How to keep Microsoft Office 2010 after upgrade from XP to Windows 7

Gnimble · 08 Jan 2014

Hello everyone, I purchased a Windows 7 upgrade disk to upgrade my old Windows XP laptop, the IBM ThinkPad T43P. When I purchased the laptop, it comes with Microsoft Office 2010 Professional. I do not have the installation media or the license key code for it any more. I would like to upgrade since Microsoft will stop supporting Windows XP but I want to keep Microsoft Office 2010 Professional. Is there a way to do that? Thank you very much, -G

derekimo · 08 Jan 2014

You can run Belarc advisor,

Belarc Advisor - Free Personal PC Audit, for software, hardware and security configuration information on your computer. Software license management, IT asset management, cyber security audits, and more.

To audit the Office key from your old machine.

Then download your version of Office from here,

Office 2010 Direct Download Links

Gnimble · 09 Jan 2014

Thank you Derek, I downloaded the Belarc Advisor and also another tool, ProduKey which seems to find the same key for my Microsoft Office 2010 Professional Plus. I then wipe my system in order to upgrade it to Windows 7 Home Premium, which went fine. After all the updates and patches are installed, I downloaded the Office 2010 Pro Plus from the link you provided and tried to install. It does not like the license key that I was able to saved (the generated page) from both the Belarc Advisor and ProduKey. Do you have any other suggestions? Thank you, -G

Ranger4 · 09 Jan 2014

Are you sure that your previous version of Office 2010 was Professional Plus & not just Office 2010 Professional. Office 2010 Pro Plus is for, as far as I know, organisations that have multiple computers & it requires a special license.

If you have made a mistake on which type it is, you will have to uninstall it & download the Professional version from the link posted by derekimo & install that one.

Gnimble · 10 Jan 2014

Ah that may be the reason why it would not validate. I purchased the used IBM Thinkpad T43P from a Canadian company with XP Professional and Office 2010 Professional installed. Now that XP will not be supported soon, I thought I would upgrade to Windows 7 and run into this problem.

Both the Belarc Advisor and ProduKey reported the office software as "Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2010" and showed the same license key. I was not able to install without the license since I did not download the trial version. I like office, but being a student with very little money, I purchased this laptop because of the Office software. I guessed I am out of luck?

Thanks again,
-G

Ranger4 · 10 Jan 2014

Gnimble said:

Ah that may be the reason why it would not validate. I purchased the used IBM Thinkpad T43P from a Canadian company with XP Professional and Office 2010 Professional installed. Now that XP will not be supported soon, I thought I would upgrade to Windows 7 and run into this problem.

Both the Belarc Advisor and ProduKey reported the office software as "Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2010" and showed the same license key. I was not able to install without the license since I did not download the trial version. I like office, but being a student with very little money, I purchased this laptop because of the Office software. I guessed I am out of luck?

Thanks again,
-G

It is possible that the computer you bought was part of a Home User Program that employees of a licensed Office Pro Plus using company was using. Under this arrangement employees of that company can install that version of Office & use while they are employees of that company. If they leave the company, or the company does not renew it's license, or the computer is sold then the license is no longer legal & using it is an infringement of Microsoft's licensing agreement.
I think this may be what has happened to you.
However, perhaps you could look at Office 2013 Home Premium which can be bought for a very reasonable monthly or yearly licensing fee, so it's really a pay as you go type.
Check the Microsoft website nearest to you & search on Office 2013 Home Premium & see if it is what you are after.
Hope this helps you.

Sven1458 · 10 Jan 2014

Try the free version of open office here:
Apache OpenOffice - The Free and Open Productivity Suite

Sven

Gnimble · 10 Jan 2014

Ranger:

Thank you. It is too bad that I cannot get money back from the seller since it has been several months since I purchased the laptop. I use publisher a lot to create programs for people who ask me (both when I was working and now that I'm back in school) so will probably not get the Office 2013 Home Premium. Being a student now and will be working for a non-profit overseas organization, I probably won't have money to keep on renewing the program; Internet access where I am going is very expensive as well, so I will probably have access once a month to email.

Sven:

Thank you for the suggestion. Publisher is what kept me with Microsoft Office. I have used Open Office in the past and will install it again so I can start writing some papers.

Cheers,
-G