Office 2003 Activation

[CeleronXT]

I had Office 2003 on my other computer before the hard drive died. This version came "Licensed for noncommercial use on up to 3 home PCs". I've only installed it once so far, but now that I'm going to have a new hard drive, I'll have to do it again. Is there a way I can do this without wasting my second license activation?

[Lurk]

I don't think so...
call microsoft?

[Joe Gronlund]

Its up to 3 PC's at any one time.. reinstallation is not considered a second license, its the same system..

Can you somehow post your 3 system license agreement? those dont usually come with home systems..

[CeleronXT]

Its up to 3 PC's at any one time.. reinstallation is not considered a second license, its the same system..
Doesn't reactivating it tell Microsoft otherwise? Doesn't it suggest an install somewhere else?

[Joe Gronlund]

Doesn't reactivating it tell Microsoft otherwise? Doesn't it suggest an install somewhere else?
Did you significantly change the hardware on the system??

[Darth Cow]

I believe he has the "Student and Teachers" edition. That allows use on up to three computers.

[CeleronXT]

Did you significantly change the hardware on the system??No, only one hard drive. And yeah its the Student and Teachers Edition.

[merk]

Even if you activate and use up a "Second" activation, you wont have the issue, you just have to call them on the "fourth" time and explain (which takes minutes).

[CeleronXT]

Even if you activate and use up a "Second" activation, you wont have the issue, you just have to call them on the "fourth" time and explain (which takes minutes).I'd like to be able to handle it now though in case something happens in the future like I forget that I used one up just for this reinstall (my memory's been slipping lately..).

[Joe Gronlund]

Its all a matter of time between activations and hardware.

youll be fine, just go ahead and install and activate.

I have all versions of Windows XP and Server 2003, have activated them dozens of times, i have 10 PC license per OS, only use them on 5 PC's but have activated them with the same activation key over 50 times.
And if you have any problems,, the 1-888 , number will come up and they will give you a number/letter combination code to activate the software, but i really dont see that happening,.
actually i am 99% sure it wont..

- noncommercial use on up to 3 home PCs means -
The software can be installed and active , on any 1-3 home PC's at any one time..
Activations have nothing to do with using up a license, its simply activating the software on the system, that equals 1 license in current use..

[CeleronXT]

Its all a matter of time between activations and hardware.

youll be fine, just go ahead and install and activate.

I have all versions of Windows XP and Server 2003, have activated them dozens of times, i have 10 PC license per OS, only use them on 5 PC's but have activated them with the same activation key over 50 times.
And if you have any problems,, the 1-888 , number will come up and they will give you a number/letter combination code to activate the software, but i really dont see that happening,.
actually i am 99% sure it wont..

- noncommercial use on up to 3 home PCs means -
The software can be installed and active , on any 1-3 home PC's at any one time..
Activations have nothing to do with using up a license, its simply activating the software on the system, that equals 1 license in current use..Okay good. I just thought an activation would indicate using a new license. Guess not. I'll try that. Thanks :)

[Wayne Luke]

Can you somehow post your 3 system license agreement? those dont usually come with home systems..
Just go into any retail store. The Boxed Student and Teachers Edition of Office 2003 sold at stores like Wal-Mart, Target, Best Buy, and Costco plainly state that they are licensed for up to three PCs.

Personally, Microsoft should sell additional seats on all their licenses like this. I know it would make it easier for me to keep track of one Windows XP disc instead of four.

[CeleronXT]

Indeed (The green sticker)

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B0000C0XT1.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg

[Joe Gronlund]

Okay good. I just thought an activation would indicate using a new license. Guess not. I'll try that. Thanks :)
Nope,, i have activated my copies at least 2 dozen times, the 10 user license copies, and the 1 user license copies..
Same license, just reactivating...

[Joe Gronlund]

Just go into any retail store. The Boxed Student and Teachers Edition of Office 2003 sold at stores like Wal-Mart, Target, Best Buy, and Costco plainly state that they are licensed for up to three PCs.

Personally, Microsoft should sell additional seats on all their licenses like this. I know it would make it easier for me to keep track of one Windows XP disc instead of four.I agree, have you considered an MSDN OS's only subscription? I dont pay for my MSDN Universal Subscriptions or any software, but if i had to i would definately go that route.
That would give you up to ten activations per OS, be cheaper than what you pay now for the retail XP copies, and will also give you not only XP_Home and XP_Pro but also Windows Server 2003, Standard, Enterprise and Web editions, and all Windows 2000 editions.
They also ship all OS's on DVD to now, and the DVDs are also bootable for installation..

[Wayne Luke]

I agree, have you considered an MSDN OS's only subscription? I dont pay for my MSDN Universal Subscriptions or any software, but if i had to i would definately go that route.
That would give you up to ten activations per OS, be cheaper than what you pay now for the retail XP copies, and will also give you not only XP_Home and XP_Pro but also Windows Server 2003, Standard, Enterprise and Web editions, and all Windows 2000 editions.
They also ship all OS's on DVD to now, and the DVDs are also bootable for installation.. $700 for the first year and $500 each year after that? I don't think that is cheaper. I purchased two upgrades to Windows XP Home in 2002... That was $160.00. A full version of Windows XP Home in 2004 for $140 and an upgrade to Windows XP Professional for $129 in 2004. That is $429.00 over last two going on three years now. It is very doubtful that I will get anything new for my subscription in either 2005 or 2006 since Longhorn most likely will not be released until late 2007 or early 2008 by current guestimates. I have no need for Windows Server 2003 as I don't use Window's Servers nor do I have any desire to do so in the future. I also do not need Visual Studio or any other visual tools since I am no longer an active programmer or developer and don't intend to become an active Microsoft developer again for the rest of my natural life.

So exactly how do I save money with this? Now if Longhorn came in a Family pack of licenses (3-5 seats) for $399.00 or so, then it would be cool. Otherwise unless you are a large company or a Microsoft certified partner their subscriptions are a waste of money.

[Floris]

700 character troll about ms removed.

[Joe Gronlund]

$700 for the first year and $500 each year after that? I don't think that is cheaper. I purchased two upgrades to Windows XP Home in 2002... That was $160.00. A full version of Windows XP Home in 2004 for $140 and an upgrade to Windows XP Professional for $129 in 2004. That is $429.00 over last two going on three years now.
Ok i see, i thought you purchased 4 Indiv Retail XP Professionals Seperately..
There was a deal where an OS only subscription was $499.99 for the year, but i see MSDN has changed the prices back..

[Wayne Luke]

Nope... In fact the only reason I have a single copy of XP Professional is because I wanted to check out IIS but it was too much of a hassle to get installed and setup correctly so I switched back to Apache. Doesn't really offer me anything else I need over XP Home.

Now that my local computer store is selling 3.0 GHZ Pentium IV's for $600.00 including Windows XP installed on them, I most likely will not be building computers in the future as it is finally cheaper to buy them and get Windows included. This means I won't need to buy future licenses.

[rnawky]

Most programs that require a user to activate it uses the computers MAC address. so if its on the same computer, but with a different hdd, it sould work.

[Joe Gronlund]

Most programs that require a user to activate it uses the computers MAC address. so if its on the same computer, but with a different hdd, it sould work.
Thats just one component , that is used to generate the Hardware ID during activation.. :)

[CeleronXT]

Well I've formatted my new drive and installed Office, and it looks like it went just fine. Thanks everyone. :)