Can I uninstall and reinstall Office with the same product key?

[Ben]

I am building a new computer and want to uninstall Microsoft Office 2003 Pro
from my old machine and reinstall it on my new machine. Can I do this and
still use the same Product Key?

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

Yes, as long as it's a "Retail Version" and not an "OEM Version".

How to troubleshoot problems that you may experience when you
try to activate an Office product
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;903275

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

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

:

| I am building a new computer and want to uninstall Microsoft Office 2003 Pro
| from my old machine and reinstall it on my new machine. Can I do this and
| still use the same Product Key?

 

[Mike Hall \(MS-MVP\)]

Ben

As long as you have bought a full retail version, yes.. using a different
product key, assuming you had one laying around somewhere, may produce
results that are counter-productive..

 

[Rob Giordano \(Crash\)]

If you have OEM and your hd gets wacked and you have to reinstall...are you
outta luck then?

just wonderin' ?

 

[JoAnn Paules [MSFT MVP]]

Could be.

--

JoAnn Paules
MVP Microsoft [Publisher]

 

[Beth Melton]

It's still the same computer so you should be able to reinstall it.
It's licensed to the computer - not the HD.

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

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

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

 

[Rob Giordano \(Crash\)]

This may sound really dumb...but wouldn't any record of which computer it
was installed on be on the old trashed harddrive? So if an OEM will install
on a new harddrive on an old machine in essense the OEM thinks its a new
install right?

 

[Beth Melton]

I think you are referring to Activation here? If anything you would
need to use telephone activation and explain you replaced your HD.
They've provided for upgrading hardware components.

The only thing I'd question is replacement of the MB. ;-)

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

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

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

 

[Rob Giordano \(Crash\)]

just a hypothetical question

I think you are referring to Activation here? If anything you would need to
use telephone activation and explain you replaced your HD. They've provided
for upgrading hardware components.

The only thing I'd question is replacement of the MB. ;-)

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

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

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

 

[Beth Melton]

I understood it was hypothetical.

I'm thinking you misunderstood my "geek comment" at the end??

Just in case I'll explain: If you replace the mother board then in
essence you are replacing the computer - not just a hardware
component. In this scenario I would question whether replacing your MB
would pass even the telephone method for activation for an OEM
version. So that's one I'd contact MS about to find out for sure
first.

~Beth Melton

 

[Rob Giordano \(Crash\)]

I didnt misunderstand..i plain flat out didnt see that line...

 

[Beth Melton]

I didnt misunderstand..i plain flat out didnt see that line...

Hey, that was the best part! <G>

~Beth Melton

 

[Rob Giordano \(Crash\)]

Technogeekazoid & legal response...i love it.
Ok...so sometimes I'm a little dense...comes from reading too many ngs