Upgrading hardware with activated software

[Randy Trahan]

I am reluctant to buy new MS Office software because I may upgrade my computer in the next year or so. I am concerned that the activation process permanently welds my software to one machine. The software may be a bigger investment than the hardware. If I commit to installing new software on one machine, I am locking myself in to that machine for a long time to come

Is there any way I can upgrade hardware after my software has been activated. If so, is there a link you can give me to a page that explains this process?

 

[Brian]

You can learn more about Activation at:
http://www.microsoft.com/piracy/basics/activation/

Basically, unless it is an OEM copy of Office, you are allowed to move
it to a new computer. The keyword here is "move". Internet activation
may fail in which case you just need to call Microsoft and tell them
what's going on and they'll activate it.

 

[Randy Trahan]

As best I can understand from the link you provided, when I get a new computer I should uninstall my software from my old computer. (In some mysterious way the computers at Microsoft track everything I do and they will know that I have done this.)

Then I install the software on my new computer. At some point in time during the installation process I will get a message to call a secret phone number. When I call this secret phone number, my software will be activated on my new machine.

Is this correct?

 

[Martin]

As best I can understand from the link you provided, when I get a new

computer I should uninstall my software from my old computer. (In some
mysterious way the computers at Microsoft track everything I do and they
will know that I have done this.)

Then I install the software on my new computer. At some point in time

during the installation process I will get a message to call a secret phone
number. When I call this secret phone number, my software will be activated
on my new machine.

Is this correct?

You haven't seen any men in dark glasses following you in the street by any
chance?

 

[Brian]

First, a comment for working with newsgroups. Please include the
original message so people know what is being discussed.

Currently Microsoft does not know if you actually removed the software.
They just have to "trust" what you say on the phone.

 

[Randy Trahan]

Thanks Brian. That makes sense. It is still a deterrent to piracy, because I'm sure someone would get suspicious if I “upgraded†150 times.

Regarding including the original message, I guess newsgroups are different from e-mail discussion groups. There everyone gets down on you if you do include the original message, because they have to reread the same material over & over. I guess newsgroups are different.


----- Brian wrote: -----

First, a comment for working with newsgroups. Please include the
original message so people know what is being discussed.

Currently Microsoft does not know if you actually removed the software.
They just have to "trust" what you say on the phone.