgrade to
Office v. X because my G3 had both OS's and the installer could find
the original software on the drive, as I recall.

I may have the original receipt from Computerware for Office 98, but
finding it will be a mother, and I don't want to waste the time unless
it's really essential. And if even that won't help, I don't want to
make the effort.

Any other work-arounds or do I just have to spring for the standard
(non-upgrade) edition?

 

[JE McGimpsey]

BTW - IIRC Office 98 did come on floppies

My copy was a CD, but I think there was a floppy option.

[high school kid says "What are "floppies"?"].

Oh, I know! I know! Floppies are 8" flexible disks, right? Or are you
referring to the mini-5.25" version?

 

[CyberTaz]

Don't you know better than to shout out in class?!?!?!?;-)

I thought the 3.5"/CD option originated with 2001, but I truly can't
remember. In fact, I don't think I ever had 98 - I went directly from the
individual apps to 2001 when I bought my "state-of-the-art" Performa 630
CD - which is now collecting dust in the attic
--
Regards |:>)
Bob Jones
[MVP] Office:Mac

BTW - IIRC Office 98 did come on floppies

My copy was a CD, but I think there was a floppy option.

[high school kid says "What are "floppies"?"].

Oh, I know! I know! Floppies are 8" flexible disks, right? Or are you
referring to the mini-5.25" version?

 

[ryan317]

Don't you know better than to shout out in class?!?!?!?;-)

I thought the 3.5"/CD option originated with 2001, but I truly can't
remember. In fact, I don't think I ever had 98 - I went directly from the
individual apps to 2001 when I bought my "state-of-the-art" Performa 630
CD - which is now collecting dust in the attic
--
Regards |:>)
Bob Jones
[MVP] Office:Mac

BTW - IIRC Office 98 did come on floppies

My copy was a CD, but I think there was a floppy option.

[high school kid says "What are "floppies"?"].

Oh, I know! I know! Floppies are 8" flexible disks, right? Or are you
referring to the mini-5.25" version?

Thanks, all. Very helpful; particularlly Diane and Bob.

As for the floppies, I never had the pleasure of the 8" style. I went
directly from punchcards and an IBM 360 to 5.25" floppies for my Apple
II.

Diane, does the Student/Teacher version still limit usage to three
licenses on a single network? I neglected to mention I have a v. X
copy of that, too. Of course, there's no upgrade for that, but have
too many kids to use it on my own computer unless I get two copies.
Sigh!

 

[CyberTaz]

And here's a gold star in deportment for you, Laddy!... although upgrading
for good reason doesn't necessarily negate the "inordinately stubborn"
trait, now does it?;-)

 

[Diane]

On 10/24/07 10:04 AM, in article
(e-mail address removed), "(e-mail address removed)"


Diane, does the Student/Teacher version still limit usage to three
licenses on a single network? I neglected to mention I have a v. X
copy of that, too. Of course, there's no upgrade for that, but have
too many kids to use it on my own computer unless I get two copies.
Sigh!

Yes. I still think getting a new copy of S&T edition is the way to
go....especially with the guarantee for 2008 for $10.

 

[JE McGimpsey]

Diane, does the Student/Teacher version still limit usage to three
licenses on a single network? I neglected to mention I have a v. X
copy of that, too. Of course, there's no upgrade for that, but have
too many kids to use it on my own computer unless I get two copies.
Sigh!

????

A single license can be used with an unlimited number of accounts on the
same machine.

 

[ryan317]

????

A single license can be used with an unlimited number of accounts on the
same machine.

Sorry if that wasn't clear. The Student/Teacher version of Office
includes a small-group license that permits use of the application on
three separate machines. The application can be installed on any
number of machines but the disk includes only three different product
keys, If you attempt to open an Office application on one machine at
the same time that another machine is running an Office application
installed with the SAME product key (and both are connected to the
same network), Microsoft sniffs out the other machine and prevents the
application from opening.

 

[Darlene]

I can guess the answer to this question, but it's possible someone out
there has a solution.

I've been using an upgrade version of MS Office for a long time. I am
pretty sure the original full-price purchase was Office 98. As I've
gone through various hardware upgrades (Performa, iMac, G3 Blue, G5
dual 2.0), I've simply upgraded Office through Office 2001 and now
Office v. X. I was planning to get Office 2004, along with the $10
upgade to Office 2008.

Recently, however, I had to wipe and reformat the drive on my G5, and
am now going through the process of reinstalling all applications.
When I got to Office, naturally, the install disk asked for the
earlier version of Word on my drive or to insert the original disk. No
luck. It seems my wife or I inadvertently pitched the original disk as
part of one of my earlier Mac upgrades. I'm not even sure the original
was on a CD; it may have been floppies and was almost certainly a
system 9 application. That worked OK for the original upgrade to
Office v. X because my G3 had both OS's and the installer could find
the original software on the drive, as I recall.

I may have the original receipt from Computerware for Office 98, but
finding it will be a mother, and I don't want to waste the time unless
it's really essential. And if even that won't help, I don't want to
make the effort.

Any other work-arounds or do I just have to spring for the standard
(non-upgrade) edition?

If you have a upgrade of Office and you purchase Office 2004 upgrade,
you can still install Office 2004 from this upgrade.
You insert the Office 2004 Cd and drag the Office 2004 folder to the
desktop and when you launch an Office application you will receive an
upgrade verification to browse to a earlier version, this is when you
can insert your earlier version of the upgrade into the drive and just
browse to the earlier version folder and it will verify successfully.

Darlene