Office Mac 2008. Want to reformat computer &save Office, but lost the disk.

[Saracmd]

Version: 2008 Operating System: Mac OS X 10.5 (Leopard) Processor: Intel I want to reformat my computer. I currently have Office for Mac 2008 installed. But before I reformat, i want to know if there is a way for me to reinstall Office (once the reformat is completed) without the disks (I lost them in a move).
Is there a copy of all the serial numbers and product keys saved somewhere in the Office directories? And is there a place for me to download the program and use my serials? Or is there a way to save a copy of the programs before I start my reformat?

 

[Diane Ross]

I want to reformat my computer. I currently have Office for Mac 2008
installed. But before I reformat, i want to know if there is a way for me to
reinstall Office (once the reformat is completed) without the disks (I lost
them in a move).
Is there a copy of all the serial numbers and product keys saved somewhere in
the Office directories? And is there a place for me to download the program
and use my serials? Or is there a way to save a copy of the programs before I
start my reformat?

It is difficult to do an install without the DVDs. The current trial
download does not allow you to use a retail serial.

<http://www.entourage.mvps.org/path/index.html>

(You do not need the Spotlight cache files. Entourage will recreate those)

You can use the directions for removing serial and Office to learn where
some of the files are stored, but it does not cover everything like the
mdimporter file for Spotlight cache and the MAU.

<http://www.entourage.mvps.org/version/index.html#reset>

<http://www.entourage.mvps.org/install/remove_office.html>

Have you considered using Migration Assistant to move over your files?

--
Diane Ross, Microsoft Mac MVP
Entourage Help Page <http://www.entourage.mvps.org/>
Entourage Help Blog <http://blog.entourage.mvps.org/>
YouTalk <http://tinyurl.com/bzcrjy> <-- Entourage mailing list
Twitter: follow <http://twitter.com/entouragehelp>

 

[Jim Gordon Mac MVP]

It is difficult to do an install without the DVDs. The current trial
download does not allow you to use a retail serial.

<http://www.entourage.mvps.org/path/index.html>

(You do not need the Spotlight cache files. Entourage will recreate those)

You can use the directions for removing serial and Office to learn where
some of the files are stored, but it does not cover everything like the
mdimporter file for Spotlight cache and the MAU.

<http://www.entourage.mvps.org/version/index.html#reset>

<http://www.entourage.mvps.org/install/remove_office.html>

Have you considered using Migration Assistant to move over your files?

I recommend that before you reformat your hard drive that you take the
following steps (you'll need a second hard drive with enough room
connected by FireWire to do this):

1. Boot to your MacOSX install disk. Choose the language you want to use.
2. In the next screen, use the Utilities menu to launch Disk Utiltiy
3. Use Disk Utility to Verify the hard drive and use Repair if needed
4. Use Disk Utility to create a disc image of your computer onto the
extra hard drive
6. Once you have created the disc image you can Disk Utility to erase
your original hard drive (don't erase the one with your backup copy, of
course)
7. Now quit Disk Utility and you can proceed with your install of
MacOSX. Again, be sure you choose the correct disc so that you don't
wipe out your backup.
8. When MacOSX is installed, it will boot up with the nice music, etc.
One of the choices you'll be offered is to use a disc image to migrate
to your fresh system install. That's what you want to do - or you can
choose the option to not import anything and then use the Migration
Assistant application in the Application > Utilities folder.

-Jim