I've upgraded to the new version of Microsoft Office and plan to sell my old version's CD (student and teacher edition) on eBay.

My only concern is the apparent rule that Office can only be installed on three computers. Does this mean "only three computers at one time" or "three installations in the lifetime of the software CD." I installed the version on the CD I'm selling on two computers, but it's been deleted off both machines.

So when I sell my Office CD on eBay, can the buyer then install it on three computers of his/her own, or only on one computer since I installed it on two computers previously?

Thanks!

here's my experience. i bought office2003 last year and installed it on desktop and laptop. desktop died and when i went to install it on new desktop it said i'd reached max. number of installs and to call ms. when i did they gave me a code that let me install it, and told me the license is for 2 computers.

My experience with the student/teacher edition is that it allows three installs and activations for the life of the CD. If you exceed that you can call MS and as long as you can convince them that you have a legitimate reason for reinstalling (hard disk crash, etc), you can get another code. Deleting it off your computer doesn't "de-activate" from MS. An Ebay buyer should get the third install ok, but after that they'd need to call MS.

Welcome to the world of Microsoft Product Activation. As the other posters have said, try installing and activating via the internet. If that doesn't work, you just have to call MS and tell them that you are rebuilding your computer and they will give you a new activation code.

And let's not get licensing confused with product activation.

Any MS product that requires activation will only do it 3 times before you have to call MS. After 3 hits into MS's database for that key, you need to do it over the phone. If you have crashed a PC and only changed out the hard drive, for example, a reactivation will not count as a hit to the total. It's an MS algorithm based on the MAC address of the NIC, and other hardware diagnostics, it sends in conjunction with the CD key to activate your product.

So, to quote the subject line: NO... it cannot be installed on 3 computers. It can be activated -- serially -- on up to 3 computer configs, then you have to call.

A license for Office can be on a home PC and a laptop for travel, but they cannot legally be used concurrently.


Update: applies to all versions of Office except the S/T version.

IIRC the licensing for the Student/Teacher edition of Office allows for 3 concurrent installations (/activations). I think it says so on the box, but I'm not sure.

this is correct for this version only, three seperate machines all can be used concurrently.

Thanks everyone for replying. I'll have to write something to the effect of "may only be installed on one computer; further installations will require contacting Microsoft" in the eBay item description.

I recently bought MSOffice2003 through my employer's plan with Microsoft to let employees buy direct from Microsoft for home use for a very nice price. They state that the license is good for 3 of your home computers. We put the first install on my wife's laptop. When I tried to install on my laptop (2nd install) it wouldn't take, and had me call a service center. When I entered the numbers in the automated system, it also wouldn't install and transferred me to a person in India. They asked a few questions: 1) Is this my first install (no), 2) Why was I doing this install (I wanted to install the software on my second computer), and 3) Did I obtain the software preinstalled on a computer, or did I purchase it separately (purchased separately). Then they gave me a verbal activation code. I expect I will have to call again if I do another install.

The MS Office 2003 for Students & Teachers package (Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Outlook) can be installed on up to 3 different machines from the one CD.

This is not to be confused with the MS Office 2003 Professional - Academic Edition (Access, Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Outlook). The Academic Edition can only be installed on one machine.

The AE is the same s/w as the full Pro version that you would buy from CompUSA. The only difference is (a) you're supposed to have a student or faculty ID to buy it and (b) the price is about 1/4 of the full Pro version.

Note too that these two student versions (S&T and AE) are different from the Academic Volume Licensing Edition. I just started a new Masters program and the school issues an Office Pro CD to all new students free of charge under its Volume License. Techinally, if a student leaves the school before completing a degree, then the student must uninstall that copy of Office. But if the degree is completed, then the license automatically converts to a full license to the student. Just like the AE/Pro version, the Volume License copy can only be installed on one machine.

What I find annoying is that I bought a copy of PDF Converter 2 from ScanSoft http://www.scansoft.com Now they require product activation just like MS. However, they have a process where you can DEACTIVATE a copy of the software so that you can use the same activation key on another computer! It's a really nice feature because you don't have to delete the program off of the "old" computer. So, if I need to go a meeting out of town for a week, I can "transfer" the license key to my laptop by deactivating the copy on my desktop and then activating the copy on my laptop. Also, if I decide to get rid of the software, I can uninstall the activated copy which will deactivate the license key and then give/sell it to someone else who will be able to use it. I don't know why MS can't come up with the same thing...

<<<I just started a new Masters program and the school issues an Office Pro CD to all new students free of charge under its Volume License. Techinally, if a student leaves the school before completing a degree, then the student must uninstall that copy of Office. But if the degree is completed, then the license automatically converts to a full license to the student. Just like the AE/Pro version, the Volume License copy can only be installed on one machine.>>>

I believe the whole purpose of a volume license is so that the same volume license product key can be used to install the software on many machines throughout an organization, without the necessity of activation. See http://www.microsoft.com/piracy/acti...volumefaq.mspx

I would assume that the "upon graduation" license you get is not part of the volume license, but a standard perpetual license (not upgraded a la sw assurance, etc). Microsoft has their own program for this called the Campus Agreement (and for K-12s, the School Agreement) which is an annual renewal contract, and this piece is the Student Option. IOW, a completely different "package" than what the OP is referencing or a standard volume license.

I reformat my computers on a regular basis in order to speed them up and get rid of all those unneeded files that seem to find a home on them. As a result I have been forced to call on assorted software in the past to get the activation code. This includes Norton for their anti virus software. As soon as you tell the phone agent that you have done a reformat, the code will be given to you.

This is my question. Can I install Microsoft Office 2003 Professional (OEM) a second time? In your response, you mentioned that they asked whether it came w/ the computer or seperate. After reading the Microsoft web information, I noticed two different answers. OEM is stated as single use, but later it says that Office 2003 can go twice. Is Office subject to the OEM provision?

Anyway, I have the disk, and it has not been opened. It's only installed on my original notebook. I just bought a second notebook (scaled-down), and I would like to install the original Microsoft Office 2003 OEM. If I tell them I am rebuilding, will I be able to use both or only the second one. In other words, does future use of the first become impossible?

More important, does anyone have the number to Microsft Activation? I can't seem to get it without installing the CD. If I will not be able to use program, I will have to uninstall in order to reinstall another copy, right? I would like to call first if possible.

Thanks in advance,

Sam

Sam... OEM is only supposed to be installed on the original computer it came with. It's not supposed to be installed on a replacement machine (i.e. the old one is trashed/sold w/o it).

For example, for Win XP, OEM versions are tied down
to the first motherboard/PC that they are installed on and Office works the same as I know it.

The install Office twice scenario is one where you have it on a home PC and can also install it on a laptop, not to be used concurrently.

If the OEM was installed/purchased on a laptop to begin with, I am not sure that applies. But, I do not know for sure.