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General => Technical Help => Topic started by: wilcoxon on Thursday 20 February 25 12:36 GMT (UK)
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Ok, so here we go. I have Microsoft Office Enterprise 2007 DVD installed on my desktop. It was free from my husbands place of work. It does have a key. There are also terms and conditions.
I had my desktop PC updated from 8 to 10 , but have been told that it`s not going to able to be updated again to 11.
I am thinking of getting a laptop. My question is how would I install this onto the laptop.
I only use Word, Publisher, but have a lot of databases on Excel and Access which I really use a lot.
Alternatively is there another option, preferably free to open these documents.
Thanks.
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If you have the original installation disk & Key - just use that on the laptop
If you only have the Key the file can be downloaded and installed (legally) https://archive.org/details/ms-office-2007.
If you decide to go an alternative route there are several options
Libre Office, https://www.libreoffice.org/
OpenOffice https://www.openoffice.org/why/ (although support for it has also been discontinued)
Oxygen Office https://sourceforge.net/projects/ooop/
Freeoffice https://www.freeoffice.com/en/
and several more
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Many thanks.
I do have the disc but it states that it can only be used on one device in the household. I would be using both while I can.
I'll have a look at the other options.
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I had my desktop PC updated from 8 to 10 , but have been told that it`s not going to able to be updated again to 11.
I understand that there's a third party utility called Rufus that can do the update even if Microsoft's compatibility check stops you. Do a web search for upgrade windows 10 to 11 rufus. Caveat: I haven't tried it, but if/when you're being forced to throw out your desktop PC because of the "problem", what is there to lose?
As to your original question, I've used the free openoffice and libreoffice successfully for years (though only the Word and spreadsheet equivalents, not Access).
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I had my desktop PC updated from 8 to 10 , but have been told that it`s not going to able to be updated again to 11.
I understand that there's a third party utility called Rufus that can do the update even if Microsoft's compatibility check stops you. Do a web search for upgrade windows 10 to 11 rufus. Caveat: I haven't tried it, but if/when you're being forced to throw out your desktop PC because of the "problem", what is there to lose?
As to your original question, I've used the free openoffice and libreoffice successfully for years (though only the Word and spreadsheet equivalents, not Access).
I've used Rufus to upgrade my two "incompatible" high-spec Windows 10 desktops and one laptop to Windows 11. Works perfectly, with Windows update working as normal.
Regarding MS Office; I've purchased multiple Office 2021 Pro licenses from Amazon at various prices over the last couple of years. At the moment they charge about £50 per licence. They email you a download link and usually say that they will snail mail you the licenese key, although I've always requested it in an email and they've always delivered it within an hour or so.
FWIW I've tried the free lookalikes like libreoffice and openoffice, but didn't find them to be 100% compatible so went back to Office.
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Thanks both. Plenty to look at there.
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You will perhaps find that Publisher is not included in the purchase, only Word, excel and powerpoint is.
I upgraded my PC last year and bought Office (Word, Excel & PowerPoint) and a standalone version of Publisher.
A good publishing alternative to Microsofts own is Affinity Publisher.
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You will perhaps find that Publisher is not included in the purchase, only Word, excel and powerpoint is.
I upgraded my PC last year and bought Office (Word, Excel & PowerPoint) and a standalone version of Publisher.
A good publishing alternative to Microsofts own is Affinity Publisher.
You're right, Office 2021 doesn't include Publisher (or Access); I only use Word, Excel and Outlook so I didn't notice. Office 2019 Pro Plus does include Publisher and Access though and that is only £24 on Amazon.
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I bought a copy of MS Office Professional Plus 2019 recently from an Amazon seller. It came with everything including Publisher, Word, Excel, Access..... It was £26. I received a licence key in the post by return, and a link for an online download from Microsoft site. I was a little wary, but it has been running fine for a few months now on Windows 11. No issues.
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hi back again .
I m still trying to find a Word programme for the laptop . Microsoft has hi jacked the laptop with Co pilot and it`s not really what I want.
Im looking for something that doesn`t open on my desktop as well and doesn`t store in cloud.
it`s usually just for research that I put on a stick anyway.
some one mentioned Free Open office , would that be OK before I go searching for it, thanks.
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hi back again .
I m still trying to find a Word programme for the laptop . Microsoft has hi jacked the laptop with Co pilot and it`s not really what I want.
Im looking for something that doesn`t open on my desktop as well and doesn`t store in cloud.
it`s usually just for research that I put on a stick anyway.
some one mentioned Free Open office , would that be OK before I go searching for it, thanks.
Why not just disable co-pilot?
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hi back again .
I m still trying to find a Word programme for the laptop . Microsoft has hi jacked the laptop with Co pilot and it`s not really what I want.
Im looking for something that doesn`t open on my desktop as well and doesn`t store in cloud.
it`s usually just for research that I put on a stick anyway.
E
some one mentioned Free Open office , would that be OK before I go searching for it, thanks.
Why not just disable co-pilot?
I have disabled Copilot, but now don't have a Word programme.
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I have tried FreeOffice but find that the "save as " is confusing.
I'm a bit unsure about which file to use.
My desktop Word is docx. I guess I use that as well.
Sorry to be vague but it's all new to me.🙂
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If you have the original installation disk & Key - just use that on the laptop
If you only have the Key the file can be downloaded and installed (legally) https://archive.org/details/ms-office-2007.
If you decide to go an alternative route there are several options
Libre Office, https://www.libreoffice.org/
OpenOffice https://www.openoffice.org/why/ (although support for it has also been discontinued)
Oxygen Office https://sourceforge.net/projects/ooop/
Freeoffice https://www.freeoffice.com/en/
and several more
Thanks. I have tried these and found Freeoffice 24 to be the best. The Text programme is very similar to Word and I can save as a Word doc. Presentation looks OK but not sure if will open on other desktop.
Anyway, Ive just gone to use it and now have a notification about a Freeoffice key to carry on using it.
I have to enter my email address, so is this OK to carry on with.
Thanks
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Presumably since my subscription to Office 365 is due to run out at the end of this month I received an email with the following message
"To reflect the value we’ve added over the past decade, address rising costs and enable us to continue delivering new innovations, we’re increasing the price of your subscription.
Effective 14 February 2025, the price for Microsoft 365 Family subscriptions will increase from GBP 79.99* per year to GBP 104.99* per year"
Since we only ever use (on three Apple devices) Word and Excel and have seen no improvements which I needed in the last 20 years I think it is time to look elsewhere.
Seems like the Accountants take over these companies and fail to realise that when they put too much straw on the camel then the camel will shake it off and run away.
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I think I might have mentioned it here, about a year ago, but on eBay you can buy genuine copies of Microsoft 2019 office for about 25 pounds. You don't get installation discs, it's all done by download but you get a unique Microsoft validation code delivered by royal mail within 48 hours. It's an absolute brilliant deal.
Zaph
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I think I might have mentioned it here, about a year ago, but on eBay you can buy genuine copies of Microsoft 2019 office for about 25 pounds. You don't get installation discs, it's all done by download but you get a unique Microsoft validation code delivered by royal mail within 48 hours. It's an absolute brilliant deal.
Zaph
You can get them from Amazon too. Last year I paid £20 for MS Office 2021 Pro Plus. I contacted the seller and got a code within a couple of hours. As you say, it's a brilliant deal and is a one-off payment.
I will never pay anuual subscriptions for software, epecially Office and antivirus/security packages. The first thing I do whem I setup a system for a friend or a family member is to remove Office 365 and the trial antivirus stuff and install an Amazon copy of Office and a free antivirus.
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Yes, it was Amazon, not eBay.
Zaph
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Libre Office is always an option. It still has some quirks with image layout, but then so does Word.
It’s much better than Word at coping with older file formats, even older Word formats that Word itself will now not read.
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Thanks for the responses. I'll have another look at Libre Office which I did put on my 2016 iMac some years back. That iMac is stuck on OS Monterey, 12.?. The laptops are on Sequoia 15.6.
I've looked at eBay and Amazon. I'm dubious about eBay as they are often limited in what they tell you about just what they are offering in terms of compatibility etc. And can I trust the sellers?
On Amazon their cheaper deals all seem to be no longer available. Either to do with tariffs or maybe MS are leaning on Amazon. I do see to be able to get a Mac version of Office 2024 perpetual licence for about £150. Not bad compared with a cost of £105 every year and maybe increasing. However that in just for one device so would be £300 for two laptops.
And then I still need a solution for the iMac. I have a CD with 2016 version of office but do I have the licence Key somewhere and what security issues might be there on that version of S/W which will not have been supported for some time.
Could do Libre Office on the iMac - but do I want to spend £300 on the two laptops?
Incidentally - note that Office S/W for Mac seems to be always more than for Windows.
At what point do I decide that I'd rather pay up rather than waste hours trying to get a cheaper deal?
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Ah, it's for Mac. It does seem that most of the really cheap deals have gone from Amazon; I did find one for £47.99, but that was Windows only.
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Incidentally - note that Office S/W for Mac seems to be always more than for Windows.
At what point do I decide that I'd rather pay up rather than waste hours trying to get a cheaper deal?
Ditch the Mac! ;D
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Thanks for the responses. I'll have another look at Libre Office which I did put on my 2016 iMac some years back. That iMac is stuck on OS Monterey, 12.?. The laptops are on Sequoia 15.6.
I've looked at eBay and Amazon. I'm dubious about eBay as they are often limited in what they tell you about just what they are offering in terms of compatibility etc. And can I trust the sellers?
On Amazon their cheaper deals all seem to be no longer available. Either to do with tariffs or maybe MS are leaning on Amazon. I do see to be able to get a Mac version of Office 2024 perpetual licence for about £150. Not bad compared with a cost of £105 every year and maybe increasing. However that in just for one device so would be £300 for two laptops.
And then I still need a solution for the iMac. I have a CD with 2016 version of office but do I have the licence Key somewhere and what security issues might be there on that version of S/W which will not have been supported for some time.
Could do Libre Office on the iMac - but do I want to spend £300 on the two laptops?
Incidentally - note that Office S/W for Mac seems to be always more than for Windows.
At what point do I decide that I'd rather pay up rather than waste hours trying to get a cheaper deal?
There are portable CD/DVD/Bluray drives available that just plug into the USB socket.
Buy from an Amazon supplier but do note the Returns policy.
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I have come across Groupon which is offering Office Standard 2024 lifetime licence for less that £20 for Windows or Mac.
Groupon don't deliver themselves as far as I can see. They are just a market place for the actual sellers.
Only niggle is - it seems to good to be true. If these offers are real and without a catch why is not everyone using them?
Anyone have experience of Groupon?
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I was just about to post that same link.
https://www.groupon.co.uk/deals/sy-llc-ltd-4?deal_option=afc6d911-bb58-4f52-a90a-f059fbca39c6
I subscribed a long time ago but got too much spam so I killed them off, but I do think these offers for out of date versions of Microsoft office are genuine. I'm delighted with my 2019 version from Amazon that I mentioned earlier.
Zaph
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Official route shows £120 for Microsoft Office 2024 for home use.
Let’s face it a one off cost is a much better buy than an annual subscription.
Older versions, well if they work as you want them to on your PC and only cost £20 what is there not to like about that.
Only thing to note is that some versions of Microsoft Office only includes Word, Excel and Powerpoint.
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This company supply office professional that comes with all sorts of goodies. £25. The version that I bought a year or so ago from Amazon also had access which I occasionally use. I can only guess that they can afford to sell at these prices by making it all download only, so there is no cost in producing the media and any hard copy documentation
https://softmall.co.uk/product/microsoft-office-professional-2019-instant-delivery-copy/
One-time purchase for 1 PC (not a subscription)
• Classic 2019 versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Access and Publisher
• Licensed for home and commercial use
• All languages included
• Compatible with Windows 10 and Windows 11
I've got no connection with that company, by the way. They were just the first one that came up on my search engine results.
Zaph
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"To reflect the value we’ve added over the past decade, address rising costs and enable us to continue delivering new innovations, we’re increasing the price of your subscription.
Effective 14 February 2025, the price for Microsoft 365 Family subscriptions will increase from GBP 79.99* per year to GBP 104.99* per year"
Since we only ever use (on three Apple devices) Word and Excel and have seen no improvements which I needed in the last 20 years I think it is time to look elsewhere.
The price increase is due to inclusion of co-pilot. If you don't use it you can revert to £79.99. They make it difficult to cancel co-pilot but I can post details if you want.
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That would be worth sharing Ikas. I'm sure a lot of people would prefer not to pay £25 for co-pilot.
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This worked for me Spelk. Caveat - it was a few months ago when my sub renewed. I think you can make the change in advance of renewal as well as at renewal.
If you don’t want to use co-pilot log-in to your Microsoft account. Select manage subscription then at next screen cancel subscription. This opens a new screen with two options - one with co-pilot and one without (“classic subscription”). If you select that you will be charged at the usual price. Several hoops to go through as they charge £0 to your card which needs verification etc.
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I'm still using Office 2013 .....works fine for me !
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As Ikas said - I found that going to my account and applying to turn off the MS 365 Renewal or Cancelling the subscription both come up with the option to switch to the "Classic" version which does not have Copilot and is about £25 cheaper.
Beware - Note that if you confirm that you want to cancel the subscription it seems it will stop immediately and then you may or may not get a refund for the time you had left.
Worth noting - when I had asked to cancel the Renewal and also when I asked to Cancel in both cases they offered me the option to have an extra two months for free so that rather than renewing on 1st October my subscription would continue to 1st December. That's effectively a 15% diacount so worth doing even if you have no intention of not continuing with the subscription.
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Checking my version of Word, I seem to have Microsoft Office Home and Student 2016.
Product contains Word, Excel, PowerPoint and OneNote.
No Co-Pilot, but I do have the annoying One-Drive!