Install 2007 safe next tot 2003?

[Frans]

Hi there,

I'd like to try de 2007 bêta, but want to keep on using my trusted 2003
version as well.
Can this be done safely, just by installing it in another folder, drive or
partition?
What problems can I expect? (OK, I will not use 2007 files in 2003

Thanks,

Frans

 

[Austin Myers]

No, at some point your going to need to reformat the hard drive. Microsoft
makes this clear and says DO NOT install it on a production machine.


Austin Myers
MS PowerPoint MVP Team

Provider of PFCMedia http://www.pfcmedia.com

 

[Patrick Schmid]

A side-by-side install of PPT 2003 and 2007 is possible (you have to
pick one Outlook version though). I have been running this configuration
since November and 2003 has been mainly unaffected by 2007. I don't
quite know why Austin is suggesting that you have to reformat your
harddrive eventually, which I definitely disagree with. Office 2007 does
uninstall relatively well (Outlook 2007 B2 seems to be the notorious
exception), so uninstalling it should remove it (almost) completely from
your hard drive and whatever remains on your hard drive (if anything at
all) is not going to be a big deal besides taking up harddrive space.
The MS warning to not install it on a production machine refers to using
beta software in a production environment. Beta software has bugs, is by
nature unstable, can "eat your data", etc. Therefore you should be very
careful in using it.
The best strategy is of course to install in a virtual machine or a
separate computer instead of your main production machine.

Patrick Schmid

 

[Austin Myers]

The problem you will run into is uninstalling all the "support" files for
O-12. (If you have a read on the MS web site lots of folks have hit this
wall.) For me, formatting the drive is the easiest solution. Also be aware
that MS has NOT said you will be able to install the final release over the
beta.

I don't know about anyone else but I've been through several versions of the
Office betas and having learned from the past there is no way I would
install it on a machine that was in production use or that had other data
that was important to me. The exception of course being a virtual machine
but I think you will find many of the high end graphics don't work well in a
virtual machine.

All of that aside, it's your PC, go for it if you like.


Austin Myers
MS PowerPoint MVP Team

Provider of PFCMedia http://www.pfcmedia.com

 

[Patrick Schmid]

The problem you will run into is uninstalling all the "support" files
for

O-12. (If you have a read on the MS web site lots of folks have hit this
wall.) For me, formatting the drive is the easiest solution. Also be aware
that MS has NOT said you will be able to install the final release over the
beta.

Probably won't be possible. However, all you need to do is uninstall the
beta version and install the release version. That is the recommend
"upgrade" procedure when moving from one beta build to another and it
seems to work fine the two times I did this so far. Office setup doesn't
delete your settings when you uninstall it, hence it is almost as good
as a clean upgrade.

Patrick Schmid

 

[Austin Myers]

All of that aside, it's your PC, go for it if you like.



Austin Myers
MS PowerPoint MVP Team

Provider of PFCMedia http://www.pfcmedia.com

 

[Austin Myers]

You sound like someone that has been there and done that. <g>

 

[Patrick Schmid]

I generally am a lot more wiling to take a risk when it comes to beta
software personally. I managed though to dissuade someone from switching
to OneNote 2007, quite to my surprise

Patrick Schmid

 

[Frans]

OK thanks Steve,

I'll go the safe way and install on another PC. (Thought so..)
But the discussion about the "good old" times was also interesting!
Have a lot of those stories too. (maybe proceed in San Diego?)

Bye,

Frans