Install Office 2016 OEM without Live account

Anonymous
2015-10-07T18:12:57+00:00

I manage IT services for several small businesses and periodically need to purchase new computers with Office. I just purchased a new Dell laptop with the OEM version of Office 2016 Home & Business. It will not let me activate it without adding it to a MS account.

I know this is a perennial question, beginning with Office 2013, that is a major headache for independent technical consultants that support small businesses, as I do. But I have never seen a solid answer as to how to get this installed on the computer without the MS account--just a lot of try this, try that. This is NOT Office 365, just Office H & B 2016!

 I will not:

  • Add it to my MS account, or it will be forever stuck to me--which is inappropriate, since I will not own the computer or software once I am paid for the system by my client.
  • Make my client set up a MS account just for this.
  • Pry into my client's information to get his MS account information (if he even has one).

But I must have Office installed, activated, and updated before I give the system to my client. The activation dialog, in fact, gives me the option of using a product key instead of a login, but then proceeds to "Redeem Online"--which I believe will end up with the same result that requires a MS account.

At this point, I now have a bigger issue. I backed up the Program Data folder that contains the cached Office installation files, then uninstalled MS Office, hoping that a reinstall would give me some option to truly install without being forced to figure out a MS account for my client. The uninstallation removed the original setup folders. Good thing I backed it up, but then when I reinstall from any of those, it installs Office 2013, not Office 2016. And while it still validates the key when I click the option to use a key instead of a logon, it (as before) takes me to "Redeem Online".

Hello, Microsoft: this issue alone has just eliminated my entire profit from this project, given the time I have already spent trying to get this done, then uninstalling and attempting to reinstall.

I know there are versions that can be activated without a MS account, but I do not buy in bulk and can never seem to figure out which is which.

How do I get this installed for my client without being required to use a MS account?

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

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  2. Anonymous
    2016-02-08T09:14:24+00:00

    It does not matter where you download it from.  MS has " improved " the Office 2016 install to FORCE everyone to provide an email account. MANY other people have complained about this " feature '  On Feb 1 I counted 785 votes to fix the defective feature in several suggestions. MS is actively not listening to these complaints.  Several consulting companies who buy and configure computers for their clients are suggesting they will stop recommending Office because it is impossible for them to do their job with 2016.  Others are buying Office 2013 while they can still find it from reputable dealers.

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  3. Anonymous
    2016-02-08T16:31:12+00:00

    Hi everyone,

    I decided to start a petitionagainst Microsoft to change how Office works.

    plz tell what change you want me to make in the description or want to add.

    Thank you

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  4. Anonymous
    2016-02-08T17:24:00+00:00

    Nic727:

    I admire your resolve to create such a petition but urge you to re-write it more clearly and to the point so that you can attract the largest number of signers.

    I'm not sure I would sign this petition as I feel it is not well written for my own case and has grammar and spelling mistakes which makes it all that much easier for Microsoft to not take it seriously.

    I have a computer service and support business. My clients (who do not have an IT staff) do not want to be forced to create an email account for every user, and jump through administrative hoops doing detective work to try to find out what the license keys are in the case where their computers must be re-imaged. I am not willing to babysit their license keys. The fact that a Microsoft account is required is a huge security risk given that there may be more than one user per computer. Having a OneDrive account is too difficult for users (seriously), and having to have a password is also too difficult.

    I support (or at least can live with) the OEM licensing wherein the license dies with the computer and is not transferable. But I should be able to re-image that computer, pop in the license key,  and I'm done. I should not have to keep track of the labyrinth of ways Microsoft is hiding the real key such as taking the package key, and assigning a different key that you can only see the last 5 digits if you know how to find it using the command prompt. And then being forced to have an email address which does not allow you to have more than a few products without having to create a new email address. It's insane and evil.

    Microsoft is not stupid, which means they must be deliberately trying to force everyone into a subscription model using passive-aggressive (ie: childish and immature) tactics.

    I stand by my decision to stop supplying Microsoft Products.

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  5. Anonymous
    2016-02-08T17:35:03+00:00

    Hi,

    English is not my first language, so can you help me? I don't see what's wrong with me text.

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