Activate expired trial with MLK

[google]

MS information seems to indicate that I can get permanent use of an
Office 2007 OEM trial, by buying an MLK at any time. However several
retailers' sites have this wording: "The end user can purchase a
Microsoft Office MLK license within 90 days after new PC purchase."
This seems to indicate that you can ONLY make it permanent within 90
days. This seems a bit odd as the trial is 60 days. Retailers either
don't know or won't say in case they get it wrong. Can someone make
this clear?
Thanks
Tode

 

[Beth Melton]

The Office 2007 trial situation is terribly confusing. I've gone over the
information on this several times and made a few phone calls as well. What
I've concluded is you don't want to purchase a trial version period.
Especially one from an OEM. When you take the OEM route you may pay a little
less but you also get what you pay for - you're limited to turning to the
OEM for support, such as replacement media and replacement keys. (Good luck
getting either if you need them!) And the OEM version is tied to the
computer in which is was installed. This means you can't install it on
another computer even if that computer dies next week. It's best to purchase
a retail version.

That said, regarding your question, all I have is specualation. I'd say each
OEM can place whatever stipulation they want regarding purchase. Even though
the trial version may expire in 60 days some may allow 90 days to convert
the trial to a perpetual license. (Think home users who may not use Office
daily). Although I suspect they'd go over 90 days too -- who's going to turn
down a sale? ;-)

Please post all follow-up questions to the newsgroup. Requests for
assistance by email cannot be acknowledged.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Beth Melton
Microsoft Office MVP

Coauthor of Word 2007 Inside Out:
http://www.microsoft.com/MSPress/books/9801.aspx#AboutTheBook

Word FAQ: http://mvps.org/word
TechTrax eZine: http://mousetrax.com/techtrax/
MVP FAQ site: http://mvps.org/

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

MICROSOFT MEDIALESS LICENSE KIT (MLK)

The period for using the trial version of Office 2007 is 60 days.
If you wish to acquire a MLK, then you have 90 days from the
purchase date of a new PC to do so. These are two different things.
If you do not acquire a MLK within 90 days of your PC purchase,
then you'll have to purchase a full retail version of Office 2007.

Ref: http://www.microsoft.com/oem/english/office/mlk.mspx

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows Shell/User

---------------------------------------------------------------


MS information seems to indicate that I can get permanent use of an
Office 2007 OEM trial, by buying an MLK at any time. However several
retailers' sites have this wording: "The end user can purchase a
Microsoft Office MLK license within 90 days after new PC purchase."
This seems to indicate that you can ONLY make it permanent within 90
days. This seems a bit odd as the trial is 60 days. Retailers either
don't know or won't say in case they get it wrong. Can someone make
this clear?
Thanks
Tode

 

[google]

MICROSOFT MEDIALESS LICENSE KIT (MLK)

The period for using the trial version of Office 2007 is 60 days.
If you wish to acquire a MLK, then you have 90 days from the
purchase date of a new PC to do so. These are two different things.
If you do not acquire a MLK within 90 days of your PC purchase,
then you'll have to purchase a full retail version of Office 2007.

Ref:http://www.microsoft.com/oem/english/office/mlk.mspx

Thanks very much - I had been searching for some such information
without success. I do think it could have been made a bit more clear
when I started the trial. And I can't see any logical reason for this
time limit, it seems just to be annoying.
I am now over the 90 days, but I can't justify the full product price
for the use I will make of it. I am fed up with seeing ads for cheap
version of the "full product" and finding in the small print that it's
the academic version. So it's probably, bye MS, hello Open Office!
Tode

 

[google]

MICROSOFT MEDIALESS LICENSE KIT (MLK)

The period for using the trial version of Office 2007 is 60 days.
If you wish to acquire a MLK, then you have 90 days from the
purchase date of a new PC to do so. These are two different things.
If you do not acquire a MLK within 90 days of your PC purchase,
then you'll have to purchase a full retail version of Office 2007.

Ref:http://www.microsoft.com/oem/english/office/mlk.mspx

[/QUOTE]

Sorry to follow up my own post but I have looked into this a bit more
and am still just as confused.

When I open an Office app and get the pop-up saying that my trial has
expired, I am offered the option to buy from MS on-line store. There
is nothing about 90 days or any other period limit. I am then
directed to a web site that offers the product at a lot less than the
full product retail price (although a lot more than some UK retailers
are offering the MLK for).

On the page that I'm directed to there is a faq (http://
buy.trymicrosoftoffice.com/buyemea1/faq.aspx). This says simply "You
can convert from the trial software to a full-version either before or
after the trial period ends." I have read all possibly relevant bits
of this faq and there is absolutely nothing about a time limit for
conversion. The faq does not refer to a media-less key but does refer
to a perpetual product key, which appears to be sold on-line without
media so I would presume that it means what is sold as an MLK.

I have also checked the activation assistant that I used when I
activated the trial. This also says nothing about a time limit. It
does say "you can buy it at any time". Well, I can indeed buy a full
retail version at any time, but this isn't news. Surely the wording
implies that I can *convert* at any time. It certainly doesn't tell me
that I *can't* convert at any time. That's why the 90 day limit came
as a nasty shock.

The vital info about the time limit seems to be held only in a faq
that I couldn't even find with Google. Can this really be the
policy? I don't expect a company the size of MS to behave in this
way.

Tode

 

[Beth Melton]

The primary difference is if you have a trial version installed by an OEM
you aren't dealing with Microsoft, per say, you're dealing with the OEM.
While Microsoft does provide them with various standards, pricing, support,
etc is up to the OEM. IOW, the OEM purchases licenses/Office for resale.

If you purchase a retail version you cut out the 'middle man" and deal
directly with Microsoft. As noted in my reply, I've found it best to deal
directly with Microsoft and not with the OEM.

Please post all follow-up questions to the newsgroup. Requests for
assistance by email cannot be acknowledged.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Beth Melton
Microsoft Office MVP

Coauthor of Word 2007 Inside Out:
http://www.microsoft.com/MSPress/books/9801.aspx#AboutTheBook

Word FAQ: http://mvps.org/word
TechTrax eZine: http://mousetrax.com/techtrax/
MVP FAQ site: http://mvps.org/

 

[google]

I can now update and (hopefully) bring this discussion to a close. I
contacted the supplier of my "Office Ready" PC and complained that
there was conflicting information from MS as to whether I could
upgrade the trial of Office 2007 after 90 days had expired. Also that
I had not been told of any time restrictions when activating the
software.

My supplier agreed that information from MS was inconsistent, and
contacted them. My supplier eventually told me that MS had come back
to them, and said that I could still purchase a product key and
upgrade to a "perpetual" version.

I did that and the upgrade worked - not sure how many days after
activation but it must have been at least 120. However the
information in the MS pack told me that after 90 days I would not have
the right to purchase backup discs. Also the information on the cover
of the envelope said (in small print) "License must be sold within 90
days of purchase of a PC". (I carefully did not read this before
opening, as it was headed "ATTENTION SYSTEM BUILDERS AND RESELLERS"
and that's not me!) This is yet another different condition - it
refers to the sale of the key, not when it can be used.

It is pretty obvious that MS need to review all their information on
this upgrade, that is provided in various places, and make sure that
it is both fair and consistent. For it to be fair, any conditions on
the time of doing the upgrade, should be made clear at the time that
the trial is activated. That includes conditions on the availability
of backup discs. (I do find it hard to see why MS will allow backup
discs to be bought within 90 days of the PC purchase but not after.)

Anyway, thanks to the support department of Misco UK. Although they
did not respond to my initial request on their web form, once I got to
deal with a real person they were very helpful.

Tode

 

[Beth Melton]

Thanks for the follow-up!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Beth Melton
Microsoft Office MVP
https://mvp.support.microsoft.com/profile/Melton

What is a Microsoft MVP? http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/gp/mvpfaqs