MS Office OEM version - no discs?

I purchased a laptop with MS Office Small Business Edition. I was using the laptop for gaming only during first year, because I had another laptop for work.

When my "work" laptop died I wanted to use the other laptop for work, however MS office asked for an activation key. I searched all the paperwork I received when I purchased the computer and could not find any discs or activation key.

When I called the manufacturer they said that laptops with the OEM version do not ship with discs and that I should have received an activation key. When I told them that I could not find an activation key with the paperwork they said I was out of luck and that I would have to buy another copy of MS Office.

I called Microsoft and they said if MS Office is asking for an activation key it is only a trial version, and that if it was a full version it should have shipped with discs.

Did I get cheated by the manufacturer?

 

Check to make sure the key is not on the bottom, side, or inside the battery bay of the laptop. Some manufacturers put the office key along with the windows key there.

Edit: Also, what sore of laptop did you purchase, make & model? I find it very strange they wouldn't send you discs

 

No.

Your Seller/reseller/manufacturer is correct if it was Office 2007.

Microsoft Office 2007 OEM is regularly shipped "medialess"

Microsoft did make available a "backup" dvd that you can download from here:

http://www.microsoft.com/office/backup/en-us/default.mspx

Now, your manufacturer/reseller should have provided you with a card that had a CoA sticker on it. I will bet my bottom dollar that they did do that and you looked at it and decided it was just some pamphlet. You were supposed to remove the sticker and put it on the bottom of your laptop.

 

I'm not sure why Microsoft told me it's only a trial version if it doesn't have discs and if its asking for an activation key. They said any "full version" would have shipped with discs.

What happens if you lose the key or if the manufacturer doesn't ship it with the laptop?

After this experience I'll never buy a "Media-less" version of MS Office with a laptop. I would rather separately buy a "full version" with discs.

The seller/reseller in this case was XOTIC PC, and their customer service told me I was S.O.L. and would have to buy another copy of MS Office.

 

If you lose the key or the manufacturer didn't send it, your out of luck. They don't keep records of it....in fact, they don't even install with the key they sent you. They install with their own OEM key.

Your key was on a Office card.

Unfortunately, if you threw out the card, there is nothing they can do.

You could always switch to openoffice

 

Why would anyone want to buy an "OEM" version of MS Office?

I still don't understand why Microsoft would tell me that I had a trial version installed. They said if I purchased MS Office SBE it should have come with discs, and it shouldn't be asking me for a key.

I kept all my paperwork from the original purchase, and I never would have inadvertently thrown out an "Office" card with an activation key.

 

Why? Because it is way cheaper.

Microsoft told you that because Microsoft first tier tech support is about as useful as socks in a pile of crap. You do have to enter your key on the card to activate the medialess version of office.

And I know XoticPC does use the medialess method.

I cannot say why your card is gone.....here's what it looks like when you got it....(see attached). The brochure I have attached has a picture of the card on it...looks like a playing card with a sticker on it It should also come with a larger card with some more info on it.

You don't think that maybe, just maybe in the excitement of getting your new laptop, you might have ripped through the box? Heck, my wife throws out anything that stays on the counter more than 3 minutes...

 

That card is actually plastic and credit card size. It's inside the folding cardboard booklet, you need to pry open one side to get the card.

Definitely very easy to miss and throw away if not careful, especially since it's the only copy of the install key.

 

This is also a problem if a new owner 'escapes' past the usually-mandatory creation of system backup DVDs.

 

No, I left all the paperwork in the box pretty much intact. There is no card similar to that with the paperwork.

I just forked over $399.99 for another copy of MS Office SBE from Amazon (with discs).

 

hm.. too late, but else i would have suggested some options for right now:
a) home & students is much cheaper (it's 3 licenses together actually). but doesn't have all apps. if you could live with that it would save you money

b) yes, your manufacturer cheated on you. he should help you. maybe offer a better deal at least

c) how about getting office 2010 beta for the time being? till august it's free, and it works very well. the new office 2010 will offer completely new licensing schemes anyways, and will thus most likely be more cheap to buy for you, by just buying what you need (they have more patch-work-style buying options)

 

Thanks for the good advice. I'll see if I can return Office 2007 and download the 2010 Beta.

I was just really confused when Microsoft told me I had a "trial" version of Office and that I should have had discs. It's a good learning lesson. In the future I would rather pay more and have the discs.

 

actually, next time just open up the stuff you got, and check if you have the licenses. if not, immediately react and state "THEY ARE NOT THERE". they HAVE to provide them to you..

 

Another option would be to get a technet subscription for that kind of money. Technically, learning about MS software is not your goal here, but you cannot beat access to almost all of Microsoft's software for the price of an office suite.

And Davepermen,

I think its a little strong to say the manufacturer (in this case reseller) cheated him. I've been doing this long enough to know that people toss these things out all the time. Also, the sheer number of people who call a reseller claming they never got what they paid for would make your head spin.

I'm not saying the OP did any of these things, just that it happens all the time. If you look at the exoticpc website, it very clearly states it is medialess and there are instructions on what to expect. The first obligation of a buyer is to open the box and check to ensure everything one paid for is present. If not, that is when you call--not months later.

 

the problem with the tossing is true. which is why i said next time take the stuff out and instantly verify you have all licenses you payed for. if not, call them. it's the only moment where you can stand by your point "i haven't thrown it away".

which is why i love sellers who put the license information online, too. so none of us both me and the seller ever get into the issue of "it's your fault. no yours, no yours".

i just said IF he really didn't threw it away, the seller cheated on him. most likely, by accident, not with any bad thoughts.

 

I would have been willing to send my laptop back to XOTIC to prove that I did in fact have a "medialess" version of MS Office installed. I did keep all the paperwork, and I can't find anything that resembles a card with an activation code.

I personally would not buy "medialess" software again. Even if I download a game online I always pay the extra money to have them send me a CD or DVD just in case.

I just can't believe that Microsoft or the OEM doesn't have a database of activation codes in the event that they are lost or misplaced. What if the OEM didn't send the activation code and the customer called right away? Would the OEM then have to buy another license for MS Office and provide it to the customer? It seems like a waste of money for something that was legitimately purchased.

 

they have that database. problem is, they only have "we sold that much licenses (list of licenses here) to XOTIC". it would be XOTICs job to have a database, which license went to which customer, then.

 

I just read the following policy on the XOTIC PC website:

Office 2007 Media

With Office 2007, Microsoft has decided to no longer include a CD with the OEM version. The only version of Office 2007 that includes CD media is the retail version, which costs much more then the OEM.

You can order your Microsoft Office 2007 CDs by going to :

Go to http://www.microsoft.com/office/backup to receive backup media directly from Microsoft. You will only have to pay Microsoft a minimal fee for shipping and handling.

Beginning later this Spring, you will be able to download a copy of the media from Microsoft.com

Also, in a special program sponsored by Microsoft all Xotic PC Laptops will include Microsoft Office Ready 2007 60 Day Trial. If you decide you want to keep using it or switch to Office 2007 Basic or Small Business Edition, you may purchase it through Xotic PC at a considerable savings rather than purchasing it online directly through Microsoft.

If you would like to remove the Office Ready 2007 60 Day Trial please do the following:

Click Windows button and then select Control Panel
If you are using Windows Vista, Under Programs, select "Uninstall a Program" 2a.) If you are using Windows XP, select "Add or Remove Programs"
Select "2007 Microsoft Office system" and click Uninstall (Vista) or Change/Remove (XP)
Do the same with the following Programs:
Microsoft SQL Server Native Client
Activation Assistant for the 2007 Microsoft Office suites
Business Contact Manager for Outlook
Microsoft Office 2003 Web Components
Microsoft SQL Server Setup Support Files (English)
Microsoft Office 2007 Primary Interop Assemblies
Microsoft SQL Server 2005
Microsoft Office Small Business Connectivity Components
Microsoft Office Accounting ADP Payroll Addin
Microsoft Office Accounting Equifax Addin
Microsoft Office Accounting Fixed Asset Manager
Microsoft Office Accounting PayPal Addin
Microsoft SQL Server VSS Writer
Microsoft Office Accounting 2007 (will uninstall the next 4 accounting applications)

This article was published on Wednesday 09 May, 2007.

After reading the above on the XOTIC website it appears like my laptop shipped with the trial version instead of the "medialess" version that I purchased. I can understand not receiving the CDs, but MS Office shouldn't have been asking for an activation code.

 

Yes, it should. You are absolutely not getting it.

All versions of office must be activated. When you get a medialess version of office--YOU MUST USE THE MLK (medialess license kit, which consists of a little credit card sized card with an activation key on it and a brochure) TO ACTIVATE IT.

The fact that it asked you to activate does not mean you had the trial version. To the best of my knowledge, xoticpc has never loaded a trial version of anything on any computer they have ever shipped. They don't do that. They install what you ask them to, but they have never loaded bloatware on computers for as long as I have been aware of them.

They installed the medialess version of office.

Either a) you tossed the card, or b) they did not include it.

One of those two things happened.

Forget the trial version. It didn't happen. Just because Microsoft said something does not make it gospel.

 

Also, in a special program sponsored by Microsoft all Xotic PC Laptops will include Microsoft Office Ready 2007 60 Day Trial. If you decide you want to keep using it or switch to Office 2007 Basic or Small Business Edition, you may purchase it through Xotic PC at a considerable savings rather than purchasing it online directly through Microsoft.

 

OK, you are right. I take it back...ok, what does your bill say?

Forget it...it doesn't really matter. The time to address this was when you bought it. I really wish I could tell you something else, but I cannot. I really woudln't expect XoticPC to do anything at this point, nor would I expect Microsoft.

How can they? Even if they screwed up, if they take you at your word, wouldn't they have to send a new copy of office to everyone who claimed they didn't throw it out?

 

I take responsibility that I didn't check the system out completely when I received it, even if I only intended on using it for gaming at the time.

It was my first experience with "medialess" software, and I never thought that an OEM version would expire after 60 days.

I was willing to send my laptop w/ receipt back to XOTIC as proof that I did purchase the "medialess" version, and that it appeared I had the trial version installed.

In the future it would be helpful if OEMs kept a database or a second copy of registration certificates that they issue to customers in the event of an error on either their or the customers part.

From now on I intend on always purchasing a full version of software and always checking a new computer to ensure it matches up with the receipt.

 

What determines a trial version from a full version is whether you have the license key or not. The installation file is all the same. Xotic probably didn't pre-enter the serial number for office 2007 for you thus the office 2007 will expire in 60 days if you don't enter that serial number yourself. So there's nothing wrong with the office installation on your computer. All you need to do is to enter the serial number in order to convert the expired trial version into a full version.

 

I was hoping that if I could prove I had an OEM version there would be some way of recovering an activation code.

I was talking to someone from my IT department at work, and he said he has called Microsoft to get activation codes all the time. He thought there is always a workaround if Microsoft wants to make it happen.

At first I had a hard time accepting that a card with an activation code was the "holy grail", and that if the card was lost, misplaced, or wasn't sent I was doomed even if I had a receipt proving that I purchased an OEM version.

Lesson learned.

 

If you had ever entered the activation key, you could recover it from the OS using several different programs. Having never entered it, it only existed on the card.

XoticPC never looked at your key--it should have been in the sealed MLK kit.

XoticPC has a OPK kit which has a dvd to install, but there is no key associated with it. You enter the key when you get your machine preinstalled, open the MLK, start an office program, and it asks you to type in the key.

 

Just download OpenOffice; it's free and pretty much a direct clone of MS Office, all the way down to (most of) the interface. No activation keys, no OEM versions tied to a certain computer, no cracks, just an install file that will always work.

 

That's still a dodgy proposition for work-related documents.