Is it legal to transfer Word to another computer

I did a google search and found two different answers.

1> It is legal if you stop using Word on the computer where it is being transferred from?

2> It is illegal regardless if you continue to use it on the old computer.

If it is legal, how do I do it?

 

Easiest way: Uninstall Word from the old computer, install it on the new computer.

There are limited circumstances in which a single Word license can be used on two machines: when you have a primary and secondary computer, for example, if you have a home desktop and a work laptop, you can install one copy of Word on both, provided that you are the primary user of both computers. See the EULA for more explicit details and the precise wording.

 

one installed copy per user license.

that's what microsoft says.

 

Use the free OpenOffice.org and forget microsoft office. It's better, free and you could install it in differents computers without problem.

 

I wouldn't go as far as saying that

 

Unfortunately, using OO doesn't answer the OP's question. Also, I'd love to hear why OO is better than Office (any version of Office). Please bear in mind that I've used every version of Office, I'm an Office VBA programmer, and every single organization I've ever been in used, and relied upon, Microsoft Office. Now... go! Explain away!

 

You can transfer Office from one machine to another. The only slight annoyance is if the activation process says that you need to call up Microsoft to activate Office on your new machine. All that's required to resolve this is to call up Microsoft and go through the automated person on the other side to get it activated on your new machine. After that, uninstall Office from the old machine.

Edit: Office 2003 Home & Student Edition and 2007 Home & Student Edition actually allows you to use the same product key for up to 3 machines. I think that this applies to the other editions as well, but I'm not sure.

 

I've had that happen with operating systems, but I've never run into that with Office.

 

Yeah, I actually encountered this just recently when my previous desktop died and I needed to transfer Office 2007 Standard to my new Dell desktop. When I started Excel, it brought up the activation window which failed activation initially forcing me to call up Microsoft to activate it. The automated process over the phone was simple, but it did take about 5 minutes to get through it all.

 

I've been lucky enough to have Home Use Program versions - that might be the reason why I've never had any problems activating Office when I move machines.

 

these questions are dumb and funny IMO, nobody cares.
It's not like MSFT is gonna know if ur using pirated software or not, if ur dumb enough and only if you are, then maybe they might.

 

You're right - if you choose to use pirated software, that's your prerogative. It's all a matter of integrity, and what you feel comfortable doing.

 

I wouldn't say it's dumb. A question is only dumb if it isn't asked.

Yes they will. You have heard of their activation process, right? Being a software developer, I'd definitely be mad (like this: ) if people were stealing my software, preventing me from putting food on the table.

 

I doubt Microsoft employees have trouble putting food on their table.

 

They still need to be paid. How'd you like it if lots of people were ripping you off?

 

Wrong on at least one count.

 

What specific version of Word are you using - 2000, 2003, 2007, and what Office suite is it a part of, Home and Student, Standard, Business, etc...?

 

Lol it looks like he's stalling for a response.

 

SOME licenses of Word (office actually) allow for the installation on one fixed machine and one portable machine. This recognizes a reality that many folks have a desktop and a laptop and would only use one at a time. The specifics of this depend on the version of office you have as shyster1 asked.

Gary

 

What if the copy of Word that the OP is asking about came installed on his laptop? In that case he has no media to install it on a second machine.

I bought a Toshiba for my wife, which came with lots of bloatware. Before I could uninstall Word she called in and paid for it with her credit card. Only problem is that now we have no disks for it and could not reinstall it if we had to.

 

for the past couple of years pre-installed word/office was a 60 day trial. if/when you bought it, there was an option to order a real install media kit (cd/dvd) for another $10-.

what if what if what if; these cases usually start with buying a used laptop from a 'friend' or not reading the paper/on-line documentation that came with the laptop or diving into the 'bloatware' without realizing what you're deleting.

 

He won't respond, because OO is not better than Microsoft Office.

 

When your wife paid, she paid for a full license from Microsoft, which she should have received as a 25-digit product key (a string of numbers something like this: 12345-67890-ABCDE-FGHIJ-KLMN). With that key, you would be able to reinstall using any (legitimate) copy of Office, including the trial version you can download from Microsoft (however, if the version of Office changes, you may not be able to use your product key on a newer version, so if you don't order the actual physical media, it might be worthwhile to see if you can download the trial version now and burn it to CD/DVD to keep as a backup).

 

Depends on what you're using it for. If you're not using it daily for tons of projects that need to interface with hundreds of other office users, OoO isn't bad. My personal experience is that, for the company office documents I interract with daily, Open Office handles them fine, and I have no issues saving them as office documents. MORE IMPORTANTLY those that go back and view them in office have no issues viewing them.

From that perspective, OoO *IS* better, as there is no price tag associated with the program, and it does everything I need it to do, and is as compatible with office as I need it to be.

Seems like Open Office is vastly superior. . to me.

So why not leave the whole thing at: "Depends on an individual's user's needs". Simple, elegant, and factual

 

That is certainly true enough; so, I quite agree that we can leave it at your rather succinct summarization!

 

This thread is not asking about Open Office so let's get back to the original topic. Thanks guys.