Can I buy another license for my Office XP OEM?

[Chris Edwards]

Is it possible to purchase another license for my Office XP SBE OEM, so I can
install it on my new laptop? How can I do this? Or do I have to buy a new one
for even more money?

I bought a Dell Dimension 4600C from Dell Hong Kong, for home use, and the
only Office XP I could buy was the SBE. WHY? It cost me US$244 and I don't
even run a small business, it's for home use!! AND IT DOESN'T EVEN HAVE
POWERPOINT!!! And Microsoft support is always telling me to go to Dell for
support, since it is an OEM, but Dell support tell me that I should go to
Microsoft for support. What do I do??!

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

Microsoft Office XP Professional with SP3 and MS Publisher - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16837116177

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP - Shell/User
Microsoft Newsgroups

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

:

| Is it possible to purchase another license for my Office XP SBE OEM, so I can
| install it on my new laptop? How can I do this? Or do I have to buy a new one
| for even more money?
|
| I bought a Dell Dimension 4600C from Dell Hong Kong, for home use, and the
| only Office XP I could buy was the SBE. WHY? It cost me US$244 and I don't
| even run a small business, it's for home use!! AND IT DOESN'T EVEN HAVE
| POWERPOINT!!! And Microsoft support is always telling me to go to Dell for
| support, since it is an OEM, but Dell support tell me that I should go to
| Microsoft for support. What do I do??!

 

[Evadne Cake]

Is it possible to purchase another license for my Office XP SBE OEM, so I can

install it on my new laptop? How can I do this? Or do I have to buy a new one

for even more money?

I bought a Dell Dimension 4600C from Dell Hong Kong, for home use, and the
only Office XP I could buy was the SBE. WHY? It cost me US$244 and I don't
even run a small business, it's for home use!! AND IT DOESN'T EVEN HAVE
POWERPOINT!!! And Microsoft support is always telling me to go to Dell for
support, since it is an OEM, but Dell support tell me that I should go to
Microsoft for support. What do I do??!

Office XP is no longer provided with new systems and hasn't been for nearly
two years because it became obsolete when 2003 was released. Are you sure you
don't mean 2003?

You're ranting because you completely failed to do any homework before
purchase. Let's suppose for a moment it was Office XP (and if you've paid
$244 for it you've been ripped off - you could purchase Office 2003 STE for
under $100 (which is Office Standard so, therefore, includes PowerPoint).
Although it states you have to be an educational user, no proof is required
(my father bought it when he needed Office for their new system) and you'd
have been licensed for three systems in the same house.

The reason you were supplied with the SBE is because that's only OEM version
of Office XP (I've just realised why you were supplied with Office XP - the
4600C was the precursor to the 4700 and is nearly 3 years old - therefore you
have purchased a second hand or reconditioned system).

Suggest you learn the restrictions of an OEM licence: -

-- are *permanently* bound to the system they were supplied with and *cannot*
be installed on any other.

-- cannot upgrade

-- cannot be transferred to a different computer in the future

-- the licence cannot be sold or transferred to another user

-- are not eligible for free Microsoft technical support

-- cost less than "retail versions" due to the above limitations

Had you done your homework you would have known this, as well as what
applications were included in the suite you were purchasing.

You have no-one to blame but yourself.

 

[Mike Hall \(MS-MVP\)]

Chis

With all OEM products, the responsibility for support falls to the vendor
regardless of what the vendor may tell you..

 

[Chris Edwards]

Firstly, I bought my system 3 years ago, when Office 2003 didn't exist.
Secondly, 'done my homework'?? Since when has buying a personal computer
become a research assignment? Microsoft's TV campaign here in Hong Kong makes
everything look so easy (maybe because there's no computer to be seen in any
of the ads). And you're telling me I was ripped off? Office 2003 SBE retail
costs around $240...now that's a rip-off. Plus, why don't Microsoft supply
Dell with other version of Office...not the most expensive. I bought my
computer from the 'Home and Home Office' section...do you think I wanted
Office SBE?!

By telling me I hadn't done my homework, basically you're telling me that
everyone with less experience in computers than me is being ripped off. $240
for Office is incredibly and unnecessarily expensive, considering it costs
next to nothing to produce. Good job Microsoft.

 

[DL]

Personnally I think it a bad idea to purchase any software with a PC , I can
just about put up with the o/s being supplied.
Its the supplier, in your case Dell, who perhaps fail to advise purchases of
the downside of OEM software.
This is not just a Dell fault, but as far as I can see all OEM suppliers

 

[Beth Melton]

Gasp! You mean you don't research every purchase over $100 USD?

Seriously, I do. Consumer Reports is one of the few subscriptions I
own. These days you need to be an educated consumer.

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

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Beth Melton

 

[JoAnn Paules [MSFT MVP]]

You should ALWAYS do your homework before buying a computer. That is unless
you really don't care about how you spend your money. It is a major
purchase. Now if you're independently wealthy and you can afford to toss
good money away, let me know and I'll set up a Paypal account for you to
transfer over some of that disposable money you seem have.

And Microsoft doesn't supply Dell with a particular edition. Dell buys the
editions they want. Generally it's Small Business and Professional.