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Installing MS Office 2003 on new Windows 7 Pro machine

FeuerFrei

FeuerFrei

Diamond Member
We have a copy of MS Office 2003 Basic that came pre-installed on a Dell Dimension way back when. The Office install disc has the product key on the packaging. If I installed the software on a new Inspiron with Windows 7 Prof. (64-bit) and entered the product key, it should run ok, right?

Would there be any licensing problems??
Is it tied to the pc it was pre-installed on?
We would cease using the Dell Dimension the software is currently installed on. It's ten years old and runs XP.


Also, Windows 7 Upgrade Adviser utility did not indicate any compatibility problems w/ Office 2003.
 
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FeuerFrei said:
We have a copy of MS Office 2003 Basic that came pre-installed on a Dell Dimension way back when. The Office install disc has the product key on the packaging. If I installed the software on a new Inspiron with Windows 7 Prof. (64-bit) and entered the product key, it should run ok, right?

Would there be any licensing problems??
Is it tied to the pc it was pre-installed on?
We would cease using the Dell Dimension the software is currently installed on. It's ten years old and runs XP.


Also, Windows 7 Upgrade Adviser utility did not indicate any compatibility problems w/ Office 2003.
Click to expand...

Since this was an OEM Office and not a retail Office, I am afraid it will not work in the new system.🙁

On the other hand, there would be no downside to trying. But, if it doesn't work, it's cause it is an OEM MS Office.
 
You should be OK to install it with your current license... I've installed my Office'03 across... no lie... 8 different machines (only 2 at any given time, per the license.)

I'm still using Outlook '03 on my W7 x64 without problems. There are a whole mess of updates to install once you get it on and running, however. Just be prepared for it.
 
Charlie98 said:
You should be OK to install it with your current license... I've installed my Office'03 across... no lie... 8 different machines (only 2 at any given time, per the license.)

I'm still using Outlook '03 on my W7 x64 without problems. There are a whole mess of updates to install once you get it on and running, however. Just be prepared for it.
Click to expand...


Is the copy of Office you refer to you've installed in many systems retail or OEM?
 
Morbus said:
Try LibreOffice, really.
Click to expand...


Cept thas not what the OP asked about. I would just like to know if his copy of Office 2003 is OEM and so, only connected only to the original system it came with....or something else, preferably retail.

Never tried open source Office, but bet it's good!😎
 
Virgorising said:
Since this was an OEM Office and not a retail Office, I am afraid it will not work in the new system.🙁

On the other hand, there would be no downside to trying. But, if it doesn't work, it's cause it is an OEM MS Office.
Click to expand...

🙁
Thanks. I'll try and see if I get denied. I'm hoping it will just update the hardware profile tied to the license.
 
Charlie98 said:
No, it's a retail set, but his OEM is Dell to Dell.
Click to expand...


As I assumed re yr copy. But there is no such thing as OEM Dell to Dell or HP to HP, etc. OEM licenses are associated with one computer, period.

The only other happy possibility would be if his OEM copy is SO old its registration data was deleted from MS's database. I mean, it's possible; they can't keep all that stuff forever, right?
 
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FeuerFrei said:
🙁
Thanks. I'll try and see if I get denied. I'm hoping it will just update the hardware profile tied to the license.
Click to expand...

Keep yr toes crossed (cause yr fingers will be busy), and make it a little adventure! In this kinda thing, it never hurts to try!!!!!😎

MS stuff is waaaaaaaaaaay too expensive.
 
I am betting it will work fine. I don't think office cares about the system it's on like Windows does.
 
ketchup79 said:
I am betting it will work fine. I don't think office cares about the system it's on like Windows does.
Click to expand...


Boy, do I hope U R right!!!!!:thumbsup:

But remember, MS gets just as much, depending on the version, for Office as it does for Windows, also depending on the version, and MS is hugely greedy.

But, I just found below, this is more complex than I realized:

http://ask-leo.com/how_many_machines_can_i_install_a_single_copy_of_microsoft_office_on.html

How would MS know if the original system is deactivated?????

I can't wait to hear the result of this installation by the OP! I will feel resentment if this simple thing is denied.
 
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Charlie98 said:
No, I think you are correct. I've never had any issues installing Office stuff...
Click to expand...

We know. But you also confirmed your is a retail copy, yes? By definition, able to be installed and activated on many systems.

Again, I hope Ketchup 79 is right. Or else I will resent MS even more than I do already.

But MS OEM software is what it is.

I now have MY toes crossed.🙂
 
As far as I know there has never been an "OEM" SKU of office. It's just office that you happened to buy with your OEM PC. The bits and serial are the same as if you bought it on your own from Microsoft or Amazon.
 
Extract license key off of old Dell using sisoft sandra or one of the bijjilion other utilities out there. Check to see if keys match up (doesn't matter)
Install Office 2003 on new machine using that key.
Activate
 
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It'll work just fine. You're technically breaking the license agreement though, it's an OEM copy that came with that specific computer and is tied to that specific computer. Office 2003 does not do any sort of active DRM, it's a simple key check to activate, you could install that key on a dozen different machines without any of them deactivating.

I'd be more concerned with the fact that Office 2003 support is 3 months from ending, and it's already a PITA to deal with doc/docx compatibility.
 
Where did the OP Go????🙁

Just found this, not sure what to make of it re Office 2003 and official MS DRM: http://archive09.linux.com/articles/34256

.....just want update from the OP, this is like going to see a movie and it cuts off before the end.

______________________________________
Now, found this, something I never heard of before:


  • In Office XP, Office 2003, Office 2007, Office 2010, and Office 2013, after a grace period of 30–60 days for Office 2010 and 14–60 days in Office 2013 or opening the program 25 times for Office 2007 and 50 times for Office 2003 and XP, the programs will enter a reduced functionality mode, where files can be viewed but not edited.[2][7][18][19][20]
When activation takes place, the program saves a record of the verification data in the user's computer. If the system is booted up with significant hardware changes, the application will likely require reactivation to prevent the same copy of the program being installed on two different systems.[21]
______________________________________________
Now found this, below; my toes are tired of being crossed and I wanna see the end of this movie!

Gordon B-P replied on April 11, 2010
icon_down.png

  • icon_closeicon.png

I am purchasing a new laptop with Windows 7 installed. Will I encounter any issues installing my old Office 2003 software?
Thanks.
​
No. Unless it's an OEM version in which case you can't transfer it anyway. The worst-case scenario would be that you have to use telephone activation..If you find my response helpful, please click on the "Vote as Helpful" button!Thank you! My Blog
http://gordonburgessparker.wordpress.com/
MS Community Contributor Award 2011



 
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Ok reporting in. Finally got around to installing. Thanks to all.

I popped in the cd and installed Office 2003 Basic (OEM) onto the Inspiron with Windows 7 Professional. It activated itself fine, on first use, over the internet. I even installed the 2007 Converter patch to upgrade file-handling skills to .docx/.xlsx

Windows Update offers ZERO updates for it though. :|
I went to the trouble of downloading Office 2003 Service Pack 3, only to find it wasn't compatible with Windows 7. The self-extracting .exe doesn't even run.

Despite the lack of updates, I think we'll be using it for now.
 
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pauldun170 said:
Extract license key off of old Dell using sisoft sandra or one of the bijjilion other utilities out there. Check to see if keys match up (doesn't matter)
Install Office 2003 on new machine using that key.
Activate
Click to expand...
The license key is printed out on the CD sleeve. No need for crack'a'lackin.
 
Mushkins said:
It'll work just fine. You're technically breaking the license agreement though, it's an OEM copy that came with that specific computer and is tied to that specific computer. Office 2003 does not do any sort of active DRM, it's a simple key check to activate, you could install that key on a dozen different machines without any of them deactivating.

I'd be more concerned with the fact that Office 2003 support is 3 months from ending, and it's already a PITA to deal with doc/docx compatibility.
Click to expand...

I was not aware of this. :hmm:
 
FeuerFrei said:
😱
:biggrin:
Click to expand...


Yay! I can finally uncross my toes.()🙂 And, I resent MS a bit less.:biggrin:

But, SP3 should absolutely be compatible. If, for some reason as U share, it appears not, that truly could work back to a license issue, and you really do need all the patches written despite they will soon stop writing them. But, I would also keep checking.....cause sometimes, W update in a new installation, takes time to time to catch up. That is the eternal optimist in me talking.

Thanks for finally emerging and updating us!
 
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