[fuzexi]

Hi,

I am about to reformat my HD, ditching Vista for XP (hooray!) and then will try to reinstall all my copy of MS Office 2007. This is a genuine version, and I have the product key, etc.

However, the product has been activated online, and I am wondering if I am going to have any trouble reactivating it. I have searched online and haven't found any definitive responses. Interestingly but not surprisingly, very little on the subject from Microsoft itself.

Is there a procedure I need to do, to make this whole thing easier? Should I copy any files from the Office folder before I delete everything?

I'm sure a proper procedure for doing this would benefit more people than just me, as this must be a common issue.


Best regards,

Peter

[etaf]

I am about to reformat my HD, ditching Vista for XP (hooray!)

Make sure you can get all the drivers for your machine under XP - theres a lot of threads where people change a vista machine to XP and then they cannot get the drivers
Make a note of all the hardware device on the PC
belarc.com is a good program to identify all the hardware

[fuzexi]

Hi,

Thanks! I am worried about that... I found this page and downloaded all the drivers... just hope it works.... a bit worried I must confess!

[Rollin_Again]

I would contact Microsoft and tell them the situation to see if a new key would need to be issued.

I assume that you have recovery disks for the original OS in case something goes wrong with your XP install? Does your existing HD have a hidden recovery partition or did they provide you with actual CD's?

Regards,
Rollin

[fuzexi]

My original OS is Vista, which came installed with the computer. They didn't give me any disks at all! Could you tell me how I can find out if my HD has a hidden recovery partition?

I imagine contacting Microsoft would be a pain, probably have to wait in a queue system in Bangalore for hours... but I will give it a go on Monday (doubt they would be open on weekends!)

[etaf]

They didn't give me any disks at all! Could you tell me how I can find out if my HD has a hidden recovery partition?

whats the make and model of PC
some manufacturers give you the option to create your own DVD /CD restore file
and/or have a hidden partition which you can access via a special key on booting
some HPs are F10
some toshibas are F8 - advance menu
H)P also have a prograsm installed to allow you to make a recovery set of CD/DVD (twoDVDs I think - but lots more CDs)
[b]YOU CAN ONLY DO THIS ONCE[b]

[Perkie_up]

If the Office is a install from a disk set you bought you can have it on two working computers, a notebook and a PC, if it was a trial version that came with your system, and you paid for the activation, you have to contact Microsoft and tell the myou paid for the product from a pre-installed trial software and have the Act. key ready and they will send you a licensed copy of the software, which is a pain in the @#$, takes weeks to get the disk, and the key will be from Microsft live.

Good luck