MS Office License?
Oct 10, 2010, 5:04 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2005
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MS Office License?
Hi everyone,
I'll admit, I'm technologically challenged & issue a stupid question alert, so please be gentle...
Bought a new laptop earlier this year & ponied up the $89 for the MS Office '07 license since the software was pre-loaded on the machine.
Just bought a new netbook that also came pre-loaded w/the same software, but to activate it I need the license key from the other machine or spend another $89. Where & how would I find the license# on the 1st laptop, other than the receipt from the original purchase I can not find currently (of course!)
Thanks in advance!!
I'll admit, I'm technologically challenged & issue a stupid question alert, so please be gentle...
Bought a new laptop earlier this year & ponied up the $89 for the MS Office '07 license since the software was pre-loaded on the machine.
Just bought a new netbook that also came pre-loaded w/the same software, but to activate it I need the license key from the other machine or spend another $89. Where & how would I find the license# on the 1st laptop, other than the receipt from the original purchase I can not find currently (of course!)
Thanks in advance!!
Oct 10, 2010, 6:17 pm
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: ORD
Posts: 14,273
Oct 11, 2010, 11:52 am
#5
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 7,605
Belarc Adviser also works quite well
It may be a good idea to keep all the results as they tell you the licence numbers of all the software you have installed - including the OS. As I recently discovered the "genuine Windows" sticker gets worn & unreadbale quite quickly if it's on a laptop
It may be a good idea to keep all the results as they tell you the licence numbers of all the software you have installed - including the OS. As I recently discovered the "genuine Windows" sticker gets worn & unreadbale quite quickly if it's on a laptop
Oct 11, 2010, 5:40 pm
#8
Ambassador: Alaska Airlines
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Location: Seattle
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By copying the key from the original machine to the new machine, you are violating the license agreement. The fact that Microsoft's activation servers allowed the machine to activate is more a sign of lax enforcement than legitimate authorization and license to use the software.
Microsoft makes the full text of the license agreement available to you when you install, anytime later from the Help About dialog, or online. Here's the specific text for your situation:
OEM LICENSE TERMS
These license terms are an agreement between you and the device
manufacturer that distributes the software with the device, or the
software installer that distributes the software with the device. Please
read them. They apply to the software that accompanies these license
terms, which includes the media on which you received it, if any.
Printed paper license terms, which may come with the software, take the
place of any on-screen license terms. The terms also apply to any
Microsoft
updates,
supplements,
Internet-based services, and
support services for this software, unless other terms accompany those items. If so,
those terms apply. If you obtain updates or supplements directly from
MS, then these terms apply except that Microsoft, not the manufacturer or
installer, licenses those to you.
By using the software, you accept these terms. If you do not accept
them, do not use the software. Instead, contact the manufacturer or
installer to determine their return policy for a refund or credit.
As described below, using the software also operates as your consent to
the transmission of certain computer information during activation,
validation, and for Internet-based services.
If you comply with these license terms, you have the rights below for
each license you acquire.
1. OVERVIEW. These license terms permit installation and use of one
copy of the software on one device, along with other rights, all as
described below.
2. INSTALLATION AND USE RIGHTS. The software license is permanently
assigned to the device with which you acquired the software. That device
is the licensed device. A hardware partition or blade is considered to
be a separate device.
a. Licensed Device. You may install one copy of the software on the
licensed device in your household for use by people who reside there.
The software is not licensed for use in any commercial, non-profit, or
revenue-generating business activities.
b. Separation of Components. The components of the software are licensed
as a single unit. You may not separate the components and install them
on different devices.
These license terms are an agreement between you and the device
manufacturer that distributes the software with the device, or the
software installer that distributes the software with the device. Please
read them. They apply to the software that accompanies these license
terms, which includes the media on which you received it, if any.
Printed paper license terms, which may come with the software, take the
place of any on-screen license terms. The terms also apply to any
Microsoft
updates,
supplements,
Internet-based services, and
support services for this software, unless other terms accompany those items. If so,
those terms apply. If you obtain updates or supplements directly from
MS, then these terms apply except that Microsoft, not the manufacturer or
installer, licenses those to you.
By using the software, you accept these terms. If you do not accept
them, do not use the software. Instead, contact the manufacturer or
installer to determine their return policy for a refund or credit.
As described below, using the software also operates as your consent to
the transmission of certain computer information during activation,
validation, and for Internet-based services.
If you comply with these license terms, you have the rights below for
each license you acquire.
1. OVERVIEW. These license terms permit installation and use of one
copy of the software on one device, along with other rights, all as
described below.
2. INSTALLATION AND USE RIGHTS. The software license is permanently
assigned to the device with which you acquired the software. That device
is the licensed device. A hardware partition or blade is considered to
be a separate device.
a. Licensed Device. You may install one copy of the software on the
licensed device in your household for use by people who reside there.
The software is not licensed for use in any commercial, non-profit, or
revenue-generating business activities.
b. Separation of Components. The components of the software are licensed
as a single unit. You may not separate the components and install them
on different devices.
Oct 11, 2010, 6:29 pm
#9
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 11,439
Software purchased with a particular machine is licensed under an "OEM License," which is restricted to the specific machine and is not transferrable, even if you first uninstall it from the original machine.
By copying the key from the original machine to the new machine, you are violating the license agreement. The fact that Microsoft's activation servers allowed the machine to activate is more a sign of lax enforcement than legitimate authorization and license to use the software.
Microsoft makes the full text of the license agreement available to you when you install, anytime later from the Help About dialog, or online. Here's the specific text for your situation:
Please don't abuse software licenses. If you find the software useful, please consider buying the appropriate license(s). Note that if you buy a retail boxed copy (about $120 on Amazon), the license is valid for 3 separate machines in your household, which is probably a better value for your situation.
By copying the key from the original machine to the new machine, you are violating the license agreement. The fact that Microsoft's activation servers allowed the machine to activate is more a sign of lax enforcement than legitimate authorization and license to use the software.
Microsoft makes the full text of the license agreement available to you when you install, anytime later from the Help About dialog, or online. Here's the specific text for your situation:
Please don't abuse software licenses. If you find the software useful, please consider buying the appropriate license(s). Note that if you buy a retail boxed copy (about $120 on Amazon), the license is valid for 3 separate machines in your household, which is probably a better value for your situation.
Oct 11, 2010, 7:02 pm
#10
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 95
actually they can
and have been known to prosecute -- probably not you but if a large corporation purchases one version of MS Office and tries to put it on several computers they will prosecute. I am surprised if you can actuall install it on several machines today -- I know you can't with Intuit -- they keep track and allow it on two machines.
It is illegal to put it on several machines -- just as it is illegal to copy music cd's for friends or dvd's.
You may not get caught -- that does not make it legal.
It is illegal to put it on several machines -- just as it is illegal to copy music cd's for friends or dvd's.
You may not get caught -- that does not make it legal.
Oct 11, 2010, 7:02 pm
#11
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Texas
Programs: American Airlines British Airways
Posts: 1,752
Once I buy it, it is mine to do with it as I please. Ford does not limit me to removing and reinstalling the engine into a different car. Microsoft's notice is not much different to me than the "Management not responsible for loss" signs posted in parking garages. Interesting to read, but usually legally worthless.
Oct 11, 2010, 9:40 pm
#12
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: on the Llano Estacado
Posts: 2,652
No, not exactly. The Retail version of the product may be installed in a different machine (so long as it's been removed from the first), but not the OEM. These products are differently priced, and the discount given OEM licensed products has certain stipulations.
As to your analogy - what if Ford offered a $25,000 Mustang with no limitations, but was willing to sell you an identical one for $12,000 if you agreed never to transplant the engine (perhaps $12k is the bundled price when you purchase a new home).
Yes, it seems silly, but this is what Microsoft has done. In order to sell more copies of Office, they have a bundled price when purchasing a computer. You are arguing that even though you purchased Office at the bundled low price, and even though you were aware that the product was licensed only for the computer you bought it with, you should be able to act as if you paid the full retail price.
No, these kind of things don't happen in other industries. So what?
As to your analogy - what if Ford offered a $25,000 Mustang with no limitations, but was willing to sell you an identical one for $12,000 if you agreed never to transplant the engine (perhaps $12k is the bundled price when you purchase a new home).
Yes, it seems silly, but this is what Microsoft has done. In order to sell more copies of Office, they have a bundled price when purchasing a computer. You are arguing that even though you purchased Office at the bundled low price, and even though you were aware that the product was licensed only for the computer you bought it with, you should be able to act as if you paid the full retail price.
No, these kind of things don't happen in other industries. So what?
Oct 11, 2010, 10:07 pm
#13
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 314
Once I buy it, it is mine to do with it as I please. Ford does not limit me to removing and reinstalling the engine into a different car. Microsoft's notice is not much different to me than the "Management not responsible for loss" signs posted in parking garages. Interesting to read, but usually legally worthless.
Oct 12, 2010, 7:44 am
#14
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Texas
Programs: American Airlines British Airways
Posts: 1,752
Gee, you mean after 30 years of moving software from machine to machine as I have seen fit I now need to actually worry about all of those black helicopters flying over my house? Does this mean they might actually be full of software police scanning my computers to see if they are all the original points of installation? Wait, wait, what's that sound. I must rush to the window to see what it is. I will report back if I am ...........
Oct 13, 2010, 5:06 pm
#15
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Vancouver, Canada
Programs: United MileagePlus Silver, Nexus, Global Entry
Posts: 8,803
No, you don't have to worry about black helicopters. You just have to worry about a day, maybe tomorrow, maybe 5 years from now, when the license checks are such that a software product that you license for one machine will only work on that one machine for which it is licensed.