how many computers can I install Office onto?

[Dian Chapman, MVP, MOS]

Okay, I understand what you're saying. You want to purchase the
license from the box, yet just use the preinstalled media to cover you
as that second install.

And yes, *theoretically*, that is what you can do. As long as you have
legal licenses for all running versions as allowed under the
licensing, it doesn't *really* matter which media you use to install.

So if you go out and purchase a boxed version that allows one PC/one
lappy install...and you use the install that's there, versus taking
the time to uninstall/reinstall...should the software police come
knocking on your door...as long as you still have that license (on the
box? manual? paper?) to show that you did purchased a legal copy
allowing two installs...you're covered.

This is common in business. Licensing mgrs just purchase the paper
license for each install and then you're lucky if you can get help
desk to use the designated media to actually install it. As long as
they can find a CD with a valid key, they'll use it! The bottom line
is to pay for what you use and use only what you pay for.

All that said...realize that many OEM installs can and have rights to
add their own little customization. This is more true with Windows
(where you see Dell splashed across the MS Windows screen...that you
wouldn't normally see on a boxed version). This is more rare with
Office...but I have seen some that have had some custom integration in
the past. Particularly from Dell.

Plus...although they are theoretically the same...reading the fine
print (in court under oath<g>) you would find that the OEM version
would only be supported by the Mfgr of the PC...the PC's OEM.

So it basically falls to a literal interpretation of the license
versus a real world situations. You can say...Hey, I bought the right
for two installs and that's what I have and you won't be hauled off to
copyright jail<g>. But if you ever had to read the ID off to some
support rep, they could give you grief because your number will have
the OEM designation in it.

What would I do? Uninstall the OEM version and use the one I bought!

Oh, BTW...since this version requires purchase and is not already paid
for under your initial purchase...this MAY not even fall under the
right of actually being OEM software! Since this is a new practice,
brought about by the ease of the Internet to purchase software online,
the rules may have slightly changed.

And then there was the rule that it was illegal to uninstall OEM
software to install your own!!

When in doubt...READ THE LICENSE! <wink>

Good luck!

Dian D. Chapman, Technical Consultant
Microsoft MVP, MOS Certified
Editor/TechTrax Ezine

Free Tutorials: http://www.mousetrax.com/techtrax
Free Word eBook: www.mousetrax.com/books.html
Optimize your business docs: www.mousetrax.com/consulting
Learn VBA the easy way: www.mousetrax.com/techcourses.html

 

[Gary Smith]

My first goal here is to avoid having to uninstall the "trial version"
and then reinstall the "full version" of essentially the same software
on this new computer. I try to avoid that with all software if possible
feeling that's a good way to corrupt the OS. Second concern is
retaining the right to install on a desktop at a later date.

For what it's worth, uninstalling an old version before installing a newer
version is nearly always the safer approach, and in some cases (Adobe
products, for example) it's almost mandatory. Although some products are
supposedly designed to be installed over older versions, many of those
don't get the transition right, leaving remnants behind that may
compromise stability. A fresh install on a system that has no trace of
the previous version won't be subject to such vulnerabilities.

 

[Lonnie@arcess4less]

Dian

Sounds like this will be one of the cannot be answered cases, but I have
been looking at websites that sell OEM software (without buying hardware)
that comes with the key only or with key and Certificate of Authenticity
(COA). How can I tell if these are really legal and if they are allowed for
1, 2 or 3 licenses?

Lonnie

 

[Dian D. Chapman, MVP]

I've never looked into those in detail, although I do remember that
they were getting away with it by selling some bogus memory chip from
the original PC or some such garbage to get around the license where
it states it must be accompanied with the original equipment.

Personally, would you really want to trust someone who goes through
all that to get around the license? I'd run screaming! ;-)

Good luck...

Dian D. Chapman, Technical Consultant
Microsoft MVP, MOS Certified
Editor/TechTrax Ezine

Free MS Tutorials: http://www.mousetrax.com/techtrax
Free Word eBook: http://www.mousetrax.com/books.html
Optimize your business docs: http://www.mousetrax.com/consulting
Learn VBA the easy way: http://www.mousetrax.com/techcourses.html

 

[ksue]

See http://support.microsoft.com/kb/300273 "OFFXP: Cannot Activate OEM
Edition More Than Once", which says:

The End User License Agreement (Oemeula.txt) for OEM versions of Office
XP contains the following text:
General License Grant to Install and Use. Except as otherwise expressly
provided in this EULA, You may only install and use one copy of the
SOFTWARE PRODUCT on the COMPUTER. The SOFTWARE PRODUCT may not be
installed, accessed, displayed, run, shared or used concurrently on or
from different computers, including a workstation, terminal or other
digital or analog electronic device ("Device"), except as set forth
below for SharePoint Team Services.

 

[ksue]

Just trying to understand....we have a copy of MS office SBE 2003 and the
EULA is similar to what is listed below. We would like to put it on a laptop
as well as the desktop. I have already installed it on the desktop and used
it 2 x's. Can I install it on the laptop also? If not how do I effectively
remove it from the desktop so it doesn't cause a problem with the laptop
install? I have not activated it as yet. If necessary how do I purchase
another license? The laptop comes with Office 2003 trial version. Thanks
for your help.

 

[garfield-n-odie]

Office 2003 Small Business Edition is available in both retail and
preinstalled (OEM) versions. If you have a retail version, then you can
install it on both your desktop and laptop (uninstall the trial version
from the laptop before you install Office 2003 SBE). If you have a
preinstalled (OEM) version, then you can only install it on the computer
that the software came with, and you will have to purchase another copy
of Office to install on the laptop. You can read the End User License
Agreement that applies to your copy of Office by starting Word and
clicking on Help | Microsoft Word Help | Contents | <expand the
"Microsoft Word Help" category> | End User License Agreement.