Transfer Office 2003 from a used computer.

[bigpollack]

OK, be kind it's my first post, and I have TRIED to search and find the answer.

We want to upgrade a few computers here from Office 97 Professional ( stop laughing !! ) to Office 2003 Professional.

I have tried Office 2007, and do not care for it.

From the searching I have done, it looks like you can transfer the retail version ( not an OEM version ) from one computer to another; as long as you un-install it from the old computer.

I found out how to tell what edition ( retail, OEM, enterprise ) of Office 2003 is installed on a computer.

My question is, if I find a used computer, that has the retail version of Office 2003 Professional installed, can I buy this computer and legally transfer Office 2003 from it ??

I will of course un-install it from the used computer.

It seems like that would be legal, but I'm wondering if only the original buyer of the software can transfer it.

I hope this is possible ( ie legal ! ) because I have contacted a few people that have used computers for sale cheaper than the cost of just Office 2003.

[tomcom2k]

Quite simply, no its not legal. Its against the Microsoft EULA to transfer software in such a manner.

You'd still need installation media.

If the PC's came with a legit licence with serial keys you could use it however it would still be against microsoft EULA and you may have problems activating it.

"transfering" will not work and without a licence is simple illegal.

[bigpollack]

Quite simply, no its not legal. Its against the Microsoft EULA to transfer software in such a manner.

You'd still need installation media.

If the PC's came with a legit licence with serial keys you could use it however it would still be against microsoft EULA and you may have problems activating it.

"transfering" will not work and without a licence is simple illegal.

Maybe " transfer " isn't the term I should of used.

They have the original packaging ( CDs, serial key #, etc ) from the retail version of Office.

I guess it's more like "buying" a used copy of Office, that WILL be removed from the original computer.

With my luck, this is probably against the EULA also.

If you can't tell, I'm a cheap *astard, but still want to be legal.

There are only 3 things I wont mess around with ( because it would cost me big bucks in the end ) :

The Ex-Wife

The IRS

Microsoft

[bigpollack]

Just found this in the EULA for Office 2003 Professional Retail.

" If you are the person who initially licensed the Software, you may make a one-time permanent transfer of this EULA, Software and Certificate of Authenticity ( if applicable ) to another end user, provided that you do not retain any copies of the Software "

So I think I'm good to go !

Maybe !