Moving (NOT copying) Office 2003 from one machine to another?

[Josh Fruhlinger]

Hello-

Not sure if this is the best group for this question, but
it seems related to installing the software, so here goes:

I am considering buying Office 2003 now. However, I am
reasonably sure that I will be buying a new and improved
computer system in the next 9-12 months. Because Office is
a substantial investment, I would want to be able to use
the copy of Office I buy now on my new computer later in 2004.

I am NOT contemplating copying Office illegally! My
intention is to install Office on my current computer, and,
when I buy the new computer, to wipe the hard drive of my
current computer and install Office on the new machine. (I
will probably install Linux on the old machine, so Office
*definitely* won't be running there!)

It doesn't seem to me that there should be anything illegal
about this ... after all, I will only be using Office 2003
on one computer at a time throughout this process.
However, I know that piracy has been a big concern of
Microsoft lately and I'm afraid the copy protection built
in to the software may interpret this process as an attempt
to illegally pirate it. So, my question is, is the process
I describe possible, or will I be unable to move Office
when I move comptuers? If I can't take Office with me, I
will just hold out until I get a new computer.

Thanks in advance,
jf

 

[Susan Ramlet]

Hi, Josh,

Hi, Josh,

There is nothing illegal about this, as long as you don't buy Office 2003
pre-installed on the computer. A retail copy license is licensed to you
(where a pre-installed copy is tied to the computer it was installed on).
When you activate the software on your new computer, an Internet activation
may, indeed, fail. However, you can use the telephone method of activation
and explain the hardware change to the operator.

Hope that helps--

 

[Epona]

Hello-

Not sure if this is the best group for this question, but
it seems related to installing the software, so here goes:

I am considering buying Office 2003 now. However, I am
reasonably sure that I will be buying a new and improved
computer system in the next 9-12 months. Because Office is
a substantial investment, I would want to be able to use
the copy of Office I buy now on my new computer later in 2004.

I am NOT contemplating copying Office illegally! My
intention is to install Office on my current computer, and,
when I buy the new computer, to wipe the hard drive of my
current computer and install Office on the new machine. (I
will probably install Linux on the old machine, so Office
*definitely* won't be running there!)

It doesn't seem to me that there should be anything illegal
about this ... after all, I will only be using Office 2003
on one computer at a time throughout this process.
However, I know that piracy has been a big concern of
Microsoft lately and I'm afraid the copy protection built
in to the software may interpret this process as an attempt
to illegally pirate it. So, my question is, is the process
I describe possible, or will I be unable to move Office
when I move comptuers? If I can't take Office with me, I
will just hold out until I get a new computer.

Thanks in advance,
jf

Why wouldn't you be running Office under Linux?! I don't know about 2003,
but I've had XP running quite happily under both WINE and Crossover. In
fact, ironic as it may appear, Office is one of the most Linux tolerant apps
there is - you just try getting one of Adobe's flagships running and you're
a technological genius! ;o)

 

[Geoffw]

buy a retail copy - not oem and when you get new machine
install on that machine as the programme will already have
been registered use the telepohone activation method and
explain that retail copy is being reinstalled. Retail can be
moved as much as you like as long as you follow the licence

Geoff