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735984
June 22nd, 2011 06:00
Microsoft Office 2007 OEM software re-installation
I have a Dell Notebook which came with pre-installed MS Office 2007 Professional software. Unfortunately, Windows XP developed a series of problems so I had to re-install it from scratch which wiped out MS Office (along with many other windows apps). I tried reinstalling from other Office 2007 professional disks but the license number was invalid. After much research I discovered that I have 'Microsoft Office Professional Hybrid 2007' which is an OEM specific version of the software and that is the reason that my license key would not work.
No problem, I thought - I will just contact Dell and they can either supply the software on disk or it will be available for download from their web site.
Bear in mind I am a long-standing (small) business customer and have been using Dell systems for probably 15 years or more. I currently have 2 desktops and 7 notebooks, all of which are Dell.
I finally managed to get through to a person at Dell (great joy) and was informed that Dell no longer supplies or supports Office 2007 therefore it could not provide the software in any format for me to re-install.
Lets speak to Microsoft, I thought stupidly. No problem getting through but because my software is an OEM version, microsoft can not provide a copy of it - I need to go back to my system supplier (I feel the onset of deja vu !!).
Back on to Dell. No problem, sir - you just have to purchase a copy of Microsoft Office Professional 2010 (£269 from Dell with a new system) and your problem will be resolved.
So there you have it - I buy a product from Dell for around £300 (the original cost of Office Professional 2007) and four years later the product is useless because I can not re-install it.
I have a couple of questions of Dell:
1. Is this legal - I have purchased a product which is no longer usable through no fault of my own
2. Is this ethical - It seems like some twisted method of selling more copies of Office 2010 (which, incidentally, I do not really want)
3. How many other people are in a similar predicament - having expensive software which is un-usable
Unfortunatlely, under the sale of goods act, my contract is with Dell therefore they are responsible for resolving this problem. Even more unfortunately (not sure if that grammar is 100% correct so my apologies) Dell refuses point blank to assist in any way. I doubt very much that all copies of their OEM software relating to 2007 Office were destroyed the instant that microsoft said they were no longer supporting it. In fact I suspect that there are copies which, as a professional copmpany, Dell has archived.
But the down side is that I am powerless to do anything about it and I can not even find anyone to speak with to discuss this further.
I suspect I have bought or recommended around 100 purchases of Dell systems in my life. That is either for my personal usage, business usage, or recommendations to friends, family and colleagues. Not a massive amount, I am sure you will agree......
..... but I can't seem myself making a 101st recommendation to buy Dell !!!
Anyone else out there suffered a similar head-butting experience ????
speedstep
9 Legend
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47K Posts
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June 22nd, 2011 06:00
I have several times. Thats why I insist on getting the OEM CD's to restore BEFORE I have a problem.
You could look on Ebay for OEM Office 2007 professional. Its not standard to include media for the OEM Preinstall versions of Office. However microsoft does allow download of Office for the Retail Home and Student versions or
the Business versions. Thats why I never get preinstall OEM anymore I always buy Retail and install myself.
This is intentional on Microsoft's part its not dell's fault. They are restricted by microsoft to provide you with the media
if it has been more than 1 year since you purchased the product.
The trial version for Microsoft Office 2007 is no longer available. You can download a free trial of Microsoft Office 2010 instead.
Licensing Guide
speedstep
9 Legend
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47K Posts
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June 22nd, 2011 06:00
OEM Pre installs DO NOT INCLUDE Media. Unless you specifically ask for it at the time you order and pay an extra fee you do not get OFFICE media. Microsoft specifically prohibits Dell from distribution of System Builder media for office to the end user. When You insist on media it comes in the form of retail media with different COA Key. Microsoft now also allows you to buy a card with Key and Download Office from their site. Many Netbooks say this right on the box so the preinstalled Office starter can be upgraded to Home/Student or Business version by simply entering the non trial Key.
Enceladus
297 Posts
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June 22nd, 2011 06:00
This sounds like a media version / key mismatch.
If the system was ordered from Dell with Office 2007 then you should have a Dell OEM Office CD and the required key is on the white card envelope.
This key will not work with a retail CD. Nor is it anything to do with the key on the base of the unit.
So if, for example, you recovered the install key from the original installation and are trying to re-install with a retail CD it will not work.
Or maybe the original system shipped with the 90 day trial copy of Home/Student and somebody upgraded. In that event the key was on the case for the purchased retail CD and you need a retail CD. Or the key was purchased from Microsoft.
On the assumption you have a valid Dell OEM Office 2007 Professional key but you have lost the CD, then you need to get a copy somewhere.
Enceladus
297 Posts
0
June 22nd, 2011 07:00
Well any that I have bought have had the trial version pre-installed and the CD with key with whatever version was ordered. You basically installed it yourself.
If this was a true OEM Medial Less Install then you might be able to download the software from here, if the site accepts the key. Use IE, does not seem to work with Chrome. www.microsoft.com/.../default.mspx
john_consultant
3 Posts
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June 22nd, 2011 08:00
Thanks for your comments. In my defence:
I bought a notebook from Dell in 2007 with Office Prof 2007 installed and I also purchased the restore / installation CDs for Office when I bought the notebook. Unfortunately that notebook was a bit of a 'rogue' with around 12 major faults developing in the first six months. Due to the severity and frequency of the faults, Dell was kind enough to provide me with a completely new notebook to replace the rogue notebook, once again with software all pre-installed. As the version of Office 2007 was in theory the same on the new system as the version on the old (rogue) system, I stupidly thought the install CD's from the first system would work OK.
But no.... when I try to install Office 2007 from the old notebook using the license key from the new notebook....
"INVALID LICENSE NUMBER"
... hence the current problems.
john_consultant
3 Posts
0
June 22nd, 2011 08:00
The download worked perfectly thanks - the version of Office is 'Office Professional Hybrid 2007' and, as you said, if the key is accepted the software installs OK with that key.
Thanks again
rv_u
17 Posts
0
June 23rd, 2011 02:00
if you have made system recovery disk then back up all the data and set this to factory stage you will get your office software back like when you have purchased it. and then update and use it.
C-Wheat
1 Message
0
January 13th, 2012 09:00
Try this Link
www.Microsoft.com/office/backup2007