Move Office 2003 without install disk

Question

Just bought an old laptop running XP with office 2003 installed. No install disks. Want to transfer word, excel, office to different laptop and scrap the one i just bought. How can I do this without the install disk?

Answer 1

There are a couple of licenses, specifically "OEM", that are tied to the hardware. But other licenses, "FPP" (Retail), can be transferred to new computers, provided you have the installation file and the Product Key.

So, assuming the license on the old machine is 'FPP", if you can find the right installation file you can use a freeware tool extract the product key from the old HD to use to install on the new machine.

Go into "Help about" to find out the exact name of the office bundle you have to find the installation file for.

I Need Installation files/CD for pre 2007 version of Office, What Can I Do

Once you get the installation file, make sure you burn a copy for yourself before returning the disk if it is borrowed.

1.       Find a friend (new or old) who has the right CD and is willing to lend you the CD. Unlike the very "old" DOS days when there was a signature file on the floppy, there is nothing unique on the CD to identify it. The uniqueness is provided via the Product key you use to activate it. So, you can borrow a CD without threatening their installation/activation.

2.       Ask at work if they have an installation CD you can borrow. There are often old disks "hiding" in dark corners of storage rooms

3.       If you or a friend has a HUP installation, give it a try: http://office-watch.com/t/n.aspx?a=1453&z=12 : (PS Let me know what happens if you do)

4.       Try to find a local "PC Computer Club". There is almost certainly a geek or three with disks you could borrow.

5.       Find a small local computer store or repair business. They often have old versions of software because they are still supporting customers using them.

6.       At the small repair business they may have old computers that customers had upgraded from that include OEM Office that you could now use

7.       You could buy it online. Be very careful who you give your money to

8.       Try websites like Kijiji or Craig’s List to see if you can borrow or buy it

9.       Try getting one from MS (if it works, please post back here, there are many interested people who would like to know that MS is still providing that kind of support) Replace MS Hardware and Software http://support.microsoft.com/kb/326246/ 

10.   Try this download of 2003 Office Standard: http://download.microsoft.com/download/6/2/3/6233A257-16BD-4C8D-BF4C-6FA59AF9213A/OfficeSTD.exe

11.   Or try this Works 8 Download: http://download.microsoft.com/download/9/9/f/99f1c47b-2230-496b-adae-9c54ae3ed245/works8.exe****

12.   http://office-watch.com/t/n.aspx?a=156 - Even older Works qualifies for Office 2007 upgrade pricing

13.   Replacment Disk - http://support.microsoft.com/kb/302822

14.   Replacement CD - http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows\_7-windows\_install/replacement-cd/fb8230d4-000f-4ee7-b732-c9f8fff28bfd

Please let us know what worked.

Tools to Extract Product Key

I have tried the first 6 in this list with various degrees of success:

http://www.belarc.com/free\_download.html - not only does Belarc extract product keys, it reports on a WHOLE BUNCH of other stuff you want to know. Printing the report, or saving it is probably a good idea.

http://www.gtopala.com/ SIW – System Information for Windows (portable app), the install keys for Windows, Office and some other programs are displayed. Start SIW (no install required) and click on Software | Licenses. (SIW for Win 2010 Build 0714g)

http://www.magicaljellybean.com/ V 2.0.8- Office 2003 OK, 2007 OK, 2010 na, Win Vista Wrong)

http://sourceforge.net/projects/keyfinder/ - Enchanted Keyfinder Beta Portable- Win (9X, ME, NT/2K/XP, Vista, Win7), MS Office (97, XP, 2003, 2007, 2010), Recover key for 484 other software and counting

http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/product\_cd\_key\_viewer.html Nirsoft ProduKey V1.45-  Office 2003 OK , 2007 , 2010 , Win Vista )

ProduKey may be able to extract product key information from a registry file saved externally. This is useful if you’re trying to get the key details from the backup of a now defunct machine. Try the /Regfile option .

http://www.technibble.com/license-crawler-find-product-keys-in-the-registry/ License Crawler V1.2 B98 (Office 2003 , 2007 , 2010 , Win Vista )

      http://techblissonline.com/product-key-cd-keyserial-number-software-vista-xp/ - License Crawler for Vista XP (Office 2003 , 2007 , 2010 , Win Vista )

http://www.winkeyfinder.com/download.php (Office 2003 , 2007 , 2010 , Win Vista )

I have not had an opportunity to try these tools:

Advanced Token Manger -  Tokens.dat works as a digitally signed file, which stores the majority of the windows activation files.

All files together employ a digital signature that prevents tokens.dat be replaced on other machines

How to Reinstall Vista / Win7 / Office 2010 Without Having to Reactivate - http://www.howtogeek.com/75496/how-to-reinstall-windows-without-having-to-reactivate/

In Windows 7, can you use the Windows.old folder that the installer made to regain that product key?

Try Recover Keys http://recover-keys.com/. They have a free demo version to see if it will work for you. The full version costs $30. Use it search your windows.old and use the hive function to point to the windows.old\windows folder

http://pcsupport.about.com/od/productkeysactivation/tp/topkeyfinder.htm - 13 keyfinder programs

http://recover-keys.com/ - Product Key Finder for Win, Office & 3000+ more prog. (Trial only shows first 4 char)

Product Key Extract Tool Chart

Product	SIW 2010 B0714g	Nirsoft ProduKey V1.45	Magical Jelly Bean V2.0.8	Win Key Finder V1.73	License Crawler V1.2	Belarc Advisor V8.1
Win Vista Sticker	No	No	No	No	No	No
Win Vista Extracted	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Win Default Product Key Extracted implied upgrade from NT	Yes	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA
Office 2003 Standard Sticker	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes
Office 2007 Home & Student Sticker	No	No	No	No	No	No
Office 2010 Home & Student Free Upgrade from 2007 Sticker	ID’d as 2007	ID’d as 2007	ID’d as 2007	No	No	ID’d as 2007
Office 2010 Home & Business Trial	Yes	Yes	Na	Na	Yes	No
Office 2010 Pro Trial / Single Image	Yes	Yes	Na	Na	Yes	Yes

Recovering Office Product Key from OEM installations - http://office-watch.com/t/n.aspx?a=1627****

Extract Product Key from backup

For other computer mortals, this was my scenario:

1. old computer motherboard died and decided not to fix 3-yr old computer, purchased new
2. never stored Office Product key (no print out or email)
3. didn't want to pay for another
4. took hard drive out of HP Pavillion and put it in external HD reader enclosure so i could see old hard drive
5. downloaded Product Key extractorr tools:

5-A.  Belarc gave nice summary, but only for booted computer

5-B.  NS Auditor found it, but would have been $29.95 to unlock the grail of my product key

5-C.  Magic Jelly Bean found it for free:   www.magicjellybean.com They key as Herb noted was that you must run as administrator.

6)  Plugged in the product key to my new Windows 7 operating system and office is on line and running you have to "Load a Hive" which is the external drive and go to /windows/ file then it will give all same info.

Answer 2

Good News/Bad News:

Bad News is that MS says they will not send out the replacement CD because they no longer support that version of the software. Pretty lame if you ask me. How much would it take to make the replacement CD? Too focused on profit and not enough attention to customer satisfaction. BTW generally I am a big fan of MS, just don't like their support attitude trying to make me buy the new stuff when the old stuff meets my needs.

Good News is that I found the freaking CD and the key so my problem is solved.

Answer 3

That it is not explicitly OEM is good for you. It does not automatically mean you have a Retail license, but the chances are very good.  Now that you've eliminate OEM, yes, the simplest way to find out is try installing.

I am under the impression that MS no longer provides 2003 disks (they REALLY REALLY want your money for 2010!) , but if you can get one the PLEASE do let us know. Many other people have asked the same question. It would be nice to have a definitive answer (no one else has posted back either way).

Answer 4

There is no way to accomplish it in practice.  In theory, it should be possible to export all of the registry settings created by installing Office, transfer all the Office files and the registry exports to another PC, then place the files where they belong and import the registry values, but few outside of Microsoft (thus excluding the vast majority of people in these forums) know the full file manifest of Office and where the files go.  There would be lgeal issues with it as well, since you are not the licensee for the software on the old PC.  Transfer of the hardware does not constitute transfer of the software on it..  Manually trying to move Office between PCs is fraught with trouble.

Answer 5

I thought the software license traveled with the laptop. No?