Office 2003 Standard and MST files?

[Justin]

Hello,

I am in a small office environment, (about 20 PCs). We
are not enrolled in volume licensing, and have bought OEM
or retail copies of Office with every new PC that we buy.
Normally what we do with a new computer is un-install
office, then re-install Office with a MST file, to keep
things easier down the road when the computer changes
hands. (The main advantage is the auto-configuration of
Exchange Server connections without having to go to the
user's PC.) Anyway, we got a new Dell in, picked up Office
2003 from Staples, and tried to apply my new 2003 MST file
to the package. However, it seems that Office 2003
Standard does not support MST files? Why disable that
functionality? Sure, obviously Microsoft doesn't want
someone buying a retail Office 2003 from Staples, then
doing an administrative install and deploying it to the
network, but I believe the ability to install with a MST
file to a single PC is legitimate functionality.

Sorry for the long post, but please let me know if anyone
else has this problem, or knows of any work-arounds.

Thanks,
Justin

 

[Bob Buckland ?:-\)]

Hi Justin,

You didn't provide any details on Windows version
or error messages you're getting or other indications
so it's not clear where the problem may lie.
MST files can work with MS Office 2003 Standard
edition, but neither OEM or retail copies support
Office Admin Installation Points as an installation
source, but it will work if you specify caching
a Local Installation Source (LIS).

Since the MS Volume License programs start with
five MS product licenses (not 5 Office licenses)
and that would support your use of Office Admin points
if appropriate, you may also want to look at that
option, http://microsoft.com/licensing

========Hello,

I am in a small office environment, (about 20 PCs). We
are not enrolled in volume licensing, and have bought OEM
or retail copies of Office with every new PC that we buy.
Normally what we do with a new computer is un-install
office, then re-install Office with a MST file, to keep
things easier down the road when the computer changes
hands. (The main advantage is the auto-configuration of
Exchange Server connections without having to go to the
user's PC.) Anyway, we got a new Dell in, picked up Office
2003 from Staples, and tried to apply my new 2003 MST file
to the package. However, it seems that Office 2003
Standard does not support MST files? Why disable that
functionality? Sure, obviously Microsoft doesn't want
someone buying a retail Office 2003 from Staples, then
doing an administrative install and deploying it to the
network, but I believe the ability to install with a MST
file to a single PC is legitimate functionality.

Sorry for the long post, but please let me know if anyone
else has this problem, or knows of any work-arounds.

Thanks,
Justin >>