Activation & VMWare

J

Jeff

I've put together a VMWare (and VirtualPC) image that has Windows 2003 and
Microsoft office 2003 using the product keys that came with my MSDN
subscription. I have activated microsoft office successfully and burned the
image to a DVD so that I can restore it whenever I need.

The one thing I'm finding is that when I run the virtual machine from
another computer, Office is required re-activation. I don't want to
circumvent the system or violate any EULAs but is there any way that I can
create an activated version of MS Office on a virtual machine and then not
have to reactivate whenever I put it on another one of my development boxes?
If not, are there any recommendations?

One thing I thought about was to download the MS Office trial version. It
has a 60-day trial on it, which should be sufficient for my purposes. That
said, does anyone know when the clock starts ticking? Does it start when the
application is installed or when it is activated?

Any help would be appreciated.
 
A

ANONYMOUS

As far as I know, Office 2003 can be legally installed on two systems.
Are you likely to install it on more than two systems?

Also, Office 2003 can be activated online on any new installations after
every 120 days; This magic number is given in Late Alex Nicholls' MVP
article on activation. After every 120 days, MS servers are wiped clean
for reasons not known to anybody. The only exception being for OEM
software which remains permanent on MS servers due to licensing and
charging to OEM suppliers.

Sorry I can't give a proper reply to your specific questions.

hth
 
M

Milly Staples [MVP - Outlook]

Each Virtual PC/VMWare session requires a separate license and activation
for both WIndows and Office. Using a trial version is a good idea (what I
use) since it will work for 60 days from the first time an application is
opened and activated. That is when the clock starts ticking.

--
Milly Staples [MVP - Outlook]

Post all replies to the group to keep the discussion intact. All
unsolicited mail sent to my personal account will be deleted without
reading.

After furious head scratching, Jeff asked:

| I've put together a VMWare (and VirtualPC) image that has Windows
| 2003 and Microsoft office 2003 using the product keys that came with
| my MSDN subscription. I have activated microsoft office successfully
| and burned the image to a DVD so that I can restore it whenever I
| need.
|
| The one thing I'm finding is that when I run the virtual machine from
| another computer, Office is required re-activation. I don't want to
| circumvent the system or violate any EULAs but is there any way that
| I can create an activated version of MS Office on a virtual machine
| and then not have to reactivate whenever I put it on another one of
| my development boxes? If not, are there any recommendations?
|
| One thing I thought about was to download the MS Office trial
| version. It has a 60-day trial on it, which should be sufficient for
| my purposes. That said, does anyone know when the clock starts
| ticking? Does it start when the application is installed or when it
| is activated?
|
| Any help would be appreciated.
 
Top