Internet access by Office products

[Richard]

After installing Office 2003, the firewall software is
constantly pelting the users with "office product x"
requires access to the internet. Internet access is
blocked except to specific locations so the only option
is to click on OK and leave it blocked, which many times
results in a "not responding" message. We have
disabled "Microsoft Office Online featured links", but it
doesn't matter - opening a product, cutting and pasting,
help, all require internet access. We do not understand
why we have to be connected to Redmond to use this
product, but it's so annoying that it's quickly getting
close to uninstalling it and throwing it in the trash.
Is there a way to install the product to work off-line?

 

[Eric Lawrence [MSFT]]

Absolutely. There's nothing in Office which requires an internet connection
that cannot be disabled.

You will need to do a bit more than disable only the featured links-- you
need to disable online content.

You can do this via Group Policy, or via the UI:

Start Word.
Hit F1.
At the footer of the Help pane, click Online Content Settings.
Uncheck the "Show content and links from Microsoft Office Online"
checkbox.
Note that everything grays out.
Click Ok and restart the application.

Please note that some firewall software incorrectly flags an attempt at
Internet access when no such access is occuring.

This occurs because of how Office tries to detect if you're presently online
(essentially, a loopback port is momentarily opened). We're investigating a
change in this behavior for a future service pack. For the moment, you
can simply configure your firewall to either auto-allow or auto-block the
application-- there's no change in user experience.

Thanks,

Eric Lawrence
Program Manager
Assistance and Worldwide Services

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.

 

[Eric Lawrence [MSFT]]

Absolutely. There's nothing in Office which requires an internet connection
that cannot be disabled.

You will need to do a bit more than disable only the featured links-- you
need to disable online content.

You can do this via Group Policy, or via the UI:

Start Word.
Hit F1.
At the footer of the Help pane, click Online Content Settings.
Uncheck the "Show content and links from Microsoft Office Online"
checkbox.
Note that everything grays out.
Click Ok and restart the application.

Please note that some firewall software incorrectly flags an attempt at
Internet access when no such access is occuring.

This occurs because of how Office tries to detect if you're presently online
(essentially, a loopback port is momentarily opened). We're investigating a
change in this behavior for a future service pack. For the moment, you
can simply configure your firewall to either auto-allow or auto-block the
application-- there's no change in user experience.

Thanks,

Eric Lawrence
Program Manager
Assistance and Worldwide Services

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.

 

[Eric Lawrence [MSFT]]

Absolutely. There's nothing in Office which requires an internet connection
that cannot be disabled.

You will need to do a bit more than disable only the featured links-- you
need to disable online content.

You can do this via Group Policy, or via the UI:

Start Word.
Hit F1.
At the footer of the Help pane, click Online Content Settings.
Uncheck the "Show content and links from Microsoft Office Online"
checkbox.
Note that everything grays out.
Click Ok and restart the application.

Please note that some firewall software incorrectly flags an attempt at
Internet access when no such access is occuring.

This occurs because of how Office tries to detect if you're presently online
(essentially, a loopback port is momentarily opened). We're investigating a
change in this behavior for a future service pack. For the moment, you
can simply configure your firewall to either auto-allow or auto-block the
application-- there's no change in user experience.

Thanks,

Eric Lawrence
Program Manager
Assistance and Worldwide Services

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.

 

[Eric Lawrence [MSFT]]

Absolutely. There's nothing in Office which requires an internet connection
that cannot be disabled.

You will need to do a bit more than disable only the featured links-- you
need to disable online content.

You can do this via Group Policy, or via the UI:

Start Word.
Hit F1.
At the footer of the Help pane, click Online Content Settings.
Uncheck the "Show content and links from Microsoft Office Online"
checkbox.
Note that everything grays out.
Click Ok and restart the application.

Please note that some firewall software incorrectly flags an attempt at
Internet access when no such access is occuring.

This occurs because of how Office tries to detect if you're presently online
(essentially, a loopback port is momentarily opened). We're investigating a
change in this behavior for a future service pack. For the moment, you
can simply configure your firewall to either auto-allow or auto-block the
application-- there's no change in user experience.

Thanks,

Eric Lawrence
Program Manager
Assistance and Worldwide Services

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.

 

[Eric Lawrence [MSFT]]

Absolutely. There's nothing in Office which requires an internet connection
that cannot be disabled.

You will need to do a bit more than disable only the featured links-- you
need to disable online content.

You can do this via Group Policy, or via the UI:

Start Word.
Hit F1.
At the footer of the Help pane, click Online Content Settings.
Uncheck the "Show content and links from Microsoft Office Online"
checkbox.
Note that everything grays out.
Click Ok and restart the application.

Please note that some firewall software incorrectly flags an attempt at
Internet access when no such access is occuring.

This occurs because of how Office tries to detect if you're presently online
(essentially, a loopback port is momentarily opened). We're investigating a
change in this behavior for a future service pack. For the moment, you
can simply configure your firewall to either auto-allow or auto-block the
application-- there's no change in user experience.

Thanks,

Eric Lawrence
Program Manager
Assistance and Worldwide Services

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.

 

[Eric Lawrence [MSFT]]

Absolutely. There's nothing in Office which requires an internet connection
that cannot be disabled.

You will need to do a bit more than disable only the featured links-- you
need to disable online content.

You can do this via Group Policy, or via the UI:

Start Word.
Hit F1.
At the footer of the Help pane, click Online Content Settings.
Uncheck the "Show content and links from Microsoft Office Online"
checkbox.
Note that everything grays out.
Click Ok and restart the application.

Please note that some firewall software incorrectly flags an attempt at
Internet access when no such access is occuring.

This occurs because of how Office tries to detect if you're presently online
(essentially, a loopback port is momentarily opened). We're investigating a
change in this behavior for a future service pack. For the moment, you
can simply configure your firewall to either auto-allow or auto-block the
application-- there's no change in user experience.

Thanks,

Eric Lawrence
Program Manager
Assistance and Worldwide Services

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.

 

[Eric Lawrence [MSFT]]

Absolutely. There's nothing in Office which requires an internet connection
that cannot be disabled.

You will need to do a bit more than disable only the featured links-- you
need to disable online content.

You can do this via Group Policy, or via the UI:

Start Word.
Hit F1.
At the footer of the Help pane, click Online Content Settings.
Uncheck the "Show content and links from Microsoft Office Online"
checkbox.
Note that everything grays out.
Click Ok and restart the application.

Please note that some firewall software incorrectly flags an attempt at
Internet access when no such access is occuring.

This occurs because of how Office tries to detect if you're presently online
(essentially, a loopback port is momentarily opened). We're investigating a
change in this behavior for a future service pack. For the moment, you
can simply configure your firewall to either auto-allow or auto-block the
application-- there's no change in user experience.

Thanks,

Eric Lawrence
Program Manager
Assistance and Worldwide Services

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.

 

[Eric Lawrence [MSFT]]

Absolutely. There's nothing in Office which requires an internet connection
that cannot be disabled.

You will need to do a bit more than disable only the featured links-- you
need to disable online content.

You can do this via Group Policy, or via the UI:

Start Word.
Hit F1.
At the footer of the Help pane, click Online Content Settings.
Uncheck the "Show content and links from Microsoft Office Online"
checkbox.
Note that everything grays out.
Click Ok and restart the application.

Please note that some firewall software incorrectly flags an attempt at
Internet access when no such access is occuring.

This occurs because of how Office tries to detect if you're presently online
(essentially, a loopback port is momentarily opened). We're investigating a
change in this behavior for a future service pack. For the moment, you
can simply configure your firewall to either auto-allow or auto-block the
application-- there's no change in user experience.

Thanks,

Eric Lawrence
Program Manager
Assistance and Worldwide Services

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.