Official Word Starter update?

Anonymous
2014-08-16T15:23:38+00:00

When I opened up my laptop this morning (8/16/14) there was a pop-up on the screen telling me  there was an update available for Microsoft Word Starter 2010 and asking me if I wanted to download it.  It did not look like the typical Windows or Office update notification.  I closed the pop-up and opened Windows update and ran it.  There were some updates available, but none that said they were for Word Starter.  IS there a new Update for Word Starter or is this someone trying to get me to download a virus?

***Office Product moved to Office 2010 by the Moderator.***

Microsoft 365 and Office | Word | For home | Windows

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Suzanne S Barnhill 279.1K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator
2014-11-20T16:27:28+00:00

Microsoft has posted a Knowledge Base article describing and explaining this popup and providing a solution. Find it at http://support.microsoft.com/kb/3016799.

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Anonymous
2014-08-20T14:23:14+00:00

Hi everyone,

We heard back from the product group. The dialog is expected for a legitimate Office 2010 starter update. It appears for click to run scenarios where the path is missing a piece of information between the build that the user is running on and the latest available build.

The august update that was pulled is a Windows update, not an Office update.

Thanks!

DK - MSFT support

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  1. Anonymous
    2014-10-16T21:58:37+00:00

    Mid-October and it just appeared on one of our computers. Read through the comments and just got off the phone with MS support. Bottom line, I'm not downloading it. Opened Word and disabled updates, based on MS support advice. That computer is current with it's Windows updates.

    From MS support phone call:

    Manufacturers of computers installed Starter 2010 on computers as a "trial basis" if the computer being sold didn't have full Word. The length of the trial basis just depends on what the manufacturer arranged/installed. The pop-up is from an unnamed third-party associated with this manufacturer/trial basis arrangement. It doesn't seem to matter who the manufacturer is. It seems the third party has been told exactly who to send this pop-up to.

    Not really sure and don't care too much what this "update" is about. MS is well aware of the situation. OK, maybe not in writing about here. But, on the phone they are.

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  2. Doug Robbins - MVP - Office Apps and Services 323.6K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator
    2014-10-16T22:09:05+00:00

    The information that you received from the support person is NOT correct at least as far as Office Started being installed as a "trial basis".  The aim of the program was through the use of the advertising support version, the users appetite would be whited for the full version, which would lead to increased sales.

    Without seeing the pop-up that you refer to, it is not possible to comment on the statement that it "is from a unnamed third-party"

    If you are talking about the following:

    it has been verified that it relates to an update released by Microsoft, but albeit, not in the normal manner.

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  3. Anonymous
    2014-10-17T00:44:12+00:00

    Doug this just started popping up on my computer.  Everything about this is from mid Aug.  Why is it first now showing up on my computer?   I'm afraid to push OK.   Are you saying that it is a TRUE Microsoft thing.   I have to say it looks like a scam....

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