need to upgrade from Office 2001 for Mac

[Sensation]

My first computer that I purchased my last upgrade of Office 2001 for is a
Mac 8500/180. I am no longer using this Mac and is disconnected. When I
purchase the original version of MS Office, I chose to get the software on
floppy disks so I could have the full set of User Guides. I have not had a
need to use Office until now and I am wanting to upgrade to Office 2004 for
my G4 and G5. Obviously, my newer computers do not have a floppy drive on
them. I have the original liscensing numbers for my software. Any suggestions
on how I can get a quick upgrade to Office 2004? In my telephone discussion
with MS tech support, they said that while installing the upgrade on my newer
computers, it would look for the original version. This is not installed on
my newer computers.
Has anyone tackled this before? What is the best solution to upgrading when
it is not on the current computer? I'd like to avoid having to purchase the
full version, if at all possible.

 

[Barry Wainwright [MVP]]

My first computer that I purchased my last upgrade of Office 2001 for is a
Mac 8500/180. I am no longer using this Mac and is disconnected. When I
purchase the original version of MS Office, I chose to get the software on
floppy disks so I could have the full set of User Guides. I have not had a
need to use Office until now and I am wanting to upgrade to Office 2004 for
my G4 and G5. Obviously, my newer computers do not have a floppy drive on
them. I have the original liscensing numbers for my software. Any suggestions
on how I can get a quick upgrade to Office 2004? In my telephone discussion
with MS tech support, they said that while installing the upgrade on my newer
computers, it would look for the original version. This is not installed on
my newer computers.
Has anyone tackled this before? What is the best solution to upgrading when
it is not on the current computer? I'd like to avoid having to purchase the
full version, if at all possible.

Crumbs. Every once in a while someone comes up with a completely new
problem, and guess what - it's your turn!

The normal answer to this upgrade problem is to put the original CD into the
disk drive and the installer will usually recognise it and just work. If it
asks for the location of the original install, you just poit it at the CD
and all is well. I have never heard of anyone trying to upgrade from a
floppy disk install before!

I'm guessing that the installation files on the floppies are all compressed,
in which case, even if you had a floppy drive, the installation wouldn't be
recognised.

Is there any way that you can start the old 8500, connect to it with a
network and share the disk, then mount the shared disk on the desktop of
your new macs? This would allow you to point to the original installation on
the mounted network share and hopefully the installation would proceed OK.
If that doesn't work or is no longer possible, then I don't think there is
another way to do it.

 

[Sensation]

Thanks for the response...this is my first attempt to post to a discussion
group and I'm happy to see that you've responded.
I shall make the attempt to dust off the old mac 8500/180, keyboard and
monitor, and get it up and running. Everything was working on the 8500/180
when I upgraded to the G4. I'd like to say that I have the software on a cd,
but that would be too easy of a solution. I'm not as technologically advanced
as I used to be, but I'm always up to the challenge. I'll take your advice
and network the macs and share the disk.
Question though...I have not purchased the upgrade for the software yet. So
is this what you recommend? Won't this pose a problem if I open up the
software and attempt to install it? What happens if I don't have success
installing it? Can it then be exchanged for a full version without any
penalty or a refund?
Because technology changes so fast, I'm finding it is necessary now to
purchase the upgrades, even though I've not needed them for years. And I'm
learning it is good to stay current. It takes money to make money.
Thanks again for your insight on this matter.

 

[Barry Wainwright [MVP]]

According to this page:
<http://www.microsoft.com/mac/howtobuy.aspx?pid=upgrade#office2004>

The upgrade is permitted against any version of office from Office 98
onwards, or from any individual office application (that's actually quite a
generous offer!).

Unfortunately, I think you are unlikely to get any refund if the upgrade
doesn't work - in order to install the upgrade (which is the point where you
will find it doesn't work) you have to break the seal on the disk, at which
point most resellers I know will no longer give a refund for any reason
other than bad media.

However, if you can get the 8500 disk mounted as a share I can see no reason
why it wouldn't work.

The only other route to go would be to get the full Student & Teacher
edition, if you qualify. The rules are here (note they apply to either you
or anyone in your household):

<http://www.microsoft.com/mac/products/office2004/howtobuy/howtobuy.aspx?pid
=qualifiedUser>

These editions are usually available off the shelf at most computer stores,
to any walk-in customer. The cost is lower than the upgrade pack ($149 list
price, against $329), and you get three licenses. However, these editions do
not usually qualify for an upgrade to a future edition. Office v12 (office
2008?) is likely to be about 12 months away, or thereabouts. If you buy S&T
now, then again next year after v12 comes out, you've still spent less than
the retail upgrade edition, and you get the chance to install on three
machines.


--
Barry Wainwright
Microsoft MVP (see http://mvp.support.microsoft.com for details)
Check out the Entourage User's WebLog for hints, tips and troubleshooting
<http://homepage.mac.com/barryw/weblog/weblog.html>

 

[CyberTaz]

With all due respect for Barry's expert guidance, FWIW, I tend toward a
different approach...

If you search the web for Office 2004 you'll find that you can get the
Standard package at a very affordable price - I've found it for as little as
$164 without even trying. S/T is going for ~$129 less a $50 rebate on
Amazon.com as well as others. If it were me, I'd repurchase the full version
& do without all the hassle of networking the old unit, etc. Then box up the
2001 floppies & save as a collector's item :~)

 

[CyberTaz]

Hi Barry -

Yes you did, but that wasn't my point... and I wasn't taking issue with
anything you offered. I was merely suggesting that he/she *repurchase* as
opposed to going through the hassle of trying to tackle what appeared to be
a rather involved upgrade process... not to mention what would be the case
if sometime after disposing of the dinosaur he/she should need to reinstall.

Also, just to be clear, I wasn't actually "recommending" the S/T version
because of the OP's statement;

The S/T EULA explicitly excludes any commercial use of the product. I just
mentioned the going price for comparison purposes in the event he/she
chooses to go that route.