Solved Updates for Microsoft Office Suites 2007/2010

[RagTag]

I got a new computer in 2010 and, as I thought, got rid of all the pre-installed stuff. I then purchased and installed the Microsoft Office Home and Student 2010 suite.
After doing that I discovered that Microsoft Office 2007 had been pre-installed (I presume a trial version) and it seemed that there was no way I could uninstall it. I don't know if the install of the 2010 Office Suite affected it in some way.


Anyway now I am getting Windows updates for both Office Suites. Do I need to install both or can I just hide the updates for the 2007 Suite and ignore them.
Thanks for any help or advice regarding this matter

 

[marsmimar]

Hello RagTag and welcome to Seven Forums.

This Microsoft KB article may help you uninstall Office 2007.

How to uninstall or remove Microsoft Office 2007 suites

If you're still unable to remove 2007 I'd suggest you not ignore any updates. Many of them are security related. As long as it's on your machine I think it would be wise to keep 2007 from being accessed by malware.

 

[seavixen32]

Welcome to Windows Seven Forums.

Other programs such as Visual Basic 2008 and Microsoft Works 9 do in fact require Office 2007 updates - Works uses Powerpoint Viewer 2007, and that alone will trigger updates.

On my computer I have downloaded updates for Office 2007 and Office 2010 without any difficulty or resulting problems.

If you're being prompted to accept 2007 updates I'd install them to be on the safe side.

 

[RagTag]

Many thanks to both for your response to my question and thanks for your welcome to the forum. I cannot see Office 2007 in the Add Remove programs list but I know I have it as I can see it in the Program Files (x86) listed as Office 12. However as I also have Microsoft Works 9 and seavixen32 says that that requires the Office 2007 updates I will just resurrect the updates I have hidden and install them.
I just wish manufacturers/suppliers of PC's did not preload stuff but allowed us to make our own decisions as to what we want on our computers.

I take it that I should also install the updates for 'Outlook' even though I don't use 'Outlook', and what about something called 'Sharepoint Workspace 2010'. From my research I thought that was a separate programme and as far as I know I don't have it but I also get the impression that it is involved somehow with the Office Suites. I have a Windows Update for it which so far I have not installed.
Any comments on either of these items please.

 

[seavixen32]

Sharepoint Workspace 2010 is included with Microsoft Office Professional Plus, but it can be bought as a standalone program too.

Office Professional Plus - Office.com

From what I can gather it provides a way of remote collaboration when working with Office documents.

Personally, I wouldn't worry too much over whether you should install these updates. If Windows offers them to you, you may as well install them as doing so won't harm your system.

 

[marsmimar]

SharePoint Workspace is the new name for Groove. SharePoint Workspace 2010 succeeds Microsoft Office Groove 2007. This Technet article gives more info:


SharePoint Workspace 2010 overview


I use the free OpenOffice so I'm not familiar with how the various versions of Microsoft Office might integrate themselves with each other. But since you purchased the 2010 Home and Student, I'd imagine you could uninstall it, then remove any additional remnants of 2007, and reinstall 2010. I was under the impression that Works 9 provided a basic word processor, spreadsheet and database. Wouldn't this be included in your 2010 Home and Student? My apologies for my ignorance about Microsoft Office products.

 

[seavixen32]

Marsimar, you are right in assuming that Microsoft Works includes a word processor, spreadsheet and database, but compared to the Microsoft Office suite, they are very basic, as they are aimed at people who just want things like a CD collection database or a shopping list.

If anyone has Microsoft Office, they would be perfectly justified in uninstalling Microsoft Works if it came pre-installed.

 

[RagTag]

Thanks for your help. I think for the moment I will just install the updates. I will also consider uninstalling Microsoft Works 9 as I don't use it. If at some time in the future I ever get another PC I will pay much more attention to what is preloaded and get rid of what I know I won't use before installing the programmes I want.
Thanks again.

 

[seavixen32]

You're very welcome.

If ever you do want to get rid of bloatware on your computer, you may want to read through this excellent tutorial.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/219487-clean-reinstall-factory-oem-windows-7-a.html#post1839164

Basically, you download a Windows 7 ISO that is the same as your OEM version of Windows, and then use your OEM product key for activation.

 

[RagTag]

I did not know of that site seavixen32 or that you could download a version of your OEM. It is good to know these things.
Thanks for the information. I have taken a note of it and also of the instructions on how to use it.

 

[seavixen32]

You're very welcome.

The tutorial was written by gregrocker, one of our resident experts, and as he points out, you have a legal product key that came with your computer so why buy another copy of Windows when you don't need to.

If you do use the tutorial, don't hesitate to post back if you need further help.