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@rhibbert wrote:

I am trying to restore a disk image from a deceased Dell to a new Dell.  I had a disk image, so the majority of my system is up and running, but  I need to get Office working again.  I get the "Microsoft Office XP Small Business has detected a significant change in your machine configuration" and needs to reactivate.

 

Unfortunately I cannot find a CD for the Microsoft Office XP Small Business that came with the PC, (not sure it was ever shipped and I cannot find it on the Dell System Restore CD).   How do I get hold of a replacement CD?  MIcrosoft's website refers me to Dell as it came preinstalled.

 

Richard

 

You don't.  You're taking Office from the PC it belongs to, the one it's licensed to, and moving it to a different PC.  That's a violation of the license agreement.  It belongs to the original PC. 

 

You can buy a new copy of Office for Students and Teachers, good for three machines, for $120 or so. 

I don't understand why buying a student version for a commercial enterprise is legal.  Besides, the computer that I am restoring the disk image onto also came with Office preinstalled.  I therefore have a licence to run Office on that PC.  "

Regardless, I need a CD to activate the product.

Richard

You never asked  ;)

It looks like the only answer is "you're buggered".  Go and buy a new, full copy (not OEM). 

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@rhibbert wrote:

I don't understand why buying a student version for a commercial enterprise is legal.  Besides, the computer that I am restoring the disk image onto also came with Office preinstalled.  I therefore have a licence to run Office on that PC.  "

Regardless, I need a CD to activate the product.

Richard

You never said it was a commercial enterprise.  If you don't meet the conditions that MS says you should have on their site or the software, then it would not apply.  That's your call. 

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@rhibbert wrote:

The problem with OEM is that you cannot transfer it when you retire the old machine.  Is that the same on a full retail copy?  I do not want to run the software on more than one machine.  The EULA for the current installation claims .... Ah.  I cannot even pull up the EULA anymore :(  Basically it said something along the lines of "the hardware and the software are licenced as one unit and cannot be divided"  My applications require that the Access database is in Access 97 format.  Is Office 2003 compatible?  And what happens in 2013 when I need a new PC (assuming it will run 32 bit apps) - I don't want to have to rewrite my apps every three years.

 

Richard

 

You can move retail copies around as you desire, you'll just have to manually activate them with Microsoft.  I do it all the time, it pops up an 800# you call and they give you the key AFTER you explain what you did.

 

In 2013 I predict that you will not be able to run Office 2003 on a new computer.  Print this and remind me them if I'm right.  :smileyvery-happy: