Office 2003 not Portable?

[John D]

I have been working on transfering Office 2003 to my new Vista machine. I
have never been able to get the "Genuine Advantage" to work with Vista, and
so am restricted in what I can download. Yesterday I called the Microsoft
Genuine Advantage phone number and was told that Office Products are not
portable, they are tied to one machine, one motherboard, and cannot be
switched from one system to another. I explained that this was the full
product, Office Professional purchased at Costco, and not an OEM version, he
said it made no difference, if I wanted Office on another computer I had to
buy it again. I was also told that this applies to Office 2007 and earlier
versions. Windows XP also, but not Vista for some reason. The man was very
definite, and exceptions for a bad motherboard or some other failure required
sending MS proof of purchase, and of the failure.

Can this be true? Has anyone else had this experience? My Office 2003
"activated" just fine on my new system, and I have transfered it between
system upgrades before since I bought got in 2004, and this is the first time
I have had a problem. I know that the WGA stuff has been changing, that MS
is trying to tighten up on piracy, and maybe this is one of the changes but
it shocked the heck out of me.

 

[Bob Buckland ?:-\)]

Hi John,

The information you were given is incorrect. Retail editions of Microsoft Office products are transferable, OEM editions are not.

Did you get a 'case number' when you called support?

=========
I have been working on transfering Office 2003 to my new Vista machine. I
have never been able to get the "Genuine Advantage" to work with Vista, and
so am restricted in what I can download. Yesterday I called the Microsoft
Genuine Advantage phone number and was told that Office Products are not
portable, they are tied to one machine, one motherboard, and cannot be
switched from one system to another. I explained that this was the full
product, Office Professional purchased at Costco, and not an OEM version, he
said it made no difference, if I wanted Office on another computer I had to
buy it again. I was also told that this applies to Office 2007 and earlier
versions. Windows XP also, but not Vista for some reason. The man was very
definite, and exceptions for a bad motherboard or some other failure required
sending MS proof of purchase, and of the failure.

Can this be true? Has anyone else had this experience? My Office 2003
"activated" just fine on my new system, and I have transfered it between
system upgrades before since I bought got in 2004, and this is the first time
I have had a problem. I know that the WGA stuff has been changing, that MS
is trying to tighten up on piracy, and maybe this is one of the changes but
it shocked the heck out of me.>>
--

Bob Buckland ?
MS Office System Products MVP

*Courtesy is not expensive and can pay big dividends*

 

[John D]

Hi Bob,

No I did not, I do not think it got to the case number point as it was more
of an inquiry on my part. I did get the gentlemans name, but I would
hesitate to post this in a public forum.

Why would the retail version version not be working with WGA? I cannot get
past the authentication to download templates, calendars, etc. I have had
problems with program "activation" before, but the MS people were extremely
cooperative in getting me going again. Dramatically different was my
experience yesterday with the Genuine Advantage support person. What would
you suggest I do, try again? I really do not like these stressful "help
desk" type experiences.

Thanks
John