Microsoft Office 2003 Pro Upgrade -- how difficult? Office 97 OEM?

[WhipperSnapper]

I need to install MS Office 2003 Pro for work-related reasons and I would like to purchase the Upgrade.

I already own Office 97 Pro SR-1 and I've used it for years without a problem. Here's the problem. I purchased it back in '98 from an Internet vendor for about $40, making it a somewhat shady transaction. It came in a jewel case with a CD key and Microsoft CD-inserts and all indications are that it's a bona fide original copy produced by Microsoft, probably as an OEM copy. My CD key has 4 numbers, then a dash, then 7 numbers, xxxx-xxxxxxx. I also have a sticker on the back, X03-xxxxx (five numbers).

Do you think I'll be able to use the Office 2003 Pro Upgrade? Should the Office 97 program ask you to go register online with MS when you install it? (Built a new rig recently and when I installed Office 97 Pro it never asked to register.)

I'm probably just paranoid, but I've come across a story of people being unable to upgrade their copies of Win XP to Service Pack 2 since their CD key was one that had been heavily used by pirates.

 

[MrChad]

You should be fine. When I purchased my Office 2002 upgrade, the install simply prompted for my Office 97 CD for verification. It didn't ask for the Office 97 CD key.

 

[imported_taku]

yep similar experince as mr chad

 

[WhipperSnapper]

I figured I'd better go try the Service Pack Update for Office first and apparently I have a bad install, perhaps since I tried to reinstall it over itself after I couldn't use an uninstall wizard the first time. Looks like I'll have to try to manually remove it (a big pain) and then reinstall, then see if I can those patches installed again. Once that's done, I'll be ready to open the upgrade box.

 

[WhipperSnapper]

It's done! It was a snap.

However, getting Office 97 Pro installed properly on Win XP Pro was a little more difficult. I did a couple reinstalls over itself since my uninstall was broken. Finally, I downloaded the MS Office Wizard tool and used that to uninstall. Then I used Microsoft's guide for how to completely uninstall it and deleted a couple registry keys. Then I had to change the file names for two keys, htmlocx (or something like that) that were blocking Office 97 from installing proplery--it's a common prob on XP. Then Office 97 Pro installed properly. Then I was able to update it from SR-1 to SR-2. Then I broke the plastic on the Office 2003 Pro clamshell, felt lots of suspense, and installed Office 2003 in a snap. Activated in under 5 seconds.

Booyah!

 

[MrChad]

Originally posted by: WhipperSnapper

It's done! It was a snap.

However, getting Office 97 Pro installed properly on Win XP Pro was a little more difficult. I did a couple reinstalls over itself since my uninstall was broken. Finally, I downloaded the MS Office Wizard tool and used that to uninstall. Then I used Microsoft's guide for how to completely uninstall it and deleted a couple registry keys. Then I had to change the file names for two keys, htmlocx (or something like that) that were blocking Office 97 from installing proplery--it's a common prob on XP. Then Office 97 Pro installed properly. Then I was able to update it from SR-1 to SR-2. Then I broke the plastic on the Office 2003 Pro clamshell, felt lots of suspense, and installed Office 2003 in a snap. Activated in under 5 seconds.

Booyah!

You know, you don't need to have Office 97 installed in order to install the upgrade version of Office 2003.

Oh well, glad it worked anyway.

 

[WhipperSnapper]

Originally posted by: MrChad

You know, you don't need to have Office 97 installed in order to install the upgrade version of Office 2003.

Oh well, glad it worked anyway.

I was completely unaware of that...guess that's why it never asked to see the Office 97 CD. I was able to get everything updated, so now I'm "genuine", activated, and validated.