Office Updates without CD

[Lynn]

Office 2003 CD was stolen from our office. Software has
already been activated, that's not an issue. Was
preloaded on Dell computer. MS says to contact Dell for
replacement CD. Dell tells me that per new contract with
MS they can no longer issue replacement CD's, have to
sell me whole new original copy at $120. Given that I
need the CD to install service packs.....it's ridiculous!
With product activation, what's the big deal about
reissuing CD? Thought it was supposed to keep anyone else
from installing.... Anybody have suggestions on how I
can apply service packs/upgrades without Office CD? Or am
I doomed to buy new CD and install it so I can keep
system up to date and safe?

 

[Milly Staples [MVP - Outlook]]

When you installed Office 2003, did you elect to keep the installation files
on the disk? If you are not sure, look for a "msocache" file (turn on
searching hidden/system files). If you find it, you should be okay for
doing updates as this file holds all of the required files for
updating/patching Office.

--
Milly Staples [MVP - Outlook]

Post all replies to the group to keep the discussion intact. Due to the
(insert latest virus name here) virus, all mail sent to my personal account
will be deleted without reading.
| Office 2003 CD was stolen from our office. Software has
| already been activated, that's not an issue. Was
| preloaded on Dell computer. MS says to contact Dell for
| replacement CD. Dell tells me that per new contract with
| MS they can no longer issue replacement CD's, have to
| sell me whole new original copy at $120. Given that I
| need the CD to install service packs.....it's ridiculous!
| With product activation, what's the big deal about
| reissuing CD? Thought it was supposed to keep anyone else
| from installing.... Anybody have suggestions on how I
| can apply service packs/upgrades without Office CD? Or am
| I doomed to buy new CD and install it so I can keep
| system up to date and safe?

 

[Bob Buckland ?:-\)]

Hi Lynn,

Do you recall the name of the rep at Dell you spoke to
and/or a case #? Could you email me that information please?

Was this an individually purchased machine or was the
MS Office copy purchased under a volume license agreement?

=======
Office 2003 CD was stolen from our office. Software has
already been activated, that's not an issue. Was
preloaded on Dell computer. MS says to contact Dell for
replacement CD. Dell tells me that per new contract with
MS they can no longer issue replacement CD's, have to
sell me whole new original copy at $120. Given that I
need the CD to install service packs.....it's ridiculous!
With product activation, what's the big deal about
reissuing CD? Thought it was supposed to keep anyone else
from installing.... Anybody have suggestions on how I
can apply service packs/upgrades without Office CD? Or am
I doomed to buy new CD and install it so I can keep
system up to date and safe? >>

 

[Lynn]

I did not install - came preinstalled on machine
purchased from Dell. I searched, including hidden/system
files, no joy.
Lynn

 

[Lynn]

Bob, I spoke with Chris at Dell, ID 71942, in Small Bus
Division. Case # 071042414. She DID offer for Dell to
cover half the cost and the shipping, which leaves me at
$60 I'd rather not pay if I can find a way around it. She
could not find item # for replacement CD so checked with
colleague who told her it was no longer available due to
new contract with MS.
Machine was purchased individually from Dell with Office
pre-installed.
Lynn

-----Original Message-----
Hi Lynn,

Do you recall the name of the rep at Dell you spoke to
and/or a case #? Could you email me that information please?

Was this an individually purchased machine or was the
MS Office copy purchased under a volume license agreement?

=======
<<"Lynn" <[email protected]> wrote

in message news:[email protected]...

 

[Susan Ramlet]

Lynn,

Thanks for the details you provided Bob. We're looking into this to see
what the issue is. We think Dell was mistaken, but want to find out for
certain.

 

[Lynn]

Just checking to see if any progress has been made on
this issue....
Lynn

 

[Susan Ramlet]

Hi, Lynn,

I asked just yesterday and my contact is going to re-address the issue. May
have gotten buried in someone's inbox. I'll let you know what we find out.

 

[Susan Ramlet]

Lynn,

Here's a summary of the response I got back:

All OEMs (such as Dell) shipping Office are required to ship the media
(once, when you purchase it). The terms of the OEM / Microsoft agreement
also specify that the OEM is charged per Product Key used. So when an OEM
customer loses or damages the media, the cost to the OEM is the same as new
product. Microsoft doesn't specify the replacement policy for the OEM (and
it appears that the major OEM vendors follow a variety of policies).

Most OEMs probably provide the replacement media for a fee, but probably not
every customer rep at the OEMs is aware of that. You may want to push a
little harder if you're willing to purchase replacement media.

As an aside, it would be a good idea to duplicate the CDs that come with the
new computer. Now that R/W CDROMs are relatively
common, that's a good way to ensure yourself against future problems.
Copying a CDROM for backup purposes is not a violation of the EULA.

Sorry that's not a really definitive answer, but you may want to call Dell
again and press the issue with someone even higher up than the two reps you
dealt with.

 

[Lynn]

Susan,
Thanks for looking into it and clarifying things. So
basically, what Microsoft has now done, by enforcing
activation and by requiring media to perform upgrades and
apply patches, is force us honest folks to buy another
copy of their software if we lose the original CD and
don't have a copy.... Another *satisfied* customer, you
might say.

 

[Susan Ramlet]

You're not alone in that frustration, I can tell you.

I do know that they are working on mitigating the requirement for source
media in versions 2000 and later, by offering full file patches, and even
creating a patch for Office 2000 offering a patch that may eliminate the
need for the source. They have heard this particular message.

I look at it as purchasing a book; if I lose it, I can't go back to the
store with my receipt and get another copy of it, because there is a cost
for materials. I'd agree with the recommendation to create backups, though
I must admit I don't take the time to do it myself.

I feel that the OEM should provide you a replacement CD for the cost of the
materials and the shipping, but I guess it depends on their policy. So, you
may still want to press the matter with Dell, and hopefully you can get a
resolution. You are Dell's customer, after all, and I would hope they would
be interested in your satisfaction (and *they* should, in turn, press the
matter back with Microsoft, their supplier).

Good luck--