Reinstalling Microsoft Office 2013 on New Computer

Anonymous
2013-06-01T10:31:19+00:00

I have read a lot of rumors on this topic on the web and want to get a real answer before proceeding.  I purchased Microsoft Office 2013 a few months ago but never installed it.  I'd like to install it now.  However, I plan to purchase a new laptop in approximately a year.  Some of the rumors say that once you install Microsoft Office 2013, not only can you not transfer it to a new machine at a later date, but you can't even reinstall it on the same machine if you reformat the hard drive, decided to install a brand new hard drive, or something similar that changes your machine's hardware configuration.  I want to make sure that if I install Microsoft Office 2013 now that 1) I can remove it later and use the license on a new laptop (Windows 8) and 2) I can reinstall it on this same computer after reformatting my hard drive and doing a clean install of Windows (most likely Windows 7) and other apps.   Please advise.  Thank you.

Microsoft 365 and Office | Install, redeem, activate | For home | Windows

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Anonymous
2013-06-02T08:42:28+00:00

Hi,

Thank you for contacting Microsoft community and we are glad to assist you with your concern.

You will be able to re-install Office 2013 on the same computer if you had to reformat the hard drive and do a clean install of the operating system.

You may transfer the software to another computer that belongs to you, but not more than one time every 90 days (except due to hardware failure, in which case you may transfer sooner). If you transfer the software to another computer, that other computer becomes the "licensed computer."

Any time you transfer the software to a new computer, you must remove the software from the prior computer and you may not retain any copies.

Also refer the link below for more information on the same:

http://blogs.office.com/b/office-news/archive/2013/03/06/office-2013-retail-license-agreement-now-transferable.aspx

I hope the above information helps you. If you need any assistance reply and we will be glad to assist you.

Thank you.

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  1. Anonymous
    2013-08-25T03:36:51+00:00

    My son's laptop died and he's been trying to reinstall office 2013 on his new desktop but he's getting a message that it's already installed on another machine (the dead laptop). You say that the licensing agreement recently changed to allow him to transfer it, but I don't see any instructions how. Can you tell me exactly how to transfer the license to the new desktop? Thanks.

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  2. Anonymous
    2013-08-28T13:09:27+00:00

    My son's laptop died and he's been trying to reinstall office 2013 on his new desktop but he's getting a message that it's already installed on another machine (the dead laptop). You say that the licensing agreement recently changed to allow him to transfer it, but I don't see any instructions how. Can you tell me exactly how to transfer the license to the new desktop? Thanks. 

    Hi Maya,

    Thank you for contacting Microsoft Community and I am glad to assist you with your concern.

    I need more information:

    Did you purchase Office 2013 perpetual license or Office 365 Home Premium/University subscription?

    Which edition of Office 2013 did you purchase?

    Did you purchase Office 2013 as product key card?

    If you purchased Office 2013 as product key card then you will not be able to transfer it to the new computer.

    Provide more information on the issue so that we can assist you further.

    Thank you.

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  3. Anonymous
    2013-12-06T21:27:21+00:00

    So what will Microsoft do in that case. I purchased my laptop on 10/14/2013 and purchased Office 2013 Home and Student with the computer. It was a product key card. I had to have my laptop replace just a month and a half after purchase due to HDD failure. How do I get Office, which isn't cheap, on my new laptop. After all, I did pay for it.

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  4. Anonymous
    2013-12-09T10:14:59+00:00

    So what will Microsoft do in that case. I purchased my laptop on 10/14/2013 and purchased Office 2013 Home and Student with the computer. It was a product key card. I had to have my laptop replace just a month and a half after purchase due to HDD failure. How do I get Office, which isn't cheap, on my new laptop. After all, I did pay for it.

    Hi Brad,

    I will assist you with the query you have related to Office 2013 installation.

    You may transfer the software to another computer that belongs to you, but not more than one time every 90 days (except due to hardware failure, in which case you may transfer sooner). If you transfer the software to another computer, that other computer becomes the "licensed computer."

    Any time you transfer the software to a new computer, you must remove the software from the prior computer and you may not retain any copies.

    Also refer the link below for more information on the same:

    http://blogs.office.com/b/office-news/archive/2013/03/06/office-2013-retail-license-agreement-now-transferable.aspx

    I hope the above information helps you. If you need any assistance reply and we will be glad to assist you.

    Thank you.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments No comments